The great people at Swiss Water originally published this article in Sept 2015, it is so spot on that I just had to share it.
You may live, breathe and love great coffee – but sometimes, you don’t love what caffeine does to you.
You might assume that you have to choose between caffeine or quality. But this not the case; especially where Swiss Water® is concerned.
Decaf coffee has come a long way since its inception. Unfortunately, some still think that decaf coffee tastes stale or odd, like it surely did back then. However, so many things have changed, even in the past few years. So if you haven’t tried decaffeinated coffee in a while, now is a great time to give it a second chance. But before you do, it’s important to note that not all decaf is created equal.
First and foremost, there are several different processes used to remove caffeine. There also are vast differences in the quality and type of beans used, depending on where you buy your coffee, and which company was behind the caffeine removal process. It pays to do your homework, and to understand the differences, because these can have remarkable effects on the taste and quality of your coffee.
There are also some common myths surrounding decaffeinated coffee, which might be influencing your perception. Let’s take a look at the top 4 myths we have found:
Myth 1 – Decaf contains harsh or harmful chemicals. Swiss Water® Process is 100% chemical-free. Water (from the Coast Mountains of BC), coffee, time, and temperature, are the only elements Swiss Water® uses to remove caffeine. Learn to ask the right questions to ensure you get the best experience possible.
Myth 2 – Decaf tastes funny. A chemical free process allows Swiss Water® Decaf to preserve the beans’ subtle and distinct origin and flavor characteristics; therefore leaving you with great tasting coffee. Ask around at your favorite coffee shops about the type of beans they use, and the type of decaf process. It can make a huge difference.
Myth 3 – Coffee’s health benefits come from caffeine. Most health benefits derived from coffee come from the antioxidants effect of the polyphenols contained within the coffee, regardless of whether there is caffeine in it or not. In fact, some of the health benefits are even stronger when the caffeine has been removed.
Myth 4 – Even decaf contains a significant amount of caffeine. Coffee decaffeinated with Swiss Water® Process is actually 99.9 percent caffeine free – which is certainly not enough residual caffeine to keep you up at night.
Armed with this information, set off to your favorite café. Try going late in the evening, and order a cup of really good coffee – one that happens to be caffeine free. We know the coffee lover in you will be pleasantly surprised.