Coffee

[Aunt Pitty Pat]

Hi, I'm Pat - Aunt Pitty Pat from Houston, Texas. I'm making plans to walk the Camino Frances in April 2020. I here about the wonderful coffee but don't want to get my hopes up. Due to a heart condition I can only drink decaf (or "why bother"). Should I plan on bringing my own?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi, Pat, and welcome to the Forum

The good news is that as a modern country, Spain has a lot of grocery stores where you can purchase decaf coffee. So you don't need to bring from home.

 

[Mikel Olivares]

You just have to ask: "Café descafeinado, por favor"

 

[Tincatinker]

In ever so nearly every bar or cafe that you encounter they will have 'cafe descafinado'. If your caffeine reaction is severe exercise caution or carry a card that says so. I'm on an archaic phone so I can't surf the translation for you but if you're up for the Camino you're up for anything

 

[Icacos]

Welcome to the forum, Pat. I walked the Francés in 2013 and due to issues I have with coffee, I also only drank decaf. I had no trouble getting a decaf latte at any of the bars or cafes.

I see someone has already mentioned how to request a decaf coffee.

 

[blueblazing]

Another decaf-only drinker here. You’ll have no problem on the Camino. Just remember to ask for decaf “de máquina” - from the coffee machine, with real fresh ground coffee beans. Otherwise you’re in danger of getting served instant decaf from a packet (“de sobre”), which is not nearly as good. You’ll see that almost all coffee machines in Spanish bars and cafes have a separate funnel/receptacle with decaf beans in it.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Spanish decaf won't be any better than what you are getting!! The laudable coffee comes from the blends they put into espresso machines, and they are not decaf.

 

[KinkyOne]

Another decaf-only drinker here. You’ll have no problem on the Camino. Just remember to ask for decaf “de máquina” - from the coffee machine, with real fresh ground coffee beans. Otherwise you’re in danger of getting served instant decaf from a packet (“de sobre”), which is not nearly as good. You’ll see that almost all coffee machines in Spanish bars and cafes have a separate funnel/receptacle with decaf beans in it.

Is there such a thing as a decafe coffee BEANS??? Really? It's like there's potato/corn without starch...
What happened to this world???

 

[Icacos]

Is there such a thing as a decafe coffee BEANS??? .....

I posed that question to Starbucks and was told, “Of course, this is Starbucks.”

I asked the same question of my step-dad. He explained to me that caffeine is water soluble. To remove the caffeine you just soak the beans in water......then dry them again I presume. However, I can tell you that not 100% of the caffeine is removed by this process. I know this because I have to wean myself slowly off even decaf coffee if I’ve been drinking it for a long time, otherwise I will get that dreaded caffeine-withdrawal headache.

 

[KinkyOne]

I posed that question to Starbucks and was told, “Of course, this is Starbucks.”

I asked the same question of my step-dad. He explained to me that caffeine is water soluble. To remove the caffeine you just soak the beans in water......then dry them again I presume. However, I can tell you that not 100% of the caffeine is removed by this process. I know this because I have to wean myself slowly off even decaf coffee if I’ve been drinking it for a long time, otherwise I will get that dreaded caffeine-withdrawal headache.

Thanks for explanation but I would say coffee beans without coffeine aren't coffee anymore. It's just a scent of a coffee. And I'm not an avid coffee drinker. But I might be a purist

 

[Icacos]

Well, if you are not an avid coffee drinker you will not understand, but good for you! I will develop a dependency on it even if I drink just one weak cup a day, and that dependency can be a real nuisance sometimes.

 

[Anamiri]

They also do tea....

 

[Deleted member 3000]

They also do tea....

But not in an espresso machine!

 

[hel&scott]

Is there such a thing as a decafe coffee BEANS??? Really? It's like there's potato/corn without starch...
What happened to this world???

Decaf cafe coffee is about as much use as skim milk or alcohol free beer. Still the OP has an intolerance to caffeine so it is good the forum members are able to offer advise and options... As much as I usually avoid the white death that is sugar, the Camino is the one time I spoon some into my morning coffee, helps fuel you on your way.

 

[josephmcclain]

Spanish decaf won't be any better than what you are getting!! The laudable coffee comes from the blends they put into espresso machines, and they are not decaf.

Actually, they can and do use decaf beans in the maquina.

 

[josephmcclain]

Is there such a thing as a decafe coffee BEANS??? Really? It's like there's potato/corn without starch...
What happened to this world???

Sure it exists

 

[Aunt Pitty Pat]

Is there such a thing as a decafe coffee BEANS??? Really? It's like there's potato/corn without starch...
What happened to this world???

Never thought about that. HEB has decaf whole beans - another google search coming on!

 

[blueblazing]

Actually, they can and do use decaf beans in the maquina.

Thanks josephmcclain - I was starting to think I was crazy and had been hallucinating my delicious Camino coffees all these years
Buen Camino, Aunt Pitty Pat!

 

[Aunt Pitty Pat]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and good info. I can look forward to my "why bother" coffee!

 

[Icacos]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and good info. I can look forward to my "why bother" coffee!

Sitting down to a cup of coffee on the camino is great, whether regular or decaf. It is served up so nicely and the experience, and rest, adds so much to one's day. It rejuvenates one's soul and sets one up for the next leg of the journey.

 

[Anamiri]

But not in an espresso machine!

Actually everytime I asked for hot water, thats where it came from