Decaffeinated coffee: beneficial properties and contraindications

Many people like the taste of coffee, but caffeine is contraindicated for some. However, in this case, it is not necessary to completely abandon the flavored drink, since there is an alternative in the form of decaffeinated coffee. Features, useful properties, as well as contraindications of its use will be discussed in more detail in this article.

Caffeine is an ambiguous substance - it can both benefit the body and cause harm. The negative impact on the body is mainly in the case of excessive consumption of coffee. However, coffee lovers do not necessarily limit themselves to the pleasure derived from the taste and aroma of the drink. On the shelves of shops you can also see decaffeinated coffee.

To reduce the caffeine content in the product, you must use special technology. Today, there are several ways to decaffeinate, which have their own characteristics. The quality of the drink will largely depend on the way caffeine is removed.

This method of decaffeination, as the Swiss, is one of the first and most effective. This method reduces the amount of caffeine to 0.1%. Consider how this process occurs.

• Coffee beans are placed in clean water and left to infuse. During this procedure, caffeine and various oils go into the liquid.
• Next, the water is filtered. To do this, use special devices that are able to extract caffeine from the liquid.
• After filtration, the water retains its aroma, and therefore coffee beans are again poured over it, but others are already. Thus, the process is repeated, and caffeine is washed out of the product, but the aroma and taste, thanks to the fragrant oils contained in the water, are preserved.

The traditional decaffeinating method began to be applied first, which is why it bears this name. Other names of this method: European or direct. The process of caffeine removal by the traditional method involves several operations.

• Grain coffee is exposed to steam for half an hour. Instead of steam, water is sometimes used. In this case, the liquid should be a high temperature, but not boiling water.
• After steaming or soaking in hot water, the grains are immersed in a special chemical composition to remove the caffeine. This stage lasts about ten hours.
• After processing the grains with a solution, they are poured with boiling water, washed, and then dried.

This method of decaffeination is used most often, as it does not require large expenditures. The caffeine content in the product can be reduced to 1-3 percent. The cost of this coffee is low. However, the taste characteristics leave much to be desired.

The fact is that the chemical composition used to process the grains is not completely removed from them. First of all, this greatly affects the taste and aroma of the drink. In addition, many useful substances are washed out from coffee along with caffeine. For this reason, the quality and taste characteristics of the product processed according to the European method are low.

The indirect method of grain processing can be called a variation of the traditional method, since they are very similar to each other. However, in this case, the aroma and taste of the drink will be more saturated. When processing the grains in an indirect way at the first stage, they are soaked in hot water.

After keeping the product in liquid for several hours, it is placed in the chemical composition. At the same time, the water used for soaking is not poured, but reused. Re-use of the liquid allows you to keep the taste and aroma of coffee.

Processing coffee beans with carbon dioxide is, along with the Swiss method, environmentally friendly. Processing takes place under high pressure for ten hours. Pre-grain exposed to steam. During this time, the gas is gradually transformed into a liquid, in which as a result caffeine remains. Gas takes only caffeine, leaving all the healthy ingredients and fragrant oils in coffee.

In nature, there are plants, the fruits of which contain almost no caffeine. This property of grain was obtained due to the gene mutations of coffee trees. Found such plants were relatively recently in Brazil. Instead of caffeine, the grain contains another related alkaloid, which poses no danger to the body.

A low caffeine drink has almost the same properties as regular coffee. Among the main advantages of the decaffeinated product are several factors.

• It has a moderate tonic effect on the body. This increases not only physical performance, but also brain activity.
• Promotes better glucose uptake and reduces the risk of diabetes.
• Improves the work of the digestive system.
• Normalizes blood pressure.
• Special oils that are contained in grains play a protective role for the liver. Besides the fact that the drink protects the liver from harmful substances, it also helps to eliminate toxins and toxins.

Because of the low caffeine content, the decaffeinated drink seems more useful than regular coffee. However, this product has several disadvantages. Most often, the cons of the drink due to the method of processing of grains. If methods with the use of chemical solutions were used for decaffeination, then harmful substances after processing the grains remain in them.

In turn, the presence of chemical impurities can adversely affect the state of the body when using such a drink. Most often, a negative effect on the health of decaffeinated coffee has only the case of frequent consumption. You can highlight some of the disadvantages of this drink.

• Excessive consumption of decaffeinated product can cause fluid pressure inside the eye. This disease, in turn, increases the risk of a disease such as glaucoma.
• Increases the level of acidity of the stomach.
• It promotes the removal of fluid from the body, which can lead to dehydration, especially if you consume a large amount of drink in hot weather. Calcium leaves the body along with fluid and harmful substances, which negatively affects the state of bones.
• Decaffeinated product, just like regular coffee, is addictive. Dependence leads to rapid fatigue of the body and an apathetic state.

Methods of brewing a caffeine-free coffee drink are no different from making ordinary coffee. To make the taste and aroma of coffee more vivid and rich, it is important not only to use a quality product, but also to take only purified fresh water for brewing.

As for the proportions, 180 milliliters of hot water is taken per 10 grams of ground beans. Pour boiling water over the product is not necessary, as this will suffer from the taste characteristics of the drink. Coffee can be brewed right in the cup, covering it with a saucer and insisting four minutes.

Although decaffeinated coffee contains almost no caffeine, it is very often not recommended to use it. The recommended daily intake of a coffee drink is two cups. The maximum allowed amount of caffeine consumed coffee is four cups, provided that there are no health problems.

As for the use of coffee without caffeine during pregnancy, the opinions of experts differ on this issue. For complete safety, it is better to completely give up caffeine, even in small quantities, as this can provoke a miscarriage or premature birth.

However, if the expectant mother cannot do without coffee, it is still possible to afford a small amount of a decaffeinated beverage. In this case, it is recommended to restrict one cup per day, provided that the pregnancy proceeds without complications, and there are no serious health problems.

Nursing moms from caffeine, even in small quantities, it is better to give up completely. This is due to the danger that caffeine poses to the body of a newborn baby with HB. In addition to caffeine, the decaffeinated beverage may contain harmful chemical compounds that penetrate into the grains at the processing stage.

Until the age of seven, children are not recommended to consume caffeine, even in small amounts. However, even after seven years, the amount of coffee should be minimal — no more than one serving per month. Children over ten years old are allowed to drink one cup once every two weeks.

In order for caffeine-free coffee to bring maximum benefit from its use, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of product. You can preview popular coffee brands and customer reviews.

A high quality product does not contain harmful substances, and its taste characteristics practically do not differ from ordinary coffee. To choose the best coffee from the market, you need to take into account various factors.

• On the product packaging is usually indicated a method of processing grains. It should be remembered that coffee, which was processed by chemical compounds, contains harmful substances.
• Product price. In this case, the high cost still speaks about the quality of the coffee, since the price depends on the cost of the decaffeination process.
• The degree of roasting. Unlike ordinary coffee beans, the processed product needs gentle and not too strong roasting.
• The amount of caffeine that is contained in the product. Depending on the decaffeination method, the percentage of caffeine varies with different brands of coffee. However, this figure should not exceed 2.5%.
• It is best to opt for a well-known brand of coffee.
• A quality product must be sold in a tightly closed container. You should not buy decaf coffee sold in specialized shops by weight.

For more information about decaffeinated coffee, see the following video.