Gourmet Coffee

There is a myriad of research outlining the dos-and-don’ts for new mothers and those who are expecting. As a breastfeeding mom, I have to control myself from drinking coffee because the caffeine would be too strong for my baby. Studies show that caffeine can leak into breastmilk and is not advisable for nursing moms.

For me, the coffee addiction is not so much about the caffeine as being part of my routine in the morning. Without my morning cup of coffee, I just feel like something is missing. Good thing I can still enjoy the taste of real, honest-to-goodness java taste with my gourmet decaf coffee. It’s like the real thing but better because there is no caffeine.

On every street corner, you will almost always find a café. Coffee drinking has become a national past time. But if you love the taste of coffee but don’t necessarily like the effects of caffeine in your system then drinking decaf is the alternative. And because some people don’t react well to regular decaf coffee, gourmet decaf coffee is fast becoming popular. It allows you to enjoy the taste of coffee without compromising your health.

Some researchers say that the normal decaffeination process uses chemicals to remove the caffeine from the bean and therefore poses more of a health risk.  Organic decaf coffee does not undergo the same process. It uses only pure Swiss water to separate the caffeine.  So it is completely healthy.  No adverse side effects.  Just 100% great coffee flavor without the jolt of caffeine.

Many people love the taste of coffee and the social atmosphere of coffee houses, but just can’t handle the jitters and energy rush that accompanies that high caffeine content. Decaffeinated coffee is a great option that allows people to enjoy the warmth and comfort of a cup of coffee with the intense caffeine rush. There are many methods that companies employ to remove caffeine from their coffee beans.

One of the most basic methods of decaffeinating coffee is by steaming the green, unroasted beans and rinsing them with a solvent that works to remove caffeine. This process is repeated up to 12 times, removing as much as 97% of the caffeine. With over 400 chemicals contributing to the unique flavor of the coffee bean, no matter which method is used, decaffeination inevitably will alter the flavor a little.

Coffee-lovers who have kidney disease, anxiety disorders, hypertension or trouble sleeping may switch to decaf coffee on the advice of their doctors. They should be advised, though, that most decaf coffee still has some caffeine in it. Decaf coffee beans are 97% to 99.9% caffeine-free, but drinking five to 10 cups of decaf can give you the same amount of caffeine in a cup or two of regular coffee. Coffee-drinkers should consult their doctors about their consumption if they have conditions that limit their caffeine intake.

The great thing is that, in moderation, everyone can still enjoy the great taste of gourmet decaf coffee. That’s because decaf coffee beans go through decaffeination processes that are designed to keep flavor intact. For example, in the Swiss Water Process, a batch of green, unroasted beans is soaked in hot water to release the caffeine. The beans are discarded after they release all the caffeine and coffee solids into the water. The water and coffee solids then pass through a carbon filter that removes the caffeine. The resulting water is full of flavor, and put in another filtration device with new coffee beans. The flavor-charged water only removes caffeine from the new beans. The process is repeated until most of the caffeine is filtered out and the beans meet decaf standards, and then they are dried so they retain most of their flavor and aroma.

We all know that coffee is delicious, and is a great way to start the day with gusto and improved focus.  However, sometimes people with certain physical conditions or for other reasons can’t have caffeinated coffee.  Decaf coffee tends to get a bad rap amongst coffee drinkers because it lacks the punch of regular caffeinated coffee.  However, with gourmet decaf coffee, you can have a delicious treat that tastes just like real coffee but doesn’t have the at times harmful effects of caffeine.

There are just as many varieties of decaf coffee as there are with regular coffee.  You will find all of the choice roasts and flavors are present in decaf coffee, and it tastes just as good with all the extra additions like cream, sugar, and sweeteners.  Despite not having caffeine, just having a warm drink in the morning with a little bit of sweetener is sure to get you off on the right foot for the rest of the day. 

When it comes to waking up, everyone loves the jolt of caffeine that comes with a hot cup of coffee in the morning.  However, for some people, drinking caffeinated coffee is not an option, but they still love the flavor, taste, and aroma of coffee, and thus switch to decaffeinated.  But most who have tried it know, decaf coffee just isn’t the same as caffeinated coffee.  It lacks a certain punch and often it leaves you unsatisfied in the morning. 

Luckily, there is help with this predicament in the form of flavored decaf coffee.  Imagine combining coffee with those sensual flavors like hazelnut, almond, or even caramel.  You might start to drool just thinking about it!  Flavored decaf coffee, with its extra kick, tends to replace the missing flavor from regular caffeinated coffee.  It’s a great option for people who like coffee but don’t want that sudden jolt of caffeine and the inevitable crash afterwards.

Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people around the world, however, with modern medical advancements the condition is livable and treatable.  With proper care, the effects of diabetes can be mitigated to the point where it’s barely noticeable.  Depending on whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, insulin injections might be necessary.  However, with all diabetics, eating healthy is a central part of wellness.  It’s important to avoid consuming excessive sugars, and also to make sure that you eat regular and full meals.  It also might be necessary to avoid caffeine by switching to decaf coffee, and avoid Starbucks all together. 

By monitoring your eating and dieting habits, it’s likely that your blood sugar won’t ever dip too high or too low and cause a diabetic reaction.  With diabetics, consistency is key in dieting, eating, and exercising habits. 

Gone are the days when coffee was just straight black with cream or sugar.  In our modern world most coffee drinks seem to contain more sugars and foam than coffee, and as such, people are not used to drinking black coffee.  Though a brewed coffee can be good for your health, drinking too much coffee can be harmful to your body.  One option to get your caffeine fix before a switch to decaffeinated coffee is tea.  Most teas have about half or a third of the amount of caffeine as coffee, but are infinitely better for your body, and certain teas, like green tea, have proven health benefits. 

If you’re more interested in the flavor than the caffeine fix, decaf coffee maintains the flavor but won’t make you jumpy; great for drinking right before bed or other occasions when you don’t need the ‘wake up’ effect of caffeine.

There are a lot of coffee lovers in the world who only drink decaffeinated coffee for any number of reasons, and sometimes they are frustrated by the lack of coffee choices that do not contain caffeine.  H&C partnered with Shalina’s Gourmet Coffee to bring the best gourmet coffee and espresso varieties to the market, and unless they are in the website category marked “Eye Openers”, a decaffeinated version is available–great news for those who take their coffee “unleaded”.

The flavor variety for decaffeinated coffee is astounding, with options ranging from nut roasts to liquor-inspired flavors like amaretto, Irish cream, pina colada and Jamaican rum.  There are delectable decaf drinkable dessert varieties such as chocolate cherry, cinnamon orange, English toffee, and mocha mint, and many more decaffeinated choices in all flavor categories.