s/o starbucks - can you get half-caf lattes?

lytedark

cuz i know i'm gonna start crying if i miss the rest of pumpkin spiced latte season and i know that the lattes are heavily caffinated...

papagena

I believe so - you can also get them decaff, which has a little caffeine still, but not too much.

lytedark

nuh-UH - i can get decaf lattes???  duuuuuuuuuude!!!!  

you are my new hero for this news!

GreekyPie

Yes, I've started doing this every time since getting pg.

ElloPoppet

the chemicals in the decaf are worst than the caffeine is for you. Get a tall & don't do it too often

That pumpkin spice latte is going to be my downfall - I haven't had any caffeine since BFP, and MY GOD do I want one

Operanne

Pumpkin spiced lattes are the best.  I'm (impatiently) waiting for my 2nd tri so I can indulge once or twice.  I've been on a strict no-caffeine "diet" per my acupuncturist since July. 

lytedark

ElloPoppet:

the chemicals in the decaf are worst than the caffeine is for you. Get a tall & don't do it too often

That pumpkin spice latte is going to be my downfall - I haven't had any caffeine since BFP, and MY GOD do I want one

yeah i only ever get talls and hardly ever go anyway.. but that's true.. i didn't think about the chemicals of decaf.. is half calf the best of both worlds or the worst of both worlds in that case?  lol..

papagena

Aih - I've heard that most of the chemicals used don't remain in the finished product.  I looked it up (very quickly, and the old top website that comes off the search engine, so take it for what it is worth) what method Starbucks uses to decaffinate, and here's what I found on (again, the top website produced in a search) that method:

Methylene Chloride
This direct extraction method is sometimes called the ?European Process?.  After being softened by steam, the green beans are repeatedly rinsed with methylene chloride, which removes the caffeine from the beans and forms a solvent and caffeine solution. The solution is then drained away and the beans are steamed again to evaporate any remaining solvent.  Finally, the beans are dried to ready them for the roasting process.  During the roasting process, coffee reaches internal temperatures of over 450? F (and methylene chloride volatizes at about 104? F), so any remaining solvent residues left in the green bean after decaffeination (and these are trace values) are essentially burned off during the roast.

Since the delicate and vital coffee oils and flavours are kept within the green bean during this process, it is generally considered the least destructive to coffee taste. 

 

*Poppet - do you have anything that states there are harmful chemicals in the finished product?  Curious, as I still opt for decaf when I have the option for BFing.  

 

hamilton.ja

can you really?? is it new? when I was pregnant they always told me no they couldn't do any of the fancy drinks in decaf...

papagena

hamilton.ja:

can you really?? is it new? when I was pregnant they always told me no they couldn't do any of the fancy drinks in decaf...

I think they can do lattes, or at least they've told me they can (which they should, it's just the coffee beans they'd have to change).  I don't think they make mixes of the frappuccinos in decaf (although I was given a 'decaf' frappuccino once, so either they sometimes do or I was lied to).  I dont' think they premix the seasonal lattes, though.  

ElloPoppet

hamilton.ja:

can you really?? is it new? when I was pregnant they always told me no they couldn't do any of the fancy drinks in decaf...

They can't do fraps in decaf because it's a pre-mixed base. The lattes are just espresso shots + flavor. 

As for the chemical research, this is an interesting list: https://www.teeccino.com/decaf.aspx

Granted it's on a decaf beverage website, but it does appear to provide citations for all claims. 

Honestly, I think anything decaf tastes like @ss and would rather deal with the caffeine or not drink anything at all.

papagena

ElloPoppet:

hamilton.ja:

can you really?? is it new? when I was pregnant they always told me no they couldn't do any of the fancy drinks in decaf...

They can't do fraps in decaf because it's a pre-mixed base. The lattes are just espresso shots + flavor. 

As for the chemical research, this is an interesting list: https://www.teeccino.com/decaf.aspx

Granted it's on a decaf beverage website, but it does appear to provide citations for all claims. 

Honestly, I think anything decaf tastes like @ss and would rather deal with the caffeine or not drink anything at all.

Interesting.  I'm not at risk for some of those, and almost 1/2 of the ones they mentioned are the same as regular coffee.  I may have to do more research, or just continue to mix it up and drink in moderation. 

ETA: and you have a much more discerning palate than I.  I don't think I can tell the difference.  

lytedark

papagena:

ElloPoppet:

hamilton.ja:

can you really?? is it new? when I was pregnant they always told me no they couldn't do any of the fancy drinks in decaf...

They can't do fraps in decaf because it's a pre-mixed base. The lattes are just espresso shots + flavor. 

As for the chemical research, this is an interesting list: https://www.teeccino.com/decaf.aspx

Granted it's on a decaf beverage website, but it does appear to provide citations for all claims. 

Honestly, I think anything decaf tastes like @ss and would rather deal with the caffeine or not drink anything at all.

Interesting.  I'm not at risk for some of those, and almost 1/2 of the ones they mentioned are the same as regular coffee.  I may have to do more research, or just continue to mix it up and drink in moderation. 

ETA: and you have a much more discerning palate than I.  I don't think I can tell the difference.  

i actually can tell the difference in my irish breakfast tea - my mom got me decaf by accident once and i figured whatever i don't drink it for the caff anyway so planned to use it but it toooootally wasn't as good so i didn't.  :-(  but that's tea..  i don't know i've ever had decaf coffee..  though i actually forgot to get my last PSL fat free and didn't notice much difference so maybe with the extra flavors it blends together??

jmlushbough

You can also get decaf cold press which is really good with a shot of white chocolate.... Yummy!

Hippinski

Yes...yes you can!

Dobie_Mama

I'll give you a warning - if you like the Eggnog Lattes, ask them if their nog is pasteurized.  They use (or at least did, when I was PG with DD) nog from different distributors so some is and some isn't. 

naflmj

My doc said it was fine to have caf as long as I didn't go overboard so one once in a while will be fine.