Expert barista and coffee enthusiast James Hoffman has embarked on a quest to explore the often-overlooked world of decaf coffee, suggesting that your morning cup could still offer significant health benefits, potentially extending your lifespan, even without caffeine.
The former champion barista delved into the subject to understand the disdain for decaf and discovered in his research that it retains all the healthful properties of its caffeinated counterpart minus the potential negative effects of caffeine.
In a video to his 2.2 million YouTube followers, Hoffman examined a selection of premium decaf coffee grounds and found they contained numerous healthy acids beneficial for gut health.
He elaborated on the advantages, saying: “Chlorogenic acids are kind of plant defence chemicals and are actually present in relatively high quantities compared to caffeinated coffee.”
He added: “That makes decaf to me particularly interesting, it tastes great when it’s done right, it’s got loads of polyphenols so it’s good for you, but there’s no caffeine which is also potentially useful if I suffer sensitivity to it; if it delays the onset of my sleep or if it lowers the quality of my sleep, or if it exacerbates things like anxiety.”
Hoffman concluded: “There are reasons not to drink caffeine but decaf gives you loads of the potential theoretical health benefits of coffee without the downsides.”
Chlorogenic acids, known to boost gut health, are abundant in coffee, making it an optimal choice for including in your diet. The leading barista also worked with Professor Tim Spector (founder of Zoe), who has elaborated on coffee’s extensive health advantages.
On a podcast, the duo emphasised that coffee is brimming with vital nutrients and an impressive fibre content. They also touched upon research indicating those who drink coffee have a 25 per cent reduced risk of heart attacks and lower chances of heart disease, ultimately extending life expectancy.
Discussing the gut-friendly chemicals, Professor Spector commented: “There’s a range of polyphenols that are enhanced by the microbes as they ferment it.”
“And those have direct effects on our body, and some of them can reduce blood sugar and reduce stress and actually reduce blood pressure. The studies have now clearly shown that you get nearly as much benefit on the heart with decaffeinated coffee.”
According to NHS Northumbria, simply switching to decaf can improve your seep, reduce irregular heartbeats, help prevent dehydration and headaches, reduce indigestion and reduce risk of a condition that weakens bones, called osteoporosis.