We all know the truth about how decaf coffee is made... and none of them are pretty processes.
Well, okay. Scratch that. Maybe "we all" don't know how decaf is made. If you want to learn, read our article detailing the various decaffeinating processes. But be warned - you may never want to drink decaf again.
What is "Half Caff" Coffee?
Half-Caff is, simply, coffee that has had half of the normal amount of caffeine removed from it.
It thusly imparts a weaker caffeine buzz to the person drinking it.
But how do they remove just half of the caff, without getting rid of all of the caff? Read on, dear coffee drinker, and all shall be revealed.
How is Half Caff Coffee Made?
This is actually shockingly easy to explain.
Half caff is made by using a roughly 50/50—or "half and half"—blend of regular coffee beans and decaffeinated coffee beans.
When you brew a half caff blend, it results in a cup of coffee with roughly half the caffeine content of typical caffeinated coffee.
When Would I Want to Drink Half Caff Coffee?
Great question! For people who are after coffee with less caffeine, but understandably don't want to go full decaf, half caff is there to fill the void between no caff (decaf coffee) and full caff (good coffee).
All kidding aside, there are actually a few good reasons why someone might want to drink half caff coffee.
The most common reason is that they are trying to cut down on their caffeine intake but find it hard to give up coffee altogether.
Another reason might be that they are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and have been told by their doctor to cut down on their caffeine intake.
Yet another reason might be that they want to drink coffee close to bed time but are worried that drinking a ton of caffeine will keep them awake all night.
When Would I Not Want to Drink Half Caff?
Well, if you're after the benefits of caffeine—an energy boost, increased alertness, improved focus, antioxidants, and the like—then half caff coffee is not going to be ideal for you as it contains only half the caffeine strength of regular brewed coffee.
If you're after more of the benefits of caffeine, it only makes sense to look for the coffee with the most caffeine. (Which just so happens to be Black Insomnia—but be warned, this stuff is only for the coffee lovers who can handle it.)
Also, if you're trying to avoid decaffeinated coffee altogether because of the nasty taste or because of how it's made (see above), then half caff isn't going to be ideal either as it contains approximately 50% decaf beans. It's not produced using a different, less solvent-filled process—it's just a mix of caffeinated and decaf beans.
Final Thoughts
With half of the caffeine content, half caff coffee isn't really going to give you the kick that strong coffee will. If you have a specific reason for wanting to cut down on your caffeine intake without cutting it out completely, then half caff may be a good option.
But if you're after the benefits of caffeine, you might want to stick to regular coffee or look for a coffee with even more caffeine. And if you're trying to avoid ingesting decaf coffee at all, half caff contains decaf so it's not going to be the right choice either.
Since half caff is made by simply blending regular coffee beans and decaf coffee beans, you may as well just make it yourself at home. Just use a 50/50 ratio of caffeinated beans to decaf beans and brew as usual. Easy!
