Have you made the switch to decaf?

This last lockdown threw my sleep into chaos so I've been on decaf for the last few months and am loving it!

But did you know there are several ways to actually decaffeinate a coffee bean...and some are healthier than others?

1. Water decaf: The Swiss water method soaks the green, unroasted beans in water and then the caffeine is strained through activated charcoal which captures the caffeine leaving the beans relatively caffeine free! This is the healthiest form of decaffeinating and what you want to look for when buying decaf coffee! Organic decaf coffee is decaffeinated using the water method

2. Chemical decaf: This process involves soaking the beans in a solvent (methylene chloride or ethyl acetate) to strip the caffeine during the green bean stage. This process got the tick of approval from the FDA due to the low amount of chemicals actually in the final product but it's definitely the least healthy way to bean (methylene chloride is used as paint stripper)

3. Carbon dioxide decaf: This is when the green beans are soaked in water and then blasted with high pressure CO2. The CO2 binds with the caffeine molecules and draws them out of the bean

While it's more difficult to find decent decaf due to the fact that the flavouring can be pulled out of the bean during the decaffeination process, it is possible!

However decaf coffee is NEVER going to be 100% decaffeinated (all processes remove about 97% of caffeine) so if you are suffering insomnia, mood swings or anxiety switching to a herbal tea might be better for you

Who's on team decaf or are you on team death before decaf?