decaffeinated
dee-KAF-uh-nay-tid
/diːˈkæfɪneɪtɪd/
Having had most or all of the caffeine removed, usually before roasting.
Describes coffee or tea processed to eliminate stimulant effects while retaining flavor.
The story behind the word. Coined in the early 20th century following Ludwig Roselius's 1903 invention of commercial decaffeination using steam and solvents. Built from French 'caféine' with the removal prefix 'de-'.
Word relationships
- decaf: Decaf is the common informal abbreviation for decaffeinated.
- caffeinated: Caffeinated means containing natural stimulant caffeine.
Commonly confused with
- caffeine-free: Caffeine-free applies to drinks with zero natural caffeine (like chamomile), whereas decaffeinated means caffeine was extracted.
Word family
- decaf (noun): Informal term for decaffeinated coffee.
- decaffeinate (verb): To remove caffeine from coffee or tea.
Collocations
- decaffeinated coffee
- decaffeinated tea
- decaffeinated beans
- order decaffeinated
Example sentences
- "Since it was late in the evening, she requested a decaffeinated cappuccino." Evening cafe visit
- "The roastery uses Swiss Water Process to produce 100% chemical-free decaffeinated beans." Product packaging
Memory hook
DE- (remove) + CAFFEINE = caffeine removed. Coffee without the kick.
When not to use
Do not apply to herbal teas that are naturally herbal and never contained caffeine in the first place.
Fun facts
- Decaffeinated coffee still legally contains tiny trace amounts of caffeine, usually around 2 to 3 milligrams per cup.
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