A standard cup of regular coffee holds about 95 milligrams of caffeine. Decaf, on the other hand, has just 2 to 5 milligrams per cup.
That’s a huge drop, like going from a rocket ship to a tricycle. So if you’re sensitive to the jitters, decaf is your new best buddy.
For everyone else? Regular coffee is your go-to for morning wake-ups, late-night deadlines, or pretending you’re a functional human at 6 AM.
How Do They Decaffeinate Coffee, Anyway?
Great question! It sounds weird, but it’s actually pretty cool. There are three main methods, and none of them involve tiny caffeine-sniffing hamsters (sadly).
The Swiss Water Process uses—you guessed it—water and osmosis to soak out the caffeine. It’s like giving your beans a spa day, but they leave the pool a little tired.
Another method uses chemical solvents like ethyl acetate (found naturally in fruit). Sounds scary? Don’t worry; it’s all washed away before you brew. Your coffee isn’t secretly a science experiment.
Then there’s the carbon dioxide method, where CO₂ acts like a magnet for caffeine. It’s fancy, expensive, and makes your coffee feel like it belongs in a lab coat.
