8 ms·

Isn't there a way to produce synthetic caffeine? I mean, there's been a shift recently for nicotine and the market for e-cigs, I'm sure we can somehow find a w

Isn't there a way to produce synthetic caffeine? I mean, there's been a shift recently for nicotine and the market for e-cigs, I'm sure we can somehow find a way to do the same for caffeine.

TranquilMarmot 11y ago
Nicotine patch? I want a caffeine patch! Honestly though, I'd be less upset about coffee going away as a source of caffeine than it going away as a drink. It's so wonderfully delicious that synthetic caffeine just wouldn't really cut it for me.
- yellowapple 11y ago
  You're actually in luck: https://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/caffederm.shtml https://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/caffederm.shtml
Nacraile 11y ago
You know, some people drink coffee because they like the flavour, not because they need caffeine :P (As a matter of fact, I consider caffeine to be an undesirable side-effect of delicious coffee...) Coffee isn't the only natural source of caffeine, and yes, it can also be made synthetically.
- sritch 11y ago
  It's especially unfortunate because decaf coffee is usually gross.
  - noir_lord 11y ago
    Unsurprising when you look at the method they use for removing the caffeine.
    - Florin_Andrei 11y ago
      Supercritical CO2 extraction is gross? The solvent evaporates without a trace.
  - nightski 11y ago
    I've found decaf made with the Aeropress is actually surprisingly good. I usually only have a single cup of caffeinated and then follow up with a few cups of decaf.
- stdbrouw 11y ago
  And some people, mysteriously, seem to be especially fond of the flavor just around the time they're struggling to wake up.
- golergka 11y ago
  And a lot of people love coffee but hate caffeine.
- primroot 11y ago
  Try roasted okra seeds then.
fasteo 11y ago
Coffee is much more than caffeine [1] [1] http://www.ift.org/~/media/Knowledge%20Center/Publications/Books/Samples/IFTPressBook_Coffee_PreviewChapter.pdf http://www.ift.org/~/media/Knowledge%20Center/Publications/B...
strictnein 11y ago
To answer your question: yes, we already create synthetic caffeine. It's widely used in soda, energy drinks, etc.
- freels 11y ago
  From what I understand, a lot of this caffeine is sold to soda makers as a byproduct of the decaffeination process used on coffee beans. Does this mean the end of soda as well?
  - DanBC 11y ago
    I'd love a good cola that has no caffiene. (Although I also don't want it to have sugar either.) There's a niche in the market for somethig that tastes nice, is cold, isn't full of sugar and is not caffeinated.
    - jcadam 11y ago
      Diet Rite is my cola of choice. No Caffeine, sweetened with sucralose instead of aspartame. They could use some help with their product packaging, it looks a lot like generic/store-brand soda :)
    - sosborn 11y ago
      > There's a niche in the market for somethig that tastes nice, is cold, isn't full of sugar and is not caffeinated. Ice water? (and I'm saying this as a cola enthusiast)
    - maxerickson 11y ago
      Kola nut has caffeine, so a cola sort naturally does too. (my point being more that marketers probably won't call what you are looking for cola, not the pedantry)
    - icegreentea 11y ago
      What do you mean by 'good cola'? Coca-Cola has caffeine free variants of both Diet Coke and Coke Zero. Up here in Canada you can usually find them at major supermarket chains. If by good you mean not Coca-Cola or Pepsi... well then ya, there probably aren't many choices.
odiroot 11y ago
Why would you do that though? It's a funny thought for me as I only drink decaf.
unprepare 11y ago
Are we producing synthetic nicotine for e-cigs? I am of the understanding that we currently produce liquid nicotine from tobacco leaves, and use the liquid nicotine for electronic cigarettes. We certainly can already produce caffeine independently of producing coffee, and while that may be a major reason for coffee production, i doubt many coffee drinkers would be satiated with a caffeine pill every morning instead of their cup of coffee. Kind of akin to seeing the wine grapes are going away and saying, well we can produce alcohol independently of wine - its true, but it wont satisfy wine lovers.
- mattlutze 11y ago
  If we were to replace coffee beans, we wouldn't just offer them a No-Doze; I imagine you develop coffee flavors that could be used to reproduce the actual beverage. No reason for instant coffee to ever have been coffee beans in the first place if you can do the flavors right. Or, the culture just adjusts to a different caffeine-infused hot drink.

Isn't there a way to produce synthetic caffeine? I mean, there's been a shift recently for nicotine and the market for e-cigs, I'm sure we can somehow find a way to do the same for caffeine.

TranquilMarmot 11y ago

Nicotine patch? I want a caffeine patch! Honestly though, I'd be less upset about coffee going away as a source of caffeine than it going away as a drink. It's so wonderfully delicious that synthetic caffeine just wouldn't really cut it for me.

yellowapple 11y ago
You're actually in luck: https://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/caffederm.shtml https://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/caffederm.shtml

Nacraile 11y ago

You know, some people drink coffee because they like the flavour, not because they need caffeine :P (As a matter of fact, I consider caffeine to be an undesirable side-effect of delicious coffee...) Coffee isn't the only natural source of caffeine, and yes, it can also be made synthetically.

sritch 11y ago
It's especially unfortunate because decaf coffee is usually gross.
- noir_lord 11y ago
  Unsurprising when you look at the method they use for removing the caffeine.
  - Florin_Andrei 11y ago
    Supercritical CO2 extraction is gross? The solvent evaporates without a trace.
- nightski 11y ago
  I've found decaf made with the Aeropress is actually surprisingly good. I usually only have a single cup of caffeinated and then follow up with a few cups of decaf.
stdbrouw 11y ago
And some people, mysteriously, seem to be especially fond of the flavor just around the time they're struggling to wake up.
golergka 11y ago
And a lot of people love coffee but hate caffeine.
primroot 11y ago
Try roasted okra seeds then.

fasteo 11y ago

Coffee is much more than caffeine [1] [1] http://www.ift.org/~/media/Knowledge%20Center/Publications/Books/Samples/IFTPressBook_Coffee_PreviewChapter.pdf http://www.ift.org/~/media/Knowledge%20Center/Publications/B...

strictnein 11y ago

To answer your question: yes, we already create synthetic caffeine. It's widely used in soda, energy drinks, etc.

freels 11y ago
From what I understand, a lot of this caffeine is sold to soda makers as a byproduct of the decaffeination process used on coffee beans. Does this mean the end of soda as well?
- DanBC 11y ago
  I'd love a good cola that has no caffiene. (Although I also don't want it to have sugar either.) There's a niche in the market for somethig that tastes nice, is cold, isn't full of sugar and is not caffeinated.
  - jcadam 11y ago
    Diet Rite is my cola of choice. No Caffeine, sweetened with sucralose instead of aspartame. They could use some help with their product packaging, it looks a lot like generic/store-brand soda :)
  - sosborn 11y ago
    > There's a niche in the market for somethig that tastes nice, is cold, isn't full of sugar and is not caffeinated. Ice water? (and I'm saying this as a cola enthusiast)
  - maxerickson 11y ago
    Kola nut has caffeine, so a cola sort naturally does too. (my point being more that marketers probably won't call what you are looking for cola, not the pedantry)
  - icegreentea 11y ago
    What do you mean by 'good cola'? Coca-Cola has caffeine free variants of both Diet Coke and Coke Zero. Up here in Canada you can usually find them at major supermarket chains. If by good you mean not Coca-Cola or Pepsi... well then ya, there probably aren't many choices.

odiroot 11y ago

Why would you do that though? It's a funny thought for me as I only drink decaf.

unprepare 11y ago

Are we producing synthetic nicotine for e-cigs? I am of the understanding that we currently produce liquid nicotine from tobacco leaves, and use the liquid nicotine for electronic cigarettes. We certainly can already produce caffeine independently of producing coffee, and while that may be a major reason for coffee production, i doubt many coffee drinkers would be satiated with a caffeine pill every morning instead of their cup of coffee. Kind of akin to seeing the wine grapes are going away and saying, well we can produce alcohol independently of wine - its true, but it wont satisfy wine lovers.

mattlutze 11y ago
If we were to replace coffee beans, we wouldn't just offer them a No-Doze; I imagine you develop coffee flavors that could be used to reproduce the actual beverage. No reason for instant coffee to ever have been coffee beans in the first place if you can do the flavors right. Or, the culture just adjusts to a different caffeine-infused hot drink.