A man grimacing after a sip from a red mug

Is Decaf Coffee Bad for You?

More on the effects of caffeine:

A man grimacing after a sip from a red mug

More on the effects of caffeine:

Decaf coffee isn't bad for everyone, but it isn't the clean, caffeine-free swap many people assume. Decaf still contains some caffeine, is often made from more acidic beans, and is commonly processed with chemical solvents.

If you're cutting back on coffee or considering a coffee alternative for better sleep, less anxiety, reflux relief, or pregnancy, it helps to know what's actually in the cup.

Why People Switch to Decaf

Some coffee drinkers who want to cut down on caffeine think, “I’ll just drink some decaf instead.” They may have some qualms about the decaffeination process, so they buy the healthier type of decaffeinated coffee made from water-processed or CO2-extracted coffee beans. But let’s stop to think for a moment. Processed? Extracted? What does that do to the beneficial phytochemicals in coffee, like antioxidants? What does it do to the flavor?

Is decaffeinated coffee actually healthy to drink? Here's what to know before you make the switch:

Does Decaf Coffee Have Caffeine?

Yes. Decaf coffee typically still contains a small amount of caffeine, roughly 2–15 mg per 8 oz cup1. The amount varies by brand, bean, and how it’s brewed and decaffeinated.

No decaffeination method is able to remove 100% of the caffeine, so decaf coffee isn't really caffeine-free. By industry standards, decaffeination removes around 97% of the caffeine, according to the National Coffee Association2, so a small amount always remains.

How much caffeine is in decaf coffee compared with other drinks (milligrams per serving)
Drink Serving Caffeine
Coffee, brewed3 8 oz 95–200 mg
Coffee, brewed1 12 oz 113–247 mg
Decaf coffee1 8 oz 2–15 mg
Decaf coffee from coffee shops4,5 16 oz 8.6–13.9 mg
Energy drink3 8 oz 70–100 mg
Black tea1 12 oz 71 mg
Cola3 12-oz can 35–45 mg
Green tea1 12 oz 37 mg
Teeccino French Roast herbal coffee Any cup 0 mg
Caffeine in coffee chains’ decaf, as published by each brand (milligrams per serving)
Drink Serving Caffeine
Starbucks Decaf Pike Place® Roast, brewed (Tall)6 12 fl oz 20 mg
Starbucks Decaf Pike Place® Roast, brewed (Grande)6 16 fl oz 25 mg
Panera Bread Decaf Coffee7 16 fl oz 5 mg
Panera Bread Decaf Coffee7 20 fl oz 6 mg

Both brands list these caffeine amounts as approximate values.

If you order decaf at a coffee shop, the caffeine in your cup can vary widely, even at the same location. University of Florida researchers found that decaf espresso shots bought from the same shop ranged from 3 to nearly 16 mg of caffeine each4. There's no reliable way to know exactly how much caffeine you're getting in a cup of decaf.

"The important point is that decaffeinated is not the same as caffeine-free. People who are trying to eliminate caffeine from their diet should be aware that popular [decaffeinated] espresso drinks such as lattes (which contain two shots of espresso) can deliver as much caffeine as a can of Coca-Cola — about 31 milligrams.”

— Roland Griffiths, PhD, the late professor of behavioral biology and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, commenting in a 2006 University of Florida news release5 on the UF study of caffeine in decaf coffee4.

If you’d rather control your caffeine yourself, there’s a simple way to do it.

Making your own low-acid, low-caffeine coffee

A Teeccino Miraculous Mushrooms French press beside a mug of brewed herbal coffee and bags of Miraculous Mushrooms coffee alternative

If you want to drink coffee with lower amounts of both caffeine and acidity, you can make your own “decaf” by combining regular coffee with naturally caffeine-free herbal coffee. The herbs, grains, fruits and nuts used to make herbal coffee are completely caffeine-free. They contain water-soluble antioxidants and phytonutrients that are natural and unadulterated because they haven’t had to undergo processing like decaf coffee beans.

Teeccino Herbal Coffee is both naturally caffeine-free and non-acidic. Teeccino has an alkalizing effect because it contains bioavailable potassium, the electrolyte mineral that the body uses to correct metabolic acidity. When Teeccino is combined with regular coffee, it reduces the amount of caffeine in a cup and also reduces the acidity.

By combining Teeccino with regular coffee, you can create a brew with exactly the amount of caffeine you want. Since Teeccino brews just like coffee, you can blend Teeccino's all-purpose grind with your favorite brand of coffee in your coffee maker or French press. Gradually shifting the ratio toward more Teeccino is also a gentle way to quit caffeine without withdrawal headaches.

  • Coffee and Teeccino mixes for a 12 oz cup: 0% Teeccino and 100% coffee, 200 mg of caffeine.
  • Coffee and Teeccino mixes for a 12 oz cup: 50% Teeccino and 50% coffee, 100 mg of caffeine.
  • Coffee and Teeccino mixes for a 12 oz cup: 75% Teeccino and 25% coffee, 50 mg of caffeine.
  • Coffee and Teeccino mixes for a 12 oz cup: 88% Teeccino and 12% coffee, 24 mg of caffeine.

How to Make Half-Caf Coffee at Home

When brewing Teeccino in a coffee maker, you only need 1 rounded tablespoon of Teeccino for every 2 cups (10 fluid oz) of water. Coffee, however, is typically brewed with 1 tablespoon for each cup (5 fluid oz) of water. People who like lighter coffee will use less coffee. Use the following quantities to guide you in making your own half-caf or low-caffeine coffee:

In a 12-cup pot of coffee:

Desired Caffeine Strength Amount of Regular Coffee Amount of Teeccino
50% 4-6 Tbsp 3 Tbsp
25% 3-4 Tbsp 4 Tbsp
12% 1-2 Tbsp 5 Tbsp

How is Decaf Coffee Made?

A cup of green, unroasted coffee beans beside a cup of roasted coffee beans

Every decaffeination method starts with green (unroasted) coffee beans that are steamed or soaked so the caffeine can be pulled out. What differs is what removes the caffeine:

  • Methylene chloride ("European method"): A chemical solvent binds to caffeine. The FDA allows residues up to 10 parts per million in decaf coffee8.
  • Ethyl acetate: A solvent that occurs naturally in some fruits9, though it's typically made synthetically10 for decaffeination. Coffee made this way is sometimes labeled "naturally decaffeinated."
  • Swiss Water® Process: Uses water and carbon filtration instead of chemical solvents11,12.
  • CO2 process: Uses pressurized carbon dioxide to extract caffeine13.

Most decaf packaging doesn't say which method was used. In 2026, the FDA reopened public comment on a petition to remove methylene chloride from approved food additives, including decaf coffee. As of this writing, the petition is still under review and no decision has been made.14,15

Chemical solvents used in decaffeination may be harmful to your health

The most common method of decaffeinating coffee uses chemical solvents2, which may leave trace residues on the beans16.

Some decaf labeled “water processed” or “naturally decaffeinated” may still have been made with a chemical solvent, such as methylene chloride, which is also used in industrial paint stripping17, or ethyl acetate, a compound found naturally in fruit and used in nail polish remover9,18. This doesn’t apply to every water process. The Swiss Water® Process, for example, says it removes caffeine without chemical solvents11, a method a chemistry professor also describes as chemical-free12.

First, the beans are steamed and then rinsed repeatedly in a chemical solvent. The beans are then steamed again to remove most of the solvents. Some decaf made with a chemical solvent may still be labeled “naturally decaffeinated.” The FDA allows residues up to 10 parts per million in decaf coffee beans after roasting8.

Although only trace amounts of solvents are thought to remain in decaf coffee beans, one large study found that women who drank four or more cups of decaf a day were more than twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis19. One theory, raised by the study’s lead researcher, is that residues of the chemicals used in decaffeination could play a role19. However, this is an association, not proof that decaf causes the disease, and the residue theory has not been tested.

Decaffeinated coffee loses antioxidants

All decaffeinated extraction methods either soak or steam the coffee beans with water in order to extract the caffeine. Soaking the beans is like brewing a very strong, concentrated cup of coffee. Steaming opens up the pores of the beans so that whatever solvent used can enter the beans and remove the caffeine.2,12

Boiling or steaming water changes the coffee bean’s phytochemical structure during decaffeination. This is due to the exposure to extreme heat and the resulting hydrolysis of coffee’s chlorogenic acids that are water soluble antioxidants.20

Decaf coffee becomes chemically altered and degraded compared to natural, non-decaffeinated coffee beans. Although both decaf and regular coffee lose antioxidant compounds during the roasting process, decaf coffee has a higher loss of chlorogenic acids after roasting21, possibly due to the chemical changes the coffee beans underwent during decaffeination.

Is Decaf Coffee Acidic?

Many people complain that decaf doesn’t taste as good as regular coffee, and there’s a chemical reason. It’s impossible to remove only the caffeine, so decaffeination also strips out some of the compounds behind coffee’s aroma and flavor. Coffee has an acid flavor profile, and thus, decaf coffee needs to have some acid left after the decaffeination process. Some brands have historically used Robusta beans for decaf, which are generally more bitter than Arabica, with less sugar and less of Arabica’s bright acidity.

Coffee drinkers may find that they can drink regular coffee without stomach problems, but not decaf because of the higher acidity. Too much acidity has been linked to health problems that include heartburn and reflux.

Does Decaf Coffee Cause Acid Reflux?

A common complaint about decaf coffee is that it causes acid reflux. Research shows decaf, like regular coffee, still stimulates stomach acid22 and relaxes the valve between the stomach and esophagus23, which means people with reflux or GERD may still get heartburn from decaf24. If decaf bothers your stomach, a non-acidic, caffeine-free herbal coffee is a gentler option.

Learn more: How Coffee Affects Digestion and Gut Health

A 12-cup glass coffee pot beside a mug with cinnamon sticks, with two seashells on a knit blanket

Decaf Coffee Side Effects

Scientific studies show that decaf coffee can have the following effects on your health:

  • Both decaf and regular coffee increase the release of gastrin, the hormone that stimulates the release of stomach acid25,26.
  • Both decaf and regular coffee increase pressure on the esophageal sphincter22. Coffee also increases acid reflux in a way that caffeine alone does not, showing that other compounds in coffee besides caffeine contribute to the acid reflux response after drinking coffee27.
  • Caffeine causes minerals, including calcium and magnesium, to be excreted in urine, so this effect is tied to regular coffee more than decaf28.
  • The chlorogenic acid in both coffee and decaf can reduce the absorption of iron21,29.
  • Switching to decaf raised LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, whereas men who stopped drinking coffee saw no change30.
  • Decaf coffee, like regular coffee, may increase homocysteine, a compound associated with increased risk of heart disease31,32.
  • Drinking decaf coffee rather than regular coffee does not lower a person’s risk of heart disease; both are linked to a similar, lower risk33. Drinking green tea is also linked to a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease34.
  • Regular coffee can increase pressure in the eye, especially in people with glaucoma, but decaf does not appear to35,36.
  • Blood pressure: People who switched from regular coffee to decaf coffee saw a small drop in blood pressure37.

What Decaf Does Get Right

To be fair to decaf: research links it to some of the same benefits as regular coffee, and it's a clear improvement for people who need to avoid most caffeine. The question is whether it's the best option for your goals.

When you drink Teeccino, you know you are getting a 100% naturally caffeine-free beverage. Teeccino's prebiotic benefits for the gut are very helpful to people who are bothered by decaf's acidity. The wide variety of natural and organic Teeccino flavors that you can choose to enjoy makes it a delicious choice for an after-meal beverage. Decaf is typically not available in any other flavor than regular. If you're on the go, our recommendation for when you want to enjoy a cup of Teeccino while dining out or sharing a cup of coffee with friends: keep some Teeccino tea bags of your favorite blends in your purse or backpack so all you have to do to enjoy a cup of Teeccino is ask for hot water. Most of the time, it's free!

Decaf Coffee FAQs

How much caffeine is in decaf coffee?

An 8-oz cup of decaf typically has 2 to 15 mg of caffeine, compared with about 96 mg in a typical 8-oz cup of regular brewed coffee, and up to 200 mg depending on the brew1,3,38. Coffee shop decaf can be higher, and a two-shot decaf latte may have up to about 31 mg4,5. Teeccino is a herbal coffee that’s caffeine-free.

Is decaf coffee caffeine-free?

No. Decaf coffee has most of its caffeine removed, but a small amount remains in every cup. If you need to avoid caffeine completely, choose a naturally caffeine-free drink like herbal coffee.

Can decaf coffee keep you up at night?

Caffeine doses as low as about 10 mg can produce noticeable effects in sensitive people5, and some coffee shop decafs contain more than that4. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, a naturally caffeine-free herbal coffee is the safer afternoon or evening choice.

Is decaf coffee made with chemicals?

Some is. Common methods use solvents like methylene chloride or ethyl acetate, and the FDA allows up to 10 parts per million of methylene chloride to remain in decaf8. Swiss Water® and CO2 methods don’t use solvents. Teeccino’s herbal coffee skips decaffeination entirely.

What’s the difference between herbal coffee and decaf?

Decaf is regular coffee with most of the caffeine removed. Herbal coffee, like Teeccino, isn’t made from coffee beans at all. It’s brewed from roasted herbs, grains, fruits and nuts, such as chicory, carob, dates and almonds, so it’s naturally caffeine-free, with no decaffeination needed.

Is decaf healthier than regular coffee?

It depends on why you’re cutting back. Decaf is a better choice for people sensitive to caffeine, but it may still bother your stomach the way regular coffee can24.

Does decaf coffee dehydrate you?

Not in normal amounts. With most of the caffeine removed, decaf has little diuretic effect, and the water in it counts toward your daily fluid intake.

What is a caffeine-free alternative to decaf coffee?

For a cup with no caffeine at all, try Teeccino’s herbal coffee. Made from roasted herbs instead of coffee beans, it’s naturally caffeine-free and acid-free, with no decaffeination process involved. You can drink it on its own or blend it with regular coffee to cut back on both caffeine and acidity at your own pace. 

Related reading: 7 Benefits of Quitting Coffee

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Written by Caroline MacDougall, founder of Teeccino | Last updated: November 3, 2026