Decaf vs regular coffee (What are the key differences?)

Decaf Vs Regular Coffee: Which Is Better For Who?

1. Health Benefits

When it comes to decaf vs regular coffee, the great news is that both offer some nice health benefits - particularly if you drink it regularly.

They offer essentially the same health benefits, with regular coffee having a slight edge.

Both reduce the risk of various conditions, as decaf beans still contain beneficial qualities like antioxidant content.

Whether you drink regular coffee or decaf, you will benefit from reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and premature death, along with enhanced liver function.[1]

On top of that, both types are linked to preventing aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

In one study, drinking 3 to 5 cups of regular coffee per day at mid-life was linked to a lowered risk of both by approximately 65% at late life.[2]

It's also been discovered that both regular and decaf coffee help protect the liver and the brain's neurons, which is likely the reason for these numerous health benefits.

If you do drink caffeinated regular coffee, there are an array of additional benefits to enjoy:

2. Acidity

Many think it's all about caffeine content with decaf vs regular when it comes to acidity, and this is usually true.

This is because the Robusta beans are more acidic, with a higher caffeine content.

Caffeine has been known to trigger GERD symptoms, so many susceptible to heartburn avoid caffeine in both coffee and even tea.[3]

Arabica beans are much less acidic, with a smoother taste, and are often used to make decaf coffee.

The pH of decaf coffee is still around 5.0, though, so you still need to be aware of that if acidity bothers you.

3. Taste

Many coffee lovers actually love the taste of the beverage. A regular cup has a signature strong, bold taste.

However, depending on the roasting process and coffee beans used, it can often taste very bitter, as well.

Decaf coffee beans lose a lot of that flavor, with a more flat or even watery taste.

Some perceive it as smoother and perhaps even a bit sweet, which is great for those who prefer a more subdued flavor profile.

If you're trying to switch to decaf coffee for health reasons, you'll likely have to try a few brands to discover the best decaf cup for your preference.

4. Caffeine Content

As you can probably already guess, regular coffee contains a much more significant quantity of caffeine than decaf coffee.

If you’re looking to reduce your caffeine intake, drinking decaf coffee can be a big help.

On average, regular coffee contains anywhere from 70 to 140 mg of caffeine per 8oz cup, while decaf coffee contains 0 to 7 mg.

This is a minuscule amount, considering even hot chocolate contains more (19 mg)!

5. For Pregnant Women

If you want to continue to drink coffee while pregnant, make sure to pay attention to caffeine intake, and go for organic beans when you can.

Caffeine-free beverages are the way to go unless you can limit yourself to a cup of coffee (regular) or two per day.

Drinking decaf or decaf and regular mixed (half-caff) may be preferable for you, as you won't consume too much caffeine and minimize the chances of caffeine withdrawal by going cold turkey.

6. For Losing Weight

Caffeinated coffee is a fantastic beverage for aiding in weight loss, as it can boost energy levels. This can give you the motivation you need to go to the gym or simply be more active.

One study even found that drinking 4 cups of coffee per day could reduce body fat by around 4%.[4]

Benefits & Drawbacks Of Drinking Decaf Coffee

Pros

Decaf coffee has become one of the most popular beverages in recent years, thanks to offering certain benefits a regular cup of coffee may not be able to.

Cons

While decaf coffee is full of benefits, it isn’t the perfect beverage for everyone. Let’s take a look at some of the “cons.”

The Decaffeination Process Explained

There are a lot of misconceptions about how decaffeinated coffee came to be in the first place.

Essentially, the result is beans with the caffeine removed. As caffeine is what gives the liquid gold its flavor, it's no wonder decaf coffee taste is often lacking.

There are even some countries and companies who genetically modify the plant which produces the coffee bean: Coffea. This way, the plant grows beans that have little-to-no caffeine.

As you can imagine, this is pretty pricey and makes for a very limited product in terms of availability.

Here are the three most common methods of decaffeination:

Chemical Decaffeination

This process uses chemicals like Methylene chloride, which is used in paint removers or ethyl acetate.

The chemical is normally added to the coffee and water mixture, evaporating the water to remove caffeine while retaining a good amount of the flavor.

Swiss Water Process

This is known to be the healthiest process of the three, making coffee decaffeinated through a charcoal filter.

This extraction process filters out caffeine from the water - no other chemicals required.

Liquid Carbon Dioxide

This is considered to be the second-best method for creating decaf coffee, utilizing liquid carbon dioxide to dissolve the caffeine in the mixture without the need for harsh chemicals.

Advantages & Disadvantages Of Regular Coffee Drinks

We know that when it comes to decaf vs regular, both offer many of the same benefits. Let’s talk a bit more about the benefits that are allocated just to regular coffee.

Pros

Cons

How Is Regular Coffee Normally Prepared?

Now that you have a good idea of how decaf coffee is prepared, you may be curious as to how regular coffee is made.

First, they take unroasted beans, which are essentially the seeds of berries of the Coffea plant.

Then, they'll roast them to one of the following gradings: light, medium-light, medium-dark, dark, or very dark. Darker roasts and Arabica beans are less acidic than lighter roasts.

There’s also a misconception that the dark roast contains less caffeine, but this isn’t exactly true. Beans are measured in volume, and darker beans swell up more as they’re roasted.

However, if you measure the caffeine content per bean, it’s still the same.

Starbucks actually used to teach their baristas that their light roasts contained more caffeine, but again, this has been debunked.

FAQs

How many cups of decaf coffee equals a cup of regular coffee?

We'll assume that the decaf coffee is on the high end of the caffeine spectrum, with 7 mg per 8 oz. So even on your second or third cup, you wouldn't come close to one cup of regular coffee.

You'd need to drink a whopping 10 to 20 cups of decaf to match the caffeine intake of a regular cup of coffee.

Does decaf coffee have diuretic properties?

No, it does not, due to its lack of caffeine content.  

Who should choose decaf over regular coffee?

If you're pregnant or simply trying to reduce caffeine intake, decaf is perfect.

Children, adolescents, and those diagnosed with anxiety or insomnia could also benefit from switching to decaf.

If you have a caffeine addiction, you may see progress by mixing in some decaf and increasing it over a period of time until you're no longer addicted.

How many people drink decaf coffee over regular coffee?

In just the US, the National Coffee Association has revealed that in 2018, the per capita of decaf coffee consumption was 0.24 cups per day.

Moreover, over 70% of those consumers were 60 years old and up, which is interesting as caffeine offers many benefits for older people.

Can decaf coffee cause weight gain?

No, as it is naturally very low in calories. However, you may feel more inclined to add cream or sugar to enhance the flat flavor in decaf, which could raise the calorie content.

Caffeine offers potential weight loss benefits, however, so if you are looking to lose weight, you may want to go with a regular cup of coffee instead.

Conclusion

Now that you’re practically an expert in all things decaf vs regular coffee, do you have a better idea of which you’d like to drink?

Many ask, “is decaf coffee bad?” or “is having a decaf cup better for me?”

When it comes to regular vs decaf coffee, it all depends on your body, your goals, how much caffeine you can tolerate, and your preferences.

They each come with their own set of pros and cons.

References:

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/01/well/eat/coffee-study-lower-dying-risk.html
2. https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad01404
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/coffee-tea#caffeine-and-gerd
4. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/four-cups-of-coffee-modest-loss-of-body-fat/