Caffeine FAQ

This FAQ file is a collaboration of information from numerous sources. I have made an effort to corroborate as much of this info as is possible but some info may be incorrect or misleading. If you find such info please let me know and I will do further research to find the truth.

For this and other reasons please understand that I am not advising you to take any action based on this file. In the realm of medicine I am specifically recommending seeking the advice of a competent medical care giver. I am not giving medical or related advice.

The Chemistry of Caffeine

• Theine vs. caffeine in tea
• Is it true that espresso has less caffeine than regular coffee?
• Does dark roast coffee have less caffeine than light roast?
• Is there a legal limit for caffeine content?

How does caffeine taste?

A number of caffeinated products such as caffeinated water have used buffering agents to hide the natural bitterness of caffeine. Caffeine is very bitter. Barq's Root Beer contains caffeine and the company says that it has "12.78mg per 6oz" and that they "add it as a flavoring agent for the sharp bitterness"

There is some question of the validity of the caffeine as a flavor agent argument for soft drinks but regardless of whether caffeine is really used as a flavor enhancer it is tough for anyone who has ever had pure caffeine to argue with the fact that it is bitter.

Caffeinated products such as caffeinated water hide the natural bitterness of caffeine. In "The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug" the makers of Water Joe are quoted as saying that they rely on a method developed by a flavor chemist to masque the bitterness or caffeine. (page 206)

Ultimately, you can't cut your caffeine intake by trying to consume less bitter-tasting drinks - coffee included. Beverage manufacturers are experts at flavoring and masking flavors to make them more addictive, regardless of the levels of caffeine in the drink. Sugar, artificial sweeteners and artificial flavoring agents will all easily overpower and balance out the natural bitterness of caffeine. Simply put: rely on nutrition label rather than your own taste buds.

Caffeine and your Health

• What are the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal?
• What happens when you overdose?
• Studies on the side-effects of caffeine...
• Caffeine and your metabolism

Miscellaneous

• How do you pronounce mate?
• How much caffeine is in decaf coffee?

Recipes

• Chocolate covered espresso beans
• How to make your own chocolate

NOTE: for Coffee Recipes check the Coffee FAQ

About

This FAQ is dedicated to all beverages and products that contain caffeine; including tea, coffee, chocolate, mate, caffeinated soft drinks, caffeinated pills, coffee beans, etc.

There are several newsgroups in which these topics may be of relevance, including alt.drugs.caffeine, rec.food.drink.coffee, rec.food.drink.tea, and alt.food.chocolate.

I welcome any and all contributions to this FAQ. If you do not agree with the info in here please let me know or write an article for the FAQ. If you feel you can explain something better than I have by all means rewrite the article and send it in.

Important: This information was excerpted from several sources, no claims are made to its accuracy. The FAQ mantainer is not a medical doctor and cannot vouch for the accuracy of this information.