Really just a cream and sugar delivery device

November 4, 2015 8:12 AM

I would like to drink decaf coffee. I have a nursling and it seems that my regular brand of decaf (Costco brand) still contains enough caffeine that it disrupts his sleep. Are there any brands of decaf that are known to contain a lesser amount of caffeine that the average brand?

I am aware of course that the amount of caffeine in any given cup of coffee varies due to the beans, and the brew time. But hopefully there is a brand where they have attempted to strip out more of the caffeine that the average brand. Let's assume for the purposes of this question that price is not a factor. Availability is, though. Though I would be interested in hearing of products available outside the US (maybe I can have a traveling friend bring me some, who knows?), I am most interested in products that I can buy off the shelf or order in the US. Although I should note, I'm in Los Angeles so I have access to a wide variety of ethnic markets.

posted by vignettist to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

Anything that uses the Swiss Water process should be 99.9% caffeine free. Just look for that.
posted by Cosine at 8:26 AM on November 4, 2015

There are a few coffee alternatives which are more of a roasted chickory, like Caf-Lib, or Krakus, which is a roasted barley, rye, chicory, and beet root blend. (Oddly, the Inka coffee substitute showed up in my search for Krakus, but it looks like it's the same ingredients, and both from Poland). It is quite nice, and I actually have preferred both of them to coffee at times. I'm sure that they could serve as your delivery service just fine! :)
posted by itsflyable at 8:26 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]

Would you consider alternatives like Cafix? It's a different flavor than decaf coffee but still serves the purpose of a hot milk beverage that's not as sweet as hot cocoa.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:27 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]

(Cafix is in the same family as Inka and the like. Pero is another one.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:29 AM on November 4, 2015

Postum is a coffee-like instant beverage, and it's caffeine-free. I think it has a nice flavor.
posted by alex1965 at 8:51 AM on November 4, 2015

I'm super sensitive to caffeine (migraine trigger) but LOVE coffee. The best-tasting substitute I've found is Roma, another roasted barley/chicory etc. blend. Can be found in stores like New Seasons and Whole Foods.
posted by Specklet at 8:57 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]

Best answer: WebMD discusses a journal article which determined that Folgers Instant had the lowest caffeine level of brands tested. They were testing cups of decaf drip coffee purchased at fast food places, not bean brands, so the data is less useful to you - but it seems that Krystal (bless their hearts) serves Folgers Instant, so that's at least a usable recommendation.
posted by aimedwander at 9:01 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Just for the sake of askme topic completion, since you said price isn't an issue, I would call Cafe Imports & Sustainable Harvest, and ask them what roasteries in the US (or at least in your area) stocks a particular low-caffine varietal called Laurina. Both of those importers sell this coffee in its green state, and should be able to point you towards a company that actually serves it. This particular varietal has only recently been isolated and cultivated in commercial quantities. Unlike actual coffee which is decaffeinated by process after the fact, this varietal is naturally very, very low in caffeine (some lots are close to 0%). There are a couple other pretty rare caffeine free varietals kicking around out there, so I would ask the wonderful helpful folks at those two import-houses to see what might be kicking around. But that Laurina also happens to taste really fucking awesome, since it hasn't gone through the rather rough process of decaffeinating. Its pretty amazing in its own-right…but won't be cheap at all.
posted by furnace.heart at 9:20 AM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]

Best answer: I have't been able to find the stats on it, probably because it's a newer product, but I find the Starbucks Via decaf doesn't make me feel like I've had caffeinated coffee. Because it's instant you get the same amount each time, which is also useful.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:37 AM on November 4, 2015

From some quick internet research, it seems that arabica beans have a lower natural caffeine content than robusta beans (and most mass-marketed brands like Folgers, etc. are robusta). So check what kind of beans the Costco brand uses. Consumer Reports found that McDonalds' decaf consistently had the lowest caffeine of any of the major chains (Dunkin, Starbucks, etc) - so for a cup on the go, that might be a good choice.

Another short-term replacement might be a scoop of coffee ice cream or a not-super-chocolatey-hot chocolate.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:38 AM on November 4, 2015

Best answer: The Center for Science in the Public Interest has a very detailed Caffeine Content of Food and Drugs list you might consult.
posted by Carol Anne at 10:53 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]

Don't do chickory. Chicory can be a significant allergan. Hives, shortness of breath.
posted by Oyéah at 5:10 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]

I enjoy a product called Bambu which is similar to Roma, Pero, Krakus etc.
Yes it has Chicory in it. Chicory is a great source of inulin (a type of soluble fibre) and has many potential health benefits. Don't consume chicory if ~you're~ allergic to it but that goes for almost anything at all. Obviously if you're allergic to something don't consume it, but to fearfully avoid a food because SOMEBODY has allergies to that food is asinine.
But I digress. Coffee (even decaf!) can have many health benefits as well. You might want to just head down to a good cafe, the type where they pride themselves on the quality of their beans and start asking about what your options are for decaf roasts. If they roast their own beans in-house all the better. Maybe you'll walk out with some beautiful single origin fairly traded coffee beans that you know everything about. Talk about connection to your community, food, and self! Hope you end up with the best damn cup of cream&sugar deliverance you've ever had.
posted by peterpete at 11:32 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]