![]() ![]() ![]() Instead, companies that use chemical solvents have switched to other substances, predominantly ethyl acetate and methylene chloride, although there has been some controversy about the latter because exposure to high amounts of the substance can be toxic and lead to damage of the central nervous system. ![]() I just switched to Sanka, so have a heart.")īenzene is no longer used for decaffeinating coffee because it's a known carcinogen. (In the 1982 movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," a biology teacher pleads with his students, "I'm a little slow today. The coffee was sold as "Sanka" in the United States by General Foods, and was a mid-20th-century staple - and occasional punchline. His company, Kaffee HAG, was the first to produce instant decaf coffee. Roselius then figured out he could use benzene - a chemical that, at the time, was also used in paint strippers and aftershave - as a solvent to remove caffeine from coffee beans. He found that the coffee had been stripped of its caffeine content but still basically tasted like coffee, albeit a bit salty. Instead of tossing the beans, Roselius decided to process and test them. According to Atlas Obscura, one bit of lore about the origins of decaf claims that Roselius received a shipment of coffee beans that was soaked in seawater. The first commercially successful decaffeination method was invented around 1905, by German coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius. But there are different ways of washing that caffeine out of the beans. Generally, decaffeination involves water-logging coffee beans when they're still green (before roasting) so that the caffeine inside can be made soluble, meaning that it can be dissolved. On a parting note, if you want to do *all* the things to reduce your caffeine intake further, Pasquariello advises reducing your portion size, diluting your drink with additional water or milk, or giving decaf coffee and tea the cold shoulder completely by swapping it for caffeine-free herbal tea instead."There are a couple very large companies that own their own decaf plants, but beyond that every other company either contracts directly with a decaffeination company or they contract through an importer," David Kastle, a senior vice president at the Canada-based company Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee, told Live Science. “There's always room for innovation in the coffee space given the complexity of the processes involved in producing and brewing it, so it will be interesting to see what further evolution takes place on the decaf front,” says Pasquariello. “They actually call their coffee ‘uncaf’ and are changing the game even further by brewing and then freeze-drying their beans, which results in a dissolvable instant decaf coffee.” From there, she explains that they add other good-for-you ingredients-think gut- and immune-boosters inulin, mesquite, and adaptogenic mushroom powders. “If you're hyper-sensitive to caffeine but still love the taste of your morning cup, it could be worth checking out brands that are approaching decaffeination with more rigorous standards,” Pasquariello shares, citing Velty as one of her RD-approved options. Of course, there are always exceptions, which is where Pasquariello’s tips can come to the rescue. So if you enjoy a cup or two of either per day, there’s a decent chance that you won’t (literally) lose sleep over your intake it also won’t hurt to limit consumption to mornings or early afternoons. To reiterate, although caffeine is present in both decaf coffee and decaf tea, it’s in far less quantities than their caffeinated counterparts. These points considered, you can rest assured that your mug of decaf coffee still won’t come close to containing the amount of caffeine in a standard cup of joe, no matter which brand you choose and how you brew it. “Brewing at a higher temperature-or using smaller grinds, and/or with a longer brew time-would all individually increase the amount of caffeine, yet these factors tend to be more of a concern when we're talking about caffeinated coffee brewing,” Pasquariello says. “Certain brands of decaf will use different decaffeination processes so the levels will differ slightly because of that, but usually not to a degree that the average consumer would be likely to detect,” she explains.Īdditional factors that may influence how much caffeine you’ll get from your decaf coffee include: With that in mind, how much caffeine will actually make it into your system will also depend on the brand of coffee you choose-but Pasquariello says this isn’t a highly significant factor. ![]()
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