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…….

@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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

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

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

Whereas for many people, it's infinitely more preferable than just lying there staring into space 🤷‍♀️

Helpful 🙄

It’s surprising the amount of products that contain caffeine and he can have coffee flavoured products as they don’t have caffeine in them so making sure a restaurant serves the right product is important.

@DuckBee yeah I understand that, but my point was if he's that sensitive he shouldn't ordering decaf full-stop as it still contains caffeine, albeit in tiny amounts.

I can't have caffeine due to heart issues and it was my cardiologist that told me that the term decaf is essentially a marketing term, it's just less caffeine than it's equivalent. You need to be asking for uncaffeinated, and those options do exist in limited places.

(Absolutely not the point) but after reading some comments I'm a bit worried about myself
I can fall asleep after any caffeine, sometimes I've even fallen asleep after drinking a redbull I could have a coffee or tea or can of coke at 9.30 and be asleep within my usual falling asleep time, is there something wrong with me?

Not at all. My DP is the same. He has strong tea before bed and it never affects him.

People react differently to caffeine, which is why I guess many cafe workers don't take it seriously. They think it makes no difference.

@b0rnSad no, plenty of people are the same as you, don't worry!

I think you should complain. I know someone with an allergy to caffeine and so if they drink coffee would drink decaf. You could have been pregnant or had an allergy to caffeine yourself, it’s their responsibility to serve what has been requested. The only other thing I can think is that they might not have heard or understood the ‘decaf’ precursor but that’s unlikely.

No. It's happened to me too and it's only if I have coffee afterwards

Someone with a caffeine allergy shouldn't be drinking decaf coffee.

Do you had adhd? I have a double espresso in bed to put me to sleep. Stimulants work differently for people with adhd.

In my partying day (a long time ago now!!) I used to have the best nights sleep of my life after cocaine 😅