Is Açaí Coffee Really Caffeine-Free?
· By Adriana Ferreira
It sounds too convenient: a dark, hot drink that brews and tastes like coffee, but with no caffeine. So it is a fair question to ask whether açaí coffee is genuinely caffeine-free.
It is. The reason is simple, and it is different from how decaf works.
The seed never had caffeine
Açaí coffee is made from the roasted seed of the açaí fruit. The açaí palm is not related to the coffee plant, and its seed does not produce caffeine. So there is no decaffeination step, because there is nothing to take out. It is naturally caffeine-free, not de-caffeinated.
Watch the label on "açaí coffee" in the US
Here is the catch worth knowing. Some products sold in the United States under the name "açaí coffee" are actually regular coffee blended with açaí berry and sweetened. Those do contain caffeine.
If avoiding caffeine is the whole point, read the ingredients rather than the name. A true caffeine-free açaí coffee lists one ingredient: roasted açaí seed. If you see coffee, or a long ingredient list, it is a different product.
Who it suits
Because it is caffeine-free and low in acid, açaí coffee tends to suit people cutting caffeine for sleep, people who gave up coffee over acidity, and anyone who wants an afternoon or evening cup without lying awake. As with any new food, if you are pregnant or have a medical condition, check with your doctor first.
Frequently asked questions
- Is açaí coffee the same as decaf?
- No. Decaf is coffee with the caffeine stripped out. Açaí coffee is a different plant whose seed never contained caffeine.
- Why do some açaí coffees contain caffeine then?
- Because some products labelled "açaí coffee" are really coffee blended with açaí berry. Check the ingredient list: a true one lists only roasted açaí seed.
- Does roasting add caffeine?
- No. Roasting changes flavour and colour, it does not add caffeine. If the raw seed has none, the roasted seed has none.
Found this helpful? Make us a preferred source on Google.
Want to try it when it lands?
We are working through US import now. Join the waitlist and we will email you the moment it ships.