Boombiddy's Science of Caffeine Reduction: to enjoy your brew with minimal effects, these are my tried & tested. (Tea included: see end).

[Boombiddy]

Hiya, I was reading a post asking about coffee. I agree with comments there that it's important to listen to your body.

I have put my reply as a post in case it is useful to have it all in one place.

Over the years I have developed a way of keeping down the caffeine while enjoying a morning brew.

This is tried and true, and the only way I can drink my morning coffee and feel a bit better than when I woke up, not worse (no AF symptoms).

This is the method:

First, coffee. The darker the roast, the less caffeine it contains. That's why the darker roasts are "after dinner". Lucky for us, these are the most flavoursome.

Next, the brewing of it. Anything that brews fast keeps down the caffeine content.

So, your or your local coffee shop's espresso machine, or your own little stove-top espresso pot. These push the heated water through fast under pressure, so there are two benefits to this: firstly, less time for caffeine to infuse into your brew, and secondly, the grounds are not sitting in the water (so not stewing caffeine into your brew).

Then, what you have it with. The object now is to keep the remaining caffeine from being absorbed quickly.

The more fat you have with it (good fat), the slower the caffeine will absorb into your system, which also keeps the effects milder. I use full cream milk. If you don't want that, then eat something not too 'skinny' with it. (Macaroons anyone? I think I have just proved by this that cake is a health food! Hah! Of course I have my coffee with breakfast so cake is unnecessary except as a medical emergency).

Comparison with other methods:

After years with this little system, I tried using a cafetière (French Press to our American friends), and in a fit of nostalgia for student days, a pour-over Melitta-type filter system. There was a difference. These methods caused some suspicious heart rumbles. So I returned to my old friend the Espresso pot.

With my little system, I can drink the equivalent of 3 espressos at breakfast without any discernible adverse effects. However, I have no coffee in the day, unless it's a rare treat out with friends - and cake.

And now to tea!

There is a trick a Home Help taught me which significantly reduces the diuretic effects of tea.

I am assuming it also reduces the caffeine (no the diuretic effect of tea is not due to caffeine).

The method is simple. Pour the boiling water on the tea, let it brew 2 minutes, pour it away. Pour new water on, brew as normal.

The thing is, with a decent everyday tea, you can't tell the difference in taste.

You could try it!

[BobD Volunteer]

Thanks for that Boombiddy. I doubt this morning's "Breakfast at Carluccio's" Cafe Milano was made that way.ha ha. Waiting for shops to open so two cups today.

[Boombiddy in reply to BobD]

What's that Bob? Is it one of those there pod thingis? I imagine these are quite caffeinated?

In circumstances where an extra dose of caffeine is given, I think a judicious application of cake is indicated.

In fact I prescribe it.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Boombiddy]

Carluccio's restaurant in Exeter, Devon for Christmas shopping. Two fried eggs, sausage, panchetta, vine tomatoes, toast and mushrooms with orange juice and coffee x 2. Don't need to eat now till supper.

[Boombiddy in reply to BobD]

Exemplary Bob! This is a very good meal to slow down caffeine absorption and keep you going for hours.

But I am jealous!

No cake for you then.

[Finvola]

Thankyou for the enlightenment Boomdiddy. I will eat my croissant (and butter!) with a better conscience. 🙂

[Boombiddy in reply to Finvola]

And you can feel smug cos o that little bit of vitamin K2 in your (good quality, grass-fed) butter!

...Hmm, pass the butter...

[Finvola in reply to Boombiddy]

One of my dietary changes after diagnosis was to ditch the Flora and go back to butter. It wasn't at all difficult after reading how that stuff is made and what a con the whole marketing thing really is.

[Gertsen in reply to Finvola]

as a Dane i have always believed in butter, it is natural, not full of chemicals like most margarines, and it tastes so much better so very glad when they said fat is actually good in moderation. Just keep away from trans fats they are very harmful.

[CDreamer]

Thanks, that's very interesting and have taken note.

One question - I thought those pod machines worked very similarly to the espresso machine?

[Boombiddy in reply to CDreamer]

On pod machines i am entirely ignorant, so looked em up...

Yes it looks like the pods are intended for a machine that would do a pressurised espresso-like brew. (Wikipedia article 'The Easy Serving Espresso pod (E.S.E. pod)' is enlightening).

However a Wikihow shows someone using pods like teabags, a method which would yield more caffeine.

So the machine in the George Cluny advert is an espresso type (pressured) brew and therefore (we hope) the coffee made in it should be less caffeinated than if it had been made the other way.

Just as well as too many hearts are already a-flutter when George is on the scene...

[CDreamer]

PS - I think the Japanese do the same with tea - they say the first brew is the 'dirty' brew.

[Boombiddy in reply to CDreamer]

Wow, didn't know that!