AIBU to feel frustrated with restaurant?

Oh wow I had no idea it was so high in green tea!

When I am trying to sleep, I find that not posting and replying to threads on social media helps.

SillyQuail, I have read that caffeine is harder to get off than opiates.

I can't sleep if I drink wine and fizzy drinks, especially red wine and coke just can't get to sleep at all. Was pointed out to me at a works Christmas party then the penny dropped as to why I neve slept after a function

(obviously not in the same glass)

Another tip is to say 'decaffeinated' instead of decaff. I realised that cafe staff can't hear the word decaff even if I say it really clearly. Say decaffeinated and repeat it at least once during the transaction.

Is this a joke? I can't drink tea after 2pm if I want to sleep at night. If I drink it by mistake (thinking it's decaff) my face starts itching, my heart starts thumping and my handwriting goes wonky in about 30 minutes after consumption.

Now imagine that's an espresso.

Eh, there's loads of caffeine in green tea, iirc more than black tea. Up to 50mg in a cup. So just over half of a 'normal' cup of coffee, though if you have a big cup vs a small espresso shot I'd say they probably come out the same.

It seems from reading these responses that lots of people don't actually realise that decaf coffee isn't the same as caffeine free.

If you have a real sensitivity to caffeine your best bet is to not order it altogether.

This used to happen to me all the time, it's utterly enraging. I don't order restaurant 'decaff' any more. It's rarely decaff.

Starbucks is the only place I trust to serve actual decaff.

@DuckBee but surely in that case he wouldn't be ordering any kind of coffee whatsoever as it all contains caffeine?

I think the issue with caffeine vs decaff in an establishment is they look they same as they're served, unlike say gluten free bread cf standard bread, so it's not easily identifiable.

And yiu may have 2 or 3 staff involved on the making of the coffee so easier for the communication to not be fully passed on.

I tend to try to watch how they make the coffee - decaff nearly always comes in separate pouches.

If I can't see the machine, I'll nicely check with the server if I definitely asked for decaff. They'll either check or reassure, just have to hope they're not just reassuring as it's easier than making the drink again.

I think the consequences of serving caffeinated instead of decaffeinated are less than with allergies (though still arduous in the recipient) so servers are perhaps less bothered about the accuracy.

My husband goes into SVT after consuming any amount of caffeine which if not treated leads to death.

@wellwhatcanisaytothat but all decaf coffee contains caffeine, even if it's just a small amount. The issue is that some will contain higher levels than others.

And for those worrying about caffeine in decaf, there’s around 4.3 mg of caffeine in 10 g of dark chocolate compared to around 2 mg in a cup of decaf coffee.

The amount of caffeine in decaf varies depending on the decaffeination process. There's decaffeination by the Swiss water method, which I believe leaves behind the most amount of caffeine. Then there's CO2 decaffeination, and solvent (usually ethyl acetate) decaffeination which I believe are supposed to leave behind less.

Lavazza decaf uses CO2 and when I was off caffeine I found I was able to drink this one without any detrimental effects. However, some of the fancier decafs most likely use the Swiss water method and I found those problematic. So it's possible you were served one of those rather than fully caffeinated. Or they just served you caffeinated.

While we're on the topic there's also alcohol in non alcohol beer etc. That's why you need to be 18 to buy it

@Greenlittecat Well they are 12 and 14 😂

I wouldn't worry about it now xx

Instead of ordering coffee order a green tea (also caffine) or a peppermint tea (no idea of the caffeine content tbh). Helps with digestion and there can't be any mixup!

Hope you were able to get some rest last night, good luck today ❤️

I suffer with chronic IBS.

Caffeine doesn't agree with me at all. It literally upsets my stomach and I have to find the nearest toilet NOW.

I therefore drink decaf coffee and caffeine free Diet Coke etc. Chocolate also upsets me as it contains caffeine.

I went to a very prestigious (and expensive) London restaurant one night for a special meal. I ordered a decaf coffee to round off the night. It quite blatantly wasn't and I nearly had an accident in the cab on the way home. It completely spoilt my evening.

People don't realise the consequences of giving you caffeine by mistake. My husband and I drink the same coffee but I have a decaf version. We've had situations where they bring the two over and put mine down in front of me whilst saying say "I think this should be the decaf one"!

When I go into a coffee shop I now watch to ensure they are using decaf.

In restaurants I reiterate I'm allergic to it and double check as they put it in front of me.

However, I also take a couple of Imodium before going out if I know I may have a coffee at the end of the meal.

Yep, there's no such thing as completely decaffeinated coffee etc.

So while pregnant I drank decaf tea, coffee and even coke but really I was drinking caffeine. Shit!!

I find a nice cup of mint tea after a meal is rather lovely.

You can always tell if it’s a decaf if it’s from an espresso machine because the crema isn’t as good and dissipates quicker than caffeinated coffee.

If you asked for decaf the likelihood is you got decaf and you worked yourself up into not sleeping, the placebo effect!

Decaff can also keep you awake because there is no such thing as truly decaff. Also depends how much caffeine you had during the day.