My father was always a coffee fanatic. It had to be strong, thick and dark like used motor oil. He always drank his coffee black with no cream or sugar. But I swear you could stick a spoon in his cup and it would stand straight up. Held in place just by the amount of caffeine and dark particles floating in the water. If the coffee wasn’t sufficiently strong enough we would hear about it. When visiting relatives houses he was known for making his own pot of coffee just for himself. Whiling the hours away with a strong cup and a good book. Preferably in front of a fireplace if one was available. He also had strong opinions about how best to build and maintain a fire but that’s a different article.

Slowly as he got older his preferences changed. I couldn’t say when exactly it happened but the coffee slowly started to get weaker and thinner. At first it was barely noticeable. Just one less scoop in the filter. But over time the coffee that my dad makes has become transparent. What once was a jet black brew had become the color of tea. His younger self would be outraged by this and make his own pot of coffee. 

It’s true that as we age caffeine affects us differently. Our nervous systems become less flexible and more rigid with each passing year. And our bodies ability to metabolize caffeine reduces as well. Changes in muscle mass, tissue density, the effectiveness of our kidneys and livers, and the amount that we exercise all play a small role in this process. In a study of people aged 65 to 70 their bodies metabolized caffeine 33% slower than younger adults. Typically it takes about 15 minutes for a young health adult to notice the effects of caffeine. An hour to feel the full effects and at about the 6 hour mark half of the caffeine will be metabolized and cleared from the body. For seniors this might be as long as 8 hours. This is part of the reason why an amount of caffeine that would hardly wake us up in our 20’s, is now causing jitters and headaches in our 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Caffeine is also known to increase our levels of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is often referred to as the stress hormone but it doesn’t need to be demonized. It plays a vital role in many of the things that we do everyday. As we sleep cortisol levels in the body slowly rise prompting our bodies to awaken. In times of danger it can activate our adrenaline to put us in a heightened state of alertness. A state where we’re physically and mentally on top of our game. Ready to take on life’s challenges. Athletes are known to use caffeine to boost their physical performance to win medals. Until 2004 it was a banned substance at the olympics with caffeine levels in athletes being closely monitored to ensure that they weren’t using it to gain an unfair advantage. But if it’s 10:30am and you’re sitting at your desk at work feeling anxious. Feet tapping and having a hard time focusing on completing any tasks maybe it’s worth taking a look at your relationship with caffeine.  

Am I having a heart attack or just too many shots of espresso?

If you are feeling the jitters as you’re reading this I would love to introduce you to decaf. The non-alcoholic version of coffee if you will allow me the analogy. It’s ok if you’re feeling skeptical about this but hear me out. The auto correct that is used on this word processor is skeptical too and keeps correcting me whenever I type decaf. Decaffeinated coffee is made by rinsing the beans to remove some or all of its caffeine. A typical 8oz cup of coffee is likely to contain about 100mg of caffeine. Where a similar deaf cup will contain about 3-12mg. The process leaves the beans still rich and full of flavor but without the jitters and headaches that can accompany their caffeinated siblings. If going full decaf is a bridge too far for you it’s also possible to mix the two together. A good barista can make you a half calf shot of espresso that can be used in any manner of drinks from lattes to americanos. But this can also just as easily be done at home. Simply fill your coffee filter or portafilter with a mix of both. I like to make myself a long pull americano with fully caffeinated beans first thing in the morning. And then throughout the day will make either a half calf or quarter calf americano. I like to think of it as the best of all worlds without having to compromise flavor over headaches. And I can enjoy all the coffee that I want without having to pay the price later. 

Before you run out to the store I would like to offer a word of caution. Not all decafs are made in the same way. There are two main processes that are used to remove the caffeine from the beans. One uses a water or carbon dioxide rinse and the other combines water with other chemicals, methylene chloride or ethyl acetate to remove the caffeine. These chemicals are used in nail polish removers and paint strippers. The US Food and Drug Administration has strict limits on the amount of these chemicals that can remain in the beans after the caffeine is removed. And the resulting coffee that you drink should be virtually free of methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. Chemicals on their own aren’t necessarily bad for you. Our understanding of how our bodies work is constantly evolving and changing. Lead was once considered safe and harmless to put in gasoline and the paint in our homes. But is now known to be a neurotoxin to be avoided. Perhaps in the future our thinking on this will evolve as well?

If this is something that gives you pause I would strongly encourage you to visit checkyourdecalf.org. This is a nifty resource that can help you find information on what process was used to decaffeinate your favorite brand of coffee beans. If your brand isn’t listed you can also check their website or inquire with the company.