Can you even imagine a world without decaffeinated coffee? Although the popularity of this drink has reached epic proportions in contemporary society, it wasn’t even made for the first time until 1905.
While most of us who drink decaf just order or make it without a second thought, there are plenty of interesting things to consider about this drink. Here are some things that you might not know about it!
It Actually Contains Some Caffeine
While decaffeinated coffee is often assumed to be free of caffeine, that isn’t actually the case. Most decaf coffee contains under 3% of its original caffeine content, but that still amounts to 5-10 milligrams in a standard cup.
The Caffeine is Typically Removed with Water
The most common decaffeination method in current times is called the “Swiss Water Process” and it utilizes the solubility of caffeine to its advantages. Green, non-toasted coffee beans are soaked in hot water to dissolve the caffeine and use a non-chemical alternative to earlier methods.
Scientists Are Working to Develop a Caffeine-Free Bean
While decaf beans are still made using processes like the Swiss Water Method, there is actually ongoing scientific work to create a caffeine-free coffee bean. “Decaffito” is the commercial name given to this alternative, which is currently being developed by scientists as they attempt to remove the gene for caffeine synthase in normal coffee plants.