<p>Another take on addictiveness of coffee <strong>in addition to caffeine: there are several other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug">psychoactive chemicals</a> in coffee</strong>; some links/references are available from <a href="http://www.quora.com/Other-than-caffeine-what-psychoactive-compounds-exist-in-coffee-and-tea">this page</a> and <a href="http://www.quora.com/Other-than-caffeine-what-psychoactive-compounds-exist-in-coffee-and-tea">this page</a>.  These chemicals include, for example, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine">theanine</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine">theobromine</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylline">theophylline</a>, in various amounts.</p>

<p>I can't find good sources to say if (or the extent to which) these or other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug">psychoactive drugs</a> in coffee are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction">addictive</a> as such. But, for example, theobromine is also present in chocolate; it has been suggested as a factor that contributes to "chocolate addiction" (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine#cite_ref-cocoachocolate_40-0">citation listed at Wikipedia</a>).</p>

<hr>

<p><sub>Standard <a href="http://stackexchange.com/legal">disclaimers</a>: this isn't medical advice; I am not a doctor; seek actual medical advice if you have questions.</sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T23:30:17.393Z
This is an excellent point; it's not *just* the caffeine in coffee which causes addiction to coffee. Thank you!
Möoz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-04T13:42:19.337Z
2015-03-04T13:42:19.337Z
hoc_age
<p>Since decaf coffee isn't the same as caffeine-free coffee, the key point regarding addiction is the amount of daily servings of decaf coffee that deliver the 100 milligrams of caffeine needed to acquire some sort of dependence <sup><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0119_050119_ngm_caffeine.html" rel="noreferrer">1</a></sup>.</p>

<p>The amount of such cups of decaf will vary according to the brand chosen. According to a study published in the <em>Journal of Analytical Toxicology</em>, and cited in the article <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/20061011/decaf-coffee-isnt-caffeine-free" rel="noreferrer">Decaf coffee isn't caffeine free</a>, they say that in average, a cup of decaf can hold about one-twentieth of the caffeine you get in a normal drip brewed coffee.</p>

<p>In that same article, they state that drinking more cups of decaf can compensate the lack of caffeine, and still be able to produce addiction.</p>

<p>So, it is indeed a matter of how many cups of decaf you drink.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-05T03:18:34.303Z
Note that the article states that a *16-ounce* cup of decaffeinated coffee can have a tenth of the amount of caffeine in an *8-ounce* cup of regular coffee. So the residual amount of caffeine in decaf is actually about one-twentieth of the original quantity.
user505255
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-05T13:06:46.513Z
You're right, I've just corrected it.
Nicolás
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T23:29:20.933Z
Makes perfect sense, I suppose if you drink enough decaf coffee, then it will have the same effects as caffein-ated coffee. So; **decaf coffee *is* addictive, just takes more than normal coffee to have the same effects**.
Möoz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-04T04:02:32.500Z
2015-03-05T13:06:24.893Z
2015-03-05T13:06:24.893Z
Nicolás
<p>My experience, as someone who went from drinking 2-4 cups of normal coffee plus several black teas per day to drinking 1-2 cups of decaf (and no tea) is that it IS addictive.</p>

<p>hoc_age's answer that there are psychoactive chemicals in coffee other than caffeine makes sense to me. The decaf I drink is the Swiss method of decaf which is supposed to remove more caffeine than other methods.</p>

<p>Yet if I don't have my decaf in the morning I crave it - with the exact same feeling as when I would "need" my normal caffeinated morning coffee.</p>

<p>I've tried drinking Caro and other similarly flavoured hot drinks but my body still wants coffee, decaf or not.</p>

<p>It definitely feels like there is something other than caffeine that makes it addictive. </p>

<p>This is not withstanding that caffeine itself is addictive; there is much science behind that to be in no doubt. I had the worst withdrawal symptoms when I quit normal coffee that no amount of decaf helped with. I felt physically sick and had crushing headaches that lasted a week and got worse every day until they finally disappeared.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-02T20:30:32.343Z
2017-02-02T20:30:32.343Z
Aidan
<p>I definitely get a caffeine withdrawal headache when I stop drinking decaf coffee for a couple days. A decade ago I was a regular coffee drinker, but the addiction and need for regular caffeine infusion didn't fit well with motherhood's scheduling and I had to stop. I did completely cut out all coffee/tea/soda sources of caffeine and, after I re-adjusted, life was better. Now when I drink, accidentally, 3 or more days (8-16oz/day) of instant decaf coffee in a row and then skip a 4th day....an, albeit milder, old caffeine withdrawal headache makes me notice I've missed out. The only other sources of caffeine in my diet are a minimal bit of chocolate. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T13:48:47.227Z
You must be very sensitive to notice the caffeine in decaf.
Mayo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T04:09:15.180Z
2018-02-09T04:09:15.180Z
caffeine sensitive
<p>It is evident that decaffeinated coffee <a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/q/204/179"><strong>still contains a very low amount of caffeine</strong></a>.</p>

<p>What I'm interested in is that if decaf coffee still contains some very low amounts of caffeine, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_dependence" rel="noreferrer"><em>caffeine is addictive</em></a>, therefore: <strong>is decaf coffee addictive?</strong></p>

<p><hr />
<sup>★ I'm not talking about the 'habitual' dependence. I.e. the <strong>routine</strong> of drinking the same cup of decaf coffee everyday, but rather the 'physical' or chemical dependence.</sup></p>

<health><decaffeinated>
Can decaf coffee be addictive?
Möoz
# Can decaf coffee be addictive?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-04)

It is evident that decaffeinated coffee [**still contains a very low amount of caffeine**](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/q/204/179).

What I'm interested in is that if decaf coffee still contains some very low amounts of caffeine, and [*caffeine is addictive*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_dependence), therefore: **is decaf coffee addictive?**

---

★ I'm not talking about the 'habitual' dependence. I.e. the **routine** of drinking the same cup of decaf coffee everyday, but rather the 'physical' or chemical dependence.

**Tags:** health, decaffeinated


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-03-04. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

Since decaf coffee isn't the same as caffeine-free coffee, the key point regarding addiction is the amount of daily servings of decaf coffee that deliver the 100 milligrams of caffeine needed to acquire some sort of dependence [1](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0119_050119_ngm_caffeine.html).

The amount of such cups of decaf will vary according to the brand chosen. According to a study published in the *Journal of Analytical Toxicology*, and cited in the article [Decaf coffee isn't caffeine free](http://www.webmd.com/diet/20061011/decaf-coffee-isnt-caffeine-free), they say that in average, a cup of decaf can hold about one-twentieth of the caffeine you get in a normal drip brewed coffee.

In that same article, they state that drinking more cups of decaf can compensate the lack of caffeine, and still be able to produce addiction.

So, it is indeed a matter of how many cups of decaf you drink.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Note that the article states that a *16-ounce* cup of decaffeinated coffee can have a tenth of the amount of caffeine in an *8-ounce* cup of regular coffee. So the residual amount of caffeine in decaf is actually about one-twentieth of the original quantity.  
> **username_2**: You're right, I've just corrected it.  
> **username_0**: Makes perfect sense, I suppose if you drink enough decaf coffee, then it will have the same effects as caffein-ated coffee. So; **decaf coffee *is* addictive, just takes more than normal coffee to have the same effects**.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-03-04. Score: 9

Another take on addictiveness of coffee **in addition to caffeine: there are several other [psychoactive chemicals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug) in coffee**; some links/references are available from [this page](http://www.quora.com/Other-than-caffeine-what-psychoactive-compounds-exist-in-coffee-and-tea) and [this page](http://www.quora.com/Other-than-caffeine-what-psychoactive-compounds-exist-in-coffee-and-tea). These chemicals include, for example, [theanine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine), [theobromine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine), and [theophylline](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylline), in various amounts.

I can't find good sources to say if (or the extent to which) these or other [psychoactive drugs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug) in coffee are [addictive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction) as such. But, for example, theobromine is also present in chocolate; it has been suggested as a factor that contributes to "chocolate addiction" ([citation listed at Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine#cite_ref-cocoachocolate_40-0)).

---

Standard [disclaimers](http://stackexchange.com/legal): this isn't medical advice; I am not a doctor; seek actual medical advice if you have questions.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is an excellent point; it's not *just* the caffeine in coffee which causes addiction to coffee. Thank you!  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-02-02. Score: 2

My experience, as someone who went from drinking 2-4 cups of normal coffee plus several black teas per day to drinking 1-2 cups of decaf (and no tea) is that it IS addictive.

hoc\_age's answer that there are psychoactive chemicals in coffee other than caffeine makes sense to me. The decaf I drink is the Swiss method of decaf which is supposed to remove more caffeine than other methods.

Yet if I don't have my decaf in the morning I crave it - with the exact same feeling as when I would "need" my normal caffeinated morning coffee.

I've tried drinking Caro and other similarly flavoured hot drinks but my body still wants coffee, decaf or not.

It definitely feels like there is something other than caffeine that makes it addictive.

This is not withstanding that caffeine itself is addictive; there is much science behind that to be in no doubt. I had the worst withdrawal symptoms when I quit normal coffee that no amount of decaf helped with. I felt physically sick and had crushing headaches that lasted a week and got worse every day until they finally disappeared.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-02-09. Score: 0

I definitely get a caffeine withdrawal headache when I stop drinking decaf coffee for a couple days. A decade ago I was a regular coffee drinker, but the addiction and need for regular caffeine infusion didn't fit well with motherhood's scheduling and I had to stop. I did completely cut out all coffee/tea/soda sources of caffeine and, after I re-adjusted, life was better. Now when I drink, accidentally, 3 or more days (8-16oz/day) of instant decaf coffee in a row and then skip a 4th day....an, albeit milder, old caffeine withdrawal headache makes me notice I've missed out. The only other sources of caffeine in my diet are a minimal bit of chocolate.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: You must be very sensitive to notice the caffeine in decaf.  

---

