Tuesday, May 26th, 2009...11:05 am
The Naturally Caffeine-Free Coffee Plant
This weekend several coffee websites were abuzz about the Coffea charrieriana (or Charrier Coffee), which is a coffee plant that naturally has no caffeine. This made the Top 10 species list by The International Institute For Species Exploration and rightfully so. A coffee plant that can produce coffee without caffeine is a major breakthrough.
Some people won’t understand the significance of this story. They might scoff that we already have methods for removing the caffeine from coffee beans. Yes we do, but it comes with a cost. All that additional processing to coffee results in reduced flavor. Every coffee roaster knows this. So instead of roasting to maximize flavor, the roaster will go darker and strive for more body. This is all fine and dandy if you always prefer darker roasts, but not great if you like tasting all the unique flavors found at the lighter roasts.
Inanimate Objects – High Caffeine Content by Todd Zapoli
When I explain to people how exciting this could be they look at me in disbelief. I am reminded that I typically down 4-5 doppio espressos a day and I can handle caffeine just fine. True, I can handle that level of caffeine just fine. But perhaps I’d like the option of drinking espresso later in the day without fear of disrupted sleep. Or maybe I want to drink 10 espressos a day! I’d also like a tasty way to detox from caffeine prior to leaving the Pacific Northwest for vacations.
It will be interesting to see how many years it will take for this plant to make its way around the globe. If decaffeinated coffee ever tastes as good as regular coffee, I may be drinking coffee all day long.
(Hattip AboutCoffee.net)
Source:
IISE – Top 10 Species List
Tags: caffeine, decaf, inanimate objects
13 Comments
May 26th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I really don’t understand the concept of Decaf coffee, but do find it pretty interesting that they were able to grow/create a plant that produces caffeine free beans.
May 26th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Agreed, on all counts. The only scenario in which I’d willingly drink decaffeinated coffee would be after a really good dinner … that went really late into the night … and it was a weeknight.
May 27th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I think this is an amazing find. The second I saw the article on CNN I was immediately excited of the possibilities. We need people to really invest in this. It would be a long term investment, but I think the potential is huge.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
As someone who enjoys the flavor of coffee, and who is not a buzz seeker, this sends my tastebuds a-tingle!
May 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Fantastic possibility. Heck, I’d simply be happy with a half and half or a low caffeine plant, assuming it can produce a decent quality crop. All day coffee without bouncing off walls – how fantastic would that be.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
The bitterness of caffeine is an essential part of the flavour of any coffee, and it just won’t taste right without it whether its absence is by nature or manufacture, any more than dealcoholised wine and beer taste the same as the full-strength versions.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Since I can’t tolerate caffeine, I am excited about this discovery. I haven’t had a cup of coffee for several years.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:49 am
This is a wonderful find, especially for pregnant woman who love coffee but cannont have all the caffeine! Can’t wait to try it.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:52 am
[...] The Naturally Caffeine Free Coffee Plant [...]
January 16th, 2010 at 6:02 am
I love coffee but I’m so caffeine sensitive that even de-caf in the morning effects my quality of sleep that night. Please get the word out if caffeine free coffee hits the market, I’ll be the first customer.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Who found/developed the plant?
Where? what country?
January 27th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
@Juan – The article states it is from Cameroon. Not sure about your other questions.
January 29th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
If this becomes available it would be a godsend. I cannot tolerate any amount of caffeine, even decaf, and I miss coffee terribly. Even if removing the caffeine makes it less bitter, I’ll take it anyway, just like how I have to accept the ‘fake’ beer because alcohol also gives me tachycardia. I can’t have decaf, or cola, or chocolate, or alcohol, and it’s really tough.
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