Decaf Coffee: A Low-Caffeine Alternative to Coffee – Ever wondered why coffee can energize us and make us feel sleepy? Well , it’s a side effect of the caffeine contained in coffee. But caffeine itself has side effects that can damage our health if we consume too much of it.
But now there is an alternative, namely by consuming Decaf, coffee with low caffeine levels. What is decaf coffee like? let’s look at the following article together until it’s finished!
What is Decaf Coffee
Decaf Coffee comes from the word decaffeinated coffee, as the name implies decaf is coffee without caffeine. But that doesn’t mean decaf has no caffeine content. Decaf still has caffeine but it is very low, almost 97% of the caffeine content in decaf is reduced due to various processes in its processing.
In regular coffee, the caffeine content in a glass of coffee is usually 70 – 140 mg, but in decaf the caffeine content per glass is only 0 – 7 mg.
But take it easy in terms of taste and aroma decaf does not change too much. It’s just that the flavor and aroma are lighter than regular coffee.
Decaf Coffee Making Process
There are different ways of making decaf. The ways of making decaf are as follows;
- Water Soaking Process: This method is done by soaking green coffee beans with hot water, then the remaining water is filtered with an activated charcoal filter which is then used again to soak other green beans.
- Chemical Solution Process: This process requires a chemical solvent, namely ethyl acetate. The coffee beans are steamed and washed with ethyl acetate solvent and then steamed again. Next, the coffee beans are dried and roasted.
- Carbon Dioxide Process: This process is the newest way to make decaf. The trick is to use extraction from subcritical carbon dioxide. The first thing to do is to soak the green coffee beans in a covered steel pan full of water. It is then pumped with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide in this process serves to dissolve the caffeine without affecting the flavor and aroma of the coffee itself.
Health Benefits of Decaf Coffee
Compared to regular coffee, decaf is superior in terms of health, especially for health. One of the side effects of consuming regular coffee is heartburn or acid reflux. But consuming decaf can ease these side effects.
This is because it contains much less caffeine than regular coffee. Therefore, decaf has a lower acid content than regular coffee.
On the other hand, consuming high levels of caffeine can cause various health problems such as anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, increased heart rate, and adverse effects on female fertility.
Therefore, decaf was created to serve as an alternative to reducing caffeine intake levels for coffee lovers around the world.
How Decaf Coffee Differs from Regular Coffee
The difference between decaf coffee and regular coffee can be seen from the caffeine content. Apart from the caffeine content, the difference between decaf and regular coffee is the acidity level. Decaf coffee has a lower acidity level compared to regular coffee.
In addition, another difference lies in the effects caused after consuming the coffee. Because decaf has lower caffeine levels than regular coffee, the stimulant effect is not as great as when we consume regular coffee.
The last difference is in the flavor and aroma. In decaf coffee, the flavors and aromas produced are lighter or lighter than regular coffee. This is due to the decaffeinated process that decaf has gone through.
Safe to be Consumed by Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
One of the features of decaf is that decaf coffee is safe for consumption by women who are pregnant. Because pregnant and lactating women are not allowed to consume high levels of caffeine. This can affect and endanger the unborn child.
For pregnant women, decaf is one of the best alternatives to enjoy coffee without the side effects that can interfere with their pregnancy.
Are you a coffee lover? It’s time to visit the KopiKita platform to find coffee from various regions in Indonesia at the best prices.
