Decaf... for ever?

[glowfrog]

I've had to stop drinking coffee to see if it improved a stomach issue. Im on my 3rd week of no caffeine and I've done mostly ok without it so wondering if I should stick to it as, let's face it, caffeine doesn't exactly add anything to your health (although am aware coffee is meant to have some health benefits).

Has anyone here given up caffeine for good and seen long term benefits?

And can anyone recommend good decaf coffee? Because I still miss the taste of coffee with just a tiny bit of sugar in... I've started drinking decaf and it's not been great. Funnily enough I drank decaf for ages when I was breastfeeding and I remembered it tasting better.

I am decaf forever! I quit last year due to health reasons. I find Nescafé decaf is perfectly nice. As for tea, I recommend clipper decaf. It's one of the few brands that use purely water to decaffeinate the tea (as opposed to chemicals) and I think it's the only one that tastes like normal tea.

I am decaf or herbal tea for ever, I gave up coffee five years ago.

I had to stop drinking caffeinated coffee when I had a gastric issue plaguing me for years. It still flares up now an again, but I'm back on the full-fat nuclear stuff because I never found a decaff coffee that measured up in terms of taste and body. Tried loads, and they were all a bit gutless and dish-watery.

I'm Decaff forever. Invest in a grinder, a proper coffee machine and use the Illy Decaff beans.

That's the only way I can truly be happy with Decaff coffee!!

Is it specifically the caffeine in the coffee that's causing trouble for your stomach?

I ask because I had a bout of gastritis a while ago caused by drinking a lot of coffee and had to stop for a while until it recovered. But it wasn't the caffeine in the coffee, so I could switch to tea to avoid going cold turkey, thank god! Switching to decaf wouldn't have helped at all.

When I looked into it further, it turned out that the acidity of coffee was the problem, but the acidic compound is broken down in the roasting process. So, counterintuitively, really dark roasted coffees are much gentler than mild ones.

Depending on your particular issue is, you might find the same. ☕

I quit caffeine in coffee and tea (I still have chocolate though for example) a few years ago because it triggered migraines. I don't really see any benefits other than the reduction in migraines tbh. That's good enough for me though!!

I don't really miss it but haven't found an especially good decaf teabag tbh.

Kenco decaff is great

I can't tell the difference between Nescafe decaf and their ordinary. We have both in the house, and I switch to decaf in the evenings.

I quit caffeine and now a cup of caffeine tea after 2pm keeps me awake until the early hours!!
I always carry bags around with me in case I’m offered a cup, but there’s no decaf!

I buy fresh ground decaff. It tastes fine. And redbush (rooiboos) tea which is naturally caffeine free and lovely once you get used to it!

The process of decaf is important. From what I've read the Swiss water method is best and doesn't add chemicals in the process of decaffeinating. I've tried a few and settled on this one:

Lean Caffeine Bulletproof Decaf... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B084GSLW7G?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

I have had to restrict myself to one small coffee first thing in the morning due to poor sleep so drink decaf after that. I've tried a few different decafs and my favourite to date is M&S.

I have been decaf since I was pregnant with my eldest, around 12 years now...

I quit caffeine when breastfeeding DS to see if it would help his sleep (it didn't). It was so hard to stop I decided not to go back. I can't say I've seen any health benefits, though, although I'm generally the fittest and slimmest I've ever been - but don't think that's down to lack of caffeine. I quit 5 years ago. I can't say I can taste the difference between decaf and normal coffee - I'm obviously not a connoisseur!

I gave up for about two years ago due to gastric issues but the morning ones have crept back in and I now have a couple of black full caffeine coffees every morning. The rest of the time I drink de-caf Kenco and can't tell the difference between that and normal instant Kenco. I am still on de-caf tea only. Yorkshire Tea do a really good de-caf tea bag.

I'm not sure it's made any difference to my stomach overall but caffeine has always affected my sleep so I think I do sleep better overall without it.

I'm 95% decaf - gave it up completely about a year or so ago. I wasn't a heavy 'user', (a few cups of tea daily, rarely coffee) but I noticed a dramatic difference in the quality of my sleep and became much less anxious. I also stopped getting heartburn.

I now really feel the 'benefits' of caffeine on my concentration and energy when I have it on occasion, probably around 3/4 times a month I'll have a caffeinated coffee or tea. I really enjoy it, I love the focused alertness it gives me. When I was a habitual user I never experienced that.

Wholeheartedly agree with all this.
Although as an aside, I love the Illy decaf, unfortunately it seems to be a finer grind than the caffeinated one and bungs my machine up if I put just a tad too much in. 😂
Caffeine free for 8 years now.

Sorry- to add. I meant, If I use the pre ground for convenience

I like the L'or instant decaf and have had good comments on it when I have served it to others, who hadn't realised it was decaf. I'm mostly decaf as too much caffeine makes me feel really sick and wipes me out for the rest of the day.

Decaf only for the last 11 years on account of arrhythmia... and I am a self-acknowledged coffee-snob, so it was hard!

The average standard of decaf is terrible, including in many coffee shops.

My go-to is the Rave Swiss Water Method Blend beans (also available ground to various grinds). Tastes like proper coffee - even to the extent I can serve it to people expecting a caffeinated coffee and they appreciate the taste (if not the lack of caffeine!)

ravecoffee.co.uk/products/swiss-water-decaf-no-11?variant=31214079737993

Been decaf for 11 years. Can't drink a caffeinated beverage without bad anxiety and sleeplessness. I find it quite annoying when I go to places where this isn't an option - eg Dunkin' Donuts - although this is rare as most places cater for decaf people.

Decaf! 👌🏼 a decaf latte with honey is one of my life’s greatest pleasures

Dark Arts Coffee do a nice decaf, although it's expensive (cheaper than buying a coffee in a cafe, though, obviously).
If you want decaf tea, I buy a really nice rooiboos Earl Grey (and I'm otherwise not a rooiboos person at all). I think the brand is Dragonfly.

Since giving up caffeine five years both my anxiety and energy slumps have been non existent, I’m not going back. I gave up because I was going on a week long juicing retreat that was caffeine free so I thought I’d do it before I went so I could enjoy the holiday more and I’ve never looked back.

On a slightly used to have a caffeine free diet soda once a day and since I ditched that my sugar cravings have stopped.

I drink mostly decaf.
taste wise, decaf coffee is fine, decaf tea is just rank!

for coffee I get the Azera or Kenco Millicano brands of instant. Expensive but quite often on offer.