Is decaf coffee good for you?

Decaf coffee can be a great option for people who like the taste of coffee but don’t want the effects of caffeine. 

Everyone feels these effects differently, and some of us are particularly sensitive to caffeine. This can cause unwanted symptoms, like restlessness and disrupted sleep.

People without this sensitivity may just prefer decaf in the afternoon or evening because it doesn’t keep them up.

At ZOE, we know that every body is unique. With the ZOE at-home test, you can learn about your body’s responses to food and discover which bugs make up your gut microbiome.

With this information, we can provide nutrition advice tailored to your unique body.

Take our free quiz to get started.

How is decaf coffee made?

Because the manufacturing process is different from that of regular coffee, there’s a slight difference in taste. 

Producers decaffeinate coffee beans when the beans are raw, before the roasting stage. This involves using a solvent to remove the caffeine, and this doesn’t affect the other components of the bean.

There are several variations of this process, including:

• the Swiss water process, which uses water as the solvent

• the supercritical carbon dioxide process, which uses heavily compressed liquid carbon dioxide

• the sugar cane process, which uses a fermented molasses compound

Decaf coffee has 97% less caffeine than regular coffee, leaving up to about 7 milligrams of caffeine per cup. In comparison, a regular cup of coffee has 70–140 mg of caffeine.  

Why decaffeination affects the taste

Coffee expert James Hoffman spoke about decaf coffee on a ZOE podcast. He told us that decaffeinating the bean reduces its density and increases the risk of the coffee going stale. 

This is because the process removes oil from inside the bean, so more air can enter, potentially causing staleness. All of this complicates the roasting process.

So, decaf doesn’t automatically taste worse than regular coffee, but it’s harder to keep fresh. James recommends buying whole beans and grinding them at home to prevent staleness.

Benefits of decaf coffee

The health advantages of drinking decaf coffee are similar to those of caffeinated coffee. 

Many studies, however, have failed to distinguish between the two types, or they’ve only looked at caffeinated coffee.

A good source of fiber

As ZOE Co-Founder Tim Spector points out, coffee is a high-fiber drink. 

“It's probably the drink you have regularly that contains the most fiber. There's more fiber in it than a glass of orange juice.”

He explains that coffee also provides a diverse range of fiber types. These feed the trillions of microbes that together make up your gut microbiome. 

Fiber can provide a variety of health benefits, such as:

• more regular bowel movements

• improved gut and heart health

• better cholesterol levels

• better blood sugar control

• a lower risk of certain cancers

It may also help support weight loss. 

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Rich in polyphenols

Coffee contains plenty of polyphenols, specifically a type called phenolic acids. 

These work as antioxidants — molecules that combat the effects of harmful molecules called free radicals.

A diet rich in polyphenols may provide a number of health benefits, including:

• better blood sugar control

• a lower risk of heart disease

• skin protection

• a reduced risk of cancer

• better gut health

• improved memory function

Lowered risk of all-cause mortality

A 2021 meta-analysis found that people who drank 3 cups of coffee a day had a risk of all-cause mortality that was 13% lower than the risk for people who never or rarely drank coffee.

The findings were similar whether the coffee was decaf or caffeinated. 

This analysis looked at 21 studies, together including more than 10 million participants and data from more than 240,000 deaths.

Protection from liver and heart disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can lead to more severe, chronic liver disease. 

Coffee may protect people with NAFLD from developing liver fibrosis — scarring caused by damage over time — according to a 2021 review of five studies. 

A large review also concluded that coffee, whether caffeinated or decaf, was linked with having less severe NAFLD in people who also had type 2 diabetes and overweight. 

Suitable for people who avoid caffeine

Obviously, one big benefit of decaf coffee is that it doesn’t have much caffeine. This can prevent some unwanted effects.

Decaf may be safer for people who need to stay away from significant amounts of caffeine. This includes people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

It also includes people with certain health issues, such as:

• recurring headaches

• migraine

• anxiety

• high blood pressure

• arrhythmia

• gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD

Risks of decaf coffee

There’s little evidence that drinking decaf has any risks, according to a 2017 review of meta-analyses.

How much caffeine should I have?

Decaf coffee can be useful for people who avoid caffeine, as well as people who have hit their daily limit.

The FDA recommends limiting your daily caffeine intake to 400 mg, which would be 4–5 cups of coffee. 

You might be getting near “too much caffeine” if you’re experiencing:

• anxiousness and a low mood

• jitters and restlessness

• a rapid heartbeat

• an upset stomach and nausea

• headaches

Summary

Producers make decaf coffee by removing caffeine from coffee beans with a solvent before roasting them.

The solvent leaves many of the other components, and the flavor, relatively untouched. 

This means that decaf has many of the health benefits of regular coffee. It provides fiber and polyphenols, supporting your gut health and possibly benefiting your heart health.

However, it’s important to remember that decaf coffee does contain a small amount of caffeine.

Like most aspects of your diet, the choice between regular and decaf is highly individual. Your body responds in a unique way to what you eat and drink. 

ZOE’s at-home test can teach you about your unique blood sugar and blood fat responses, and give you a breakdown of the bugs in your gut microbiome. From this, we also provide personalized nutrition advice.  

To learn more, take our free quiz.