AIBU to feel frustrated with restaurant?

[Heelworkhero]

Went out for a lovely meal this evening with a friend.
It was about 9.30pm when we finally finished eating and asked for a decaf coffee each.
Clearly, it wasn’t decaf, given I’m wide awake and I never have a problem sleeping.
It’s so frustrating when this happens!!!
Pointless even trying to sleep for hours now…….

If this such a regular occurance, you have options
Sue every establishment that serves you caffinated when you asked for decaff. This could be nuts they are serving, ffs
Don't have coffee in an eating/drinking establishment
Don't fo out because the world is dangerous and out to get you

If you were in af you would be in a hospital being cardioverted

I think decaf varies wildly. We have a lavazza pod thing at work and the decaf pods seem to be very caffeinated to me ( no caffeine after lunch normally). Decaf is apparently a spectrum it doesn’t necessarily mean no caffeine just less caffiene.

Along with other PPs who have asked same question

You may well have been given what you ordered - decaf coffee still has caffeine in it and the levels vary pretty considerably.

I can sleep 10min after a big meal but a coffe would keep me up for 10h as I don't drink it

Not helpful now and you may have done this, but I'm pregnant and when I order I ask for decaf, then double check on paying "oh I did say decaf didn't I" and then when I'm given it they'll often say "mocha" and I'll ask if it's decaf and they'll either confirm on the ticket or go and check with the barista. I find the several checks, albeit maybe a bit annoying for them, make it hard for them to not give me decaf as they'd have to lie to my face about it. Not been given full caff the whole pregnancy.

Aww no, I really feel for you here, it’s so shitty when someone else causes a caffeine induced insomnia for you, bad enough when you accidentally do it to yourself but worse when it comes from a restaurant. Hope you manage to get through today (perhaps more coffee? )

"If you were in af you would be in a hospital being cardioverted"

Not true. It can take years of trial and error whilst they work out the best course of treatment. Waiting lists longer than they've ever been are exacerbating this problem

I dont have coffee after lunch for the same reason , but if i have alcohol i have the same symptoms . I cant sleep at all.

Caffine vs no caffine is barely there, so psychological

Definintely not psychological.

I think you've decided you didn't have decaf and are annoyed and that's what is keeping you awake.

It surprises me that a restaurant would do this in the days of allergies and having to be so allergens aware for environmental health checks.

Hard to prove, yes.
You're wrong about the effects of caffeine though. Except maybe on yourself.

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.

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!

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

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

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

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.

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 wouldn't worry about it now xx

@Greenlittecat Well they are 12 and 14 😂

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

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.

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.