This is where it gets hilarious. For most people, 5 or 10 milligrams of caffeine won’t make you tap-dance on the ceiling. But if you’re super sensitive to caffeine—like, you get jittery from smelling a Starbucks from across the street—decaf might still twiddle your nerves. Some studies have shown that even 5mg can affect sleep for the truly sensitive. It’s a cruel joke of biology.
How there's up to 6mg in decaffeinated coffee which are sold as being
On the flip side, if you’re a hardened espresso zombie who drinks triple shots for breakfast, decaf is basically flavored water. You’d need to drink twenty cups of decaf to get your usual fix. Your bladder would declare war on you long before your brain woke up.
The Surprising Fact That Will Annoy Your Friends
Here’s a party trick: Decaf is not completely caffeine-free, but neither is chocolate. A single square of dark chocolate can have 12mg of caffeine. A scoop of chocolate ice cream? Trace amounts. So the next time your buddy smugly sips decaf and says, “I’m having zero caffeine,” you can gently correct them. Watch their face crinkle. It’s beautiful.
Even “herbal teas” aren’t safe. Some herbal blends contain yerba mate or guayusa, which are packed with caffeine. The only truly safe bet is a cup of hot water with a lemon slice floating sadly in it. That has zero caffeine. And zero joy.
Which Coffee Has the Least Caffeine? A Detailed Guide – Eleven Coffees
