How Much Caffeine Is in Decaf Coffee?
Decaf is not caffeine-free. Here is how much is left in the cup, how that compares with regular coffee, and what to buy if you want the lowest caffeine without giving up flavor.
The Short Answer
Decaf vs Regular, Side by Side
Approximate figures, consistent with the reference values in our caffeine calculator. Real cups vary with dose, grind and brew time.
| Drink | Volume | Approx. caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Regular drip coffee | 8 oz | ~95 mg |
| Decaf drip coffee | 8 oz | 2 to 15 mg |
| Single espresso shot | 1 oz | ~63 mg |
| Decaf espresso shot | 1 oz | ~0 to 3 mg |
Even at the high end, it takes about 6 cups of decaf to equal one cup of regular. If you drink several cups of decaf a day, the small amounts add up, so count them.
Why Decaf Still Has Caffeine
Decaffeination washes caffeine out of green coffee before roasting. The goal is to remove almost all of it, usually 97 percent or more, while leaving the flavor compounds behind. Removing the last traces would strip too much flavor, so a small residue stays.
- Swiss Water: Chemical-free water process that filters caffeine out of green coffee
- Sugarcane EA: Ethyl acetate from fermented sugarcane lifts caffeine gently, often near the farm
- Roast level: Makes little difference to what is left, see Does Dark Roast Have More Caffeine?
Decaf in Our Index
We track 49 specialty decaf coffees from 32 roasters: 19 Swiss Water and 23 Sugarcane EA. Browse them all in the decaf collection, or jump to a method: Swiss Water decaf and Sugarcane EA decaf.
Top-Rated Decaf Coffees
Highest-rated decaf in the index, one per roaster. See the full best decaf ranking.