The amount of these other substances in coffee, both regular and decaf, can be affected by the type of coffee bean, how it is roasted, and how the coffee is brewed. In one study looking at coffee intake and risk of death from various causes, both caffeinated and decaf coffee were associated with a lower risk of death. There is also some scientific research suggesting that coffee may help protect against neurologic diseases like: These various substances can have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Coffee has many different substances in it - not just caffeine - that can positively affect health. Yes, decaf coffee can have many of the same health benefits as regular coffee. Does decaf coffee have the same health benefits as regular coffee? Soaking the beans removes almost all of the caffeine. But the beans are warmed and then, before roasting, soaked in water and solvents. Normally, coffee beans start out green and become brown and flavorful after roasting.ĭecaf coffee is made from the same green coffee beans. How is decaf coffee made?ĭecaf coffee is made from the same beans as regular coffee. Decaf coffee tastes like regular coffee, but it has a lower risk of the caffeine-related side effects. Decaf coffee has 2 mg, which is about 97% less caffeine.

Regular coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine. What is decaf coffee?ĭecaf coffee is coffee that has almost all of the caffeine removed. It has many of the same health benefits as regular coffee and is less likely to cause side effects. But some people may prefer to avoid caffeine even if they like the taste of coffee or how it may improve their health.ĭecaffeinated coffee, commonly called decaf, has much less caffeine than regular coffee. In short, though some studies suggest that decaffeinated coffee is linked to health benefits, more research is needed.Coffee can have many health benefits in addition to giving you a boost in the morning. Zivkovic says, however, that we should interpret such results with caution because 'it is very possible and likely that people who choose decaf are also making other ‘healthy' lifestyle choices.' The reduced risk was seen for both decaf and regular coffee.Īnother study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2008 found that coffee-drinking in general was not associated with a higher risk of dying from any cause, and even further, those who drank decaf were slightly less likely than those who drank regular to die from any cause. Zivkovic, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of nutrition at the University of California, Davis, and we don't yet have a firm answer.Ī 2014 meta-analysis published in the journal Diabetes Care and led by researchers from Harvard found that those who drank six cups of coffee per day had a 33 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who drank no coffee. This is a tough question to answer, says Angela M. The bottom line, Ristenpart says, is that the solvents used in the decaffeination process today are much safer than they used to be, and they are generally found on beans only in trace amounts.īecause decaffeination itself is generally considered safe, the bigger question is whether decaf has the same health benefits as regular coffee. But as with methylene chloride, the ethyl acetate is typically produced synthetically and carries some risks at high doses. The agency strictly limits its presence to no more than 10 parts per million, or 0.001 percent, of the final product.Ĭoffee producers will sometimes say that beans decaffeinated with ethyl acetate are 'naturally decaffeinated' because the compound is naturally found in some produce. In 1999, however, the FDA concluded that the trace amounts you get in decaf coffee are too minuscule to affect your health. At higher doses, it can cause headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue, and has been found to cause liver and lung cancer in animals.

When inhaled in small doses it can cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. While experts agree that the Swiss Water Process and liquid carbon dioxide don't introduce any health risks, methylene chloride is controversial in some coffee circles.

Caffeinated coffee