Do you know that drinking too much coffee can lead to insomnia, severe dehydration, and migraine? If you are a coffee-lover and can’t give up your morning dose of Caffeine, switch to decaf coffee!
A cup of coffee with a rich taste and less caffeine content? Sounds enticing, right? Let’s see how you can make one at home.
Please note that decaf coffee is a variation of coffee that is not entirely caffeine free. Your coffee will still have 3% of caffeine left after you decaffeinate it.
How to make decaf coffee at home?
Start with boiling water in a kettle. Pour it over ground coffee and let it rest. Make sure the water isn’t too hot or it will burn the coffee. Extract the water from the grounds and repeat the process one more time.
Your decaffeinated coffee is ready!
Here are some points to remember while making decaf coffee:
- After boiling the water, let it rest for a few minutes before pouring it.
- Using a grinder will greatly enhance the taste of your decaf brew. If you can use one, it will give you the best results.
- Pour hot water into the grounds ideally at 96°C for enhanced taste.
- 180 ml of fresh water into 10 gms of ground coffee will do the best.
Also, learn how you can make Espresso in a drip coffee maker.
Is decaf coffee healthy?
You will be surprised to know that decaf coffee hosts the same level of nutrients as regular coffee. So, while most of the caffeine is extracted from your decaf, the nutrients are still intact. Just like any other type of coffee, if consumed within a limit, decaf is also a healthy drink.
Decaf and regular coffee are rich in antioxidants and some other nutrients needed for our bodies to function.
Research suggests that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia.
Please note that most studies focus on the health benefits of regular coffee. There is no direct study linking decaf coffee with health benefits.
How much caffeine is present in decaf coffee?
As I said, decaf is not a caffeine-free drink. So, there is still a negligible amount of caffeine present in your decaf.
The decaffeination process removes about 97% of caffeine content from the coffee beans prior to roasting. About 3% of caffeine, which roughly makes up 2mg per cup, is still present in your coffee.
The amount of caffeine in your decaf can vary depending on the process and equipment you use. Usually, 0-7 mg of caffeine is present in your decaf drink. But relax! It’s a lot less than what you drink in a regular cup of coffee.
According to a study, a regular cup of coffee contains about 70-160 mg of caffeine on average. Compared to this, it seems like decaf contains no caffeine at all!
How to make decaf espresso?
If you have a countertop espresso machine, making decaffeinated espresso shots is just a matter of minutes. Grind the decaf coffee beans to the finest, toss the grounds into an espresso machine, press with a tamper, and pull the shot. Voila, your cup of decaf espresso is ready!
But here are a few things you need to know while making decaf espresso:
- 9gms of coffee beans are sufficient to make a single espresso shot.
- The finer the coffee grind, the better will be the final brew.
- Experiment with different variations of coffee grinds and decide on one that gives the best results.
Never used an espresso machine before? Read our espresso machine 101 to learn everything!
Can you make decaf coffee taste better?
While decaf coffee may be a suitable and healthier option for many, we can’t deny that it tastes a little bland. For regular coffee drinkers used to the rich and creamy taste of a latte or a mocha, decaf is just a bitter brew.
So, how can you improve its taste? Here’s our recipe to create a decaf iced coffee that tastes even better than the regular one:
- Add hot water to decaffeinated coffee and mix until dissolved.
- Add cold water, sugar, and a pinch of vanilla essence.
- Pour the coffee mixture into a glass filled with ice cubes and stir.
- Add cold milk on the top and enjoy!
Bonus Tip: Use a strong concentration of decaf coffee to pour over ice cubes. This helps the coffee to dissolve on the melting ice, resulting in a better and richer taste.
What other solvents are used to decaffeinate coffee?
Almost all decaffeination processes use a solvent to dissolve the caffeine present in the green, unroasted coffee beans. Using water as the solvent is the most viable option for people decaffeinating their coffee at home. But unfortunately, it’s not the most effective method.
Dissolving your coffee in water results in the loss of antioxidants and other nutrients along with caffeine. Therefore, professional decaffeination processes use chemical solvents to dissolve coffee beans.
Activated charcoal, CO2, methyl acetate, and methylene chloride are some common solvents used for decaffeination. These agents help remove the caffeine content from the coffee beans while preventing the loss of important nutrients.
Conclusion:
Decaf coffee is a simple ground coffee with 97% less caffeine content. People with high blood pressure, migraine, and digestive issues are often advised to switch to decaf.
It’s simple to brew a cup of decaf coffee at home. You will need boiled water and ground coffee beans to get started. If you have an espresso machine at home, you can also use the decaffeinated coffee to make yourself an espresso shot.
Follow the instructions provided in this article to decaffeinate coffee and enjoy its richness in a healthier way!
