Introduction to Starbuck’s Decaf Coffee
Starbucks Corporation is an American coffee company and Coffeehouse Chain. It is based in Seattle, Washington and has become one of the world’s most successful companies. Starbucks offers a variety of high-quality coffees, including decaf coffee. Decaf coffee, while still containing a small amount of caffeine, is essentially a coffee with almost all the caffeine removed.
Caffeine Removal
The process of removing the caffeine from coffee start before the beans are even picked. Farmers choose beans that are lower in caffeine, as those will produce a decaffeinated coffee; Robusta beans contain up to twice as much caffeine as Arabica beans. Once the beans are picked, they are shipped to Starbucks where they are processed with water and steam to extract the caffeine, whilst preserving the coffee’s flavor. In the U.S. this method is called ‘Swiss Water method’, whereas outside the U.S. is known as the ‘Safe Water method’. The beans are then dried and roasted to ensure uniform flavor.
Caffeine Content
The amount of caffeine that is removed during decaffeination depends on the method used, but it is estimated that 97–99% of the caffeine is removed during the process. To put this into perspective, a standard cup of Starbucks coffee contains between 195-400 milligrams of caffeine, whereas a cup of decaf contains around 5-10 milligrams. So, while decaffeinated coffee is not entirely caffeine free, it does contain far less than a regular cup of coffee.
Health Benefits
Drinking decaf coffee provides many of the same benefits as regular coffee, such as antioxidants which help to reduce inflammation and improve heart health. Furthermore, those who suffer from anxiety, insomnia or high blood pressure can enjoy the taste of coffee without the worry of raising their caffeine levels. Even those who don’t particularly like the taste of coffee can benefit from the aroma and flavor of decaffeinated coffee without any of the effects of caffeine.
Environmental Friendliness of Decaffeination
The decaffeination process is beneficial to the environment in a number of ways. Firstly, due to the fact that it takes fewer coffee beans to produce decaffeinated coffee, farmers can grow less beans and the coffee needs far less packaging, resulting in the overall shipping and transportation costs being greatly reduced. Secondly, the technology behind decaffeination means that the process is highly efficient. Thus, the energy and water requirements for the process are far lower than for other coffee processes.
Pros and Cons of Decaf Coffee
The pros of decaf coffee include its ability to provide coffee drinkers with a lower dose of caffeine, allowing them to enjoy the taste of coffee without the stimulating effects of caffeine. Moreover, decaffeinated coffee has been linked to reduced inflammation and improved heart health due to the presence of antioxidants. On the other hand, the cons of decaffeinated coffee include its slightly higher cost, the fact that some of the flavor compounds are lost during decaffeination, and the increased environmental impact due to the need for more coffee beans.
Alternatives to Decaf Coffee
For those who want to reduce their caffeine intake without giving up coffee, there are several alternatives. One option is to switch to tea which, although it still contains small amounts of caffeine, has far lower concentrations in comparison to coffee. Many people also opt for coffee substitutes such as chicory, dandelion coffee and roasted grains, which are caffeine free. Finally, some people even opt for coffee alternatives such as matcha and yerba mate which are naturally lower in caffeine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, decaffeinated coffee provides coffee drinkers with an alternative to regular coffee that is lower in caffeine and still has many of the same benefits as its caffeinated counterpart. While decaf does come with some cons, it is a great way for those looking to reduce their caffeine intake to enjoy the taste of coffee without any of the stimulating effects of caffeine.
