A number of reasons caused by excessive coffee consumption lead coffee drinkers to either quit coffee or reduce caffeine and drink decaffeinated coffee. As a result, the popularity of decaffeinated coffee is rapidly increasing.

Decaffeinated coffee is expected to grow from £15.3bn in the global market in 2022 to £22.5bn by the end of the decade.

Decaffeinated coffees are produced using different methods

Experts believe that the increasing preference for decaffeinated coffee is also linked to the development of technology. The seeds found in the cherries of coffee trees are sent to roasting machines that turn them into the brown beans we are accustomed to. However, in decaffeinated products, a process is first carried out to remove the caffeine.

Some critics argue that this process should be banned because it contains carcinogens for cheaper decaf, but most say the amounts found in decaf are so small that they pose no threat.

Howard Gill, from sustainable coffee brand Grind in London, points out that with developing technology, this process now proceeds very differently: "Producers used to take bad beans that they couldn't sell anywhere else and say, 'Okay, we'll use them as decaffeinated.' Now, farms are consciously growing seeds for decaffeinated coffee."

While the health effects of coffee have been discussed for years, the effects of coffee, both decaffeinated and caffeinated, are now being discussed.

Does coffee have any health side effects?

"People often say 'I'm trying to be good and cut down on coffee,' but for those who can tolerate caffeine, it's fine. We all metabolize it differently, and some people are genetically more susceptible to the negative effects," says Dr. Federica Amati, chief nutritionist and author of Zoe, a health sciences company.

While many people drink three to five cups of coffee a day without any problems, others experience anxiety, insomnia, increased heart rate, and even eye twitching. In fact, some may experience these symptoms after just one cup.

Perimenopause can cause some women to experience anxiety and sleep disturbances, even without caffeine. “You may find that the cup of coffee you once enjoyed in the morning now makes you feel more anxious,” says Amatide.

In pregnancy, there is evidence that more than 200 mg of caffeine a day (two cups of instant coffee) increases the risk of miscarriage and may restrict baby growth. However, caffeine has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson's disease move more freely.

The benefits of coffee are endless...

Amati also points out some of the health issues that coffee is good for: “These include improved cognitive function and a reduced risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and death from any disease. Coffee is rich in polyphenols and fiber, which together act as a great prebiotic mix for the gut microbiome.”

She also notes that it's important to pay attention to the gut during menopause: "A subset of bacteria in the microbiome is sensitive to estrogen and starts to die off during menopause. So if caffeine bothers you, instead of quitting coffee, you can switch to decaf. You still get the polyphenols and fiber."

Most coffees are free of additives, although ready-mix sachets marketed as 'cappuccino', for example, may contain emulsifiers. Amati adds: "And try to avoid coffee with sugar, as that cancels out some of the positive effects."