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D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf

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infmom
12/31/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
I have plenty of sleep problems if I ingest caffeine past about 2pm.

But what I'd like to see is a similar strip that would tell me immediately if someone's given me a regular soft drink instead of a diet one. As a diabetic, I need to know stuff like that.
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Purple Dave
12/31/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
There are two problems with coffee. One, it smells like coffee, and two, it tastes like coffee. I don't see much point in testing swill for caffiene before you throw it out anyways.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
Who cares if it's leaded or unleaded. They need to make something that will tell you if it's a good cup o' joe first before you take a swig and discover it tastes like used motor oil...
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TheHeartless
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
Shocking in its needlessness. I'd be interested to see how well a product like this sells.
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Homerjay is utterly alone.
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
"De-caf-in-a-ted cof-fee! Its use-less warm brown water!"
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nutbastard
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
yeah lets take the nicotine out of cigarettes, while we're at it.

then we can sit around drinking decaf and eating fat free bacon while listening to a Zune on mute.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
12/30/08

@nutbastard: Don't blame me i voted for Ron Paul edition: And don't forget to have joy joy thoughts while you're at it...
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sir_pantsalot
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
I used to work with a guy who would make coffee at work in the decaff pot. The problem is that he would use two packs of decaff and one pack of regular coffee to brew one pot of decaff. It seems to defeat the purpose of using decaf. If someone were really not able to drink caffeine it could actually cause them harm.
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admoseremic
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
Coffee plants are now being genetically engineered to have 70% less caffeine anyways. Why not use a caffeine substitute: crack cocaine?
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GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee
12/30/08

@admoseremic: I prefer prescription amphetamines.
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92BuickLeSabre
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
I find that the inability to remove my splitting headache is also a dead giveaway.
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fanboy.took.my.star
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
btw whos gonna sit around a cafe sticking home pregnancy tests into there coffee?
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Monty
12/30/08

@urbanturban666: That's what I have been doing wrong. It keeps coming up negative, and the kids keep popping out.
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BeautifulAgony
12/31/08

@Monty: ...and so you drink more coffee, thus perpetuating the cycle.

Tsk, tsk, tsk...
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fanboy.took.my.star
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
you dont need the strips... if its decaf itll taste like shit... if it tastes good then you got real coffee...
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harold_b
12/30/08

@urbanturban666: The only reason you think decaf taste like shit is that you are starting with a shitty coffee and then getting the decaf version. If you go to a good coffee shop (not star**cks) you can get a cup of decaf that taste as good a any caffeinated coffee you drink.
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thechansen
12/30/08

@urbanturban666: iirc decaf is made by blasting regular coffee with tasteless odorless carbon dioxide. No difference in flavor which makes it dangerous for people who can't have caffiene.
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Monty
12/30/08

@harold_b: Actually, the process to remove caffeine adequately from coffee without changing the taste of the beverage is fairly costly. As a result, many places do serve caffeine-free coffee that tastes bad. So, if it does not "taste like shit" then you probably paid more for that cup than the caffeinated version.
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rDub
12/30/08

@thechansen: @Monty: Just so you guys know ... Caffeine has a flavor of its own so regardless of what process you use removing the caffeine will change the flavor of the beverage in question.
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Monty
12/30/08

@rDub: I did watch a Food Network special on decaffeinating coffee (which I think should qualify me for 'expert' status), and they were quite clear that there are cheap ways to remove caffeine the make for a less than ideal tasting beverage. They never mentioned the fact that caffeine itself tastes like something, however. I have often wondered if that was one of the original reasons for using caffeine in beverages. However, it raises a couple of questions:

1. What does caffeine taste like? (Chicken?)

2. What do they put back in decaffeinated beverages to keep it tasting like the original?

Do we have a true caffeine expert in the house to answer these?
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Monty
12/30/08

Well, I found this new tool called 'Google' out there that allows you to search for things. Amazing stuff - I bet it will go somewhere.

So, caffeine does have a very bitter taste apparently, but the studies have more or less concluded that the vast majority of people can not detect the taste difference between a flavored beverage with caffeine and those without:

[www.hopkinsmedicine.org]

Therefore, I will temporarily assume the Food Network's special (stating that many decaffeinated coffee tastes bad because of cheap processes to remove the caffeine or using inferior coffee beans) is true. I am not certain how anyone could doubt a channel that shows Rachel Ray as much as they do, but for some reason, I did. Forgive me, Rachel.
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CrispyAardvark
12/30/08

In reply to D+Caf Detects If You're Drinking Real Coffee Instead of Decaf
Did you know, caffeine allergies are often mistaken for ADHD, schizophrenia, depression and other mental health disorders?

I guess if you really, really shouldn't drink caffeine, these would be useful.

Do they make them to detect traces of nuts? Nut allergies are a lot less fun..
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Monty
12/30/08

@CrispyAardvark:
Do they make them to detect traces of nuts?

How could anyone with nut allergies hang out at Gizmodo - this place is filled with them! Get it? Filled with nuts? Get it?

Is this thing on?
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