Really? See, I drink mostly decaf espresso, and I'm pretty picky about my coffee, grind my own beans, etc. I can't tell a difference. If it's good coffee, it's good. If not, it's not, no matter decaf or regular. Am I the only one?

Good quality decaf is a nice beverage, similar in aroma and flavor to regular coffee, but there's definitely something missing in the flavor. The decaffination process is pretty harsh on the beans, as I understand it.

This has been my experience with decaf as well.

Really surprised me when I found out, too. (when someone told me I'd been drinking decaf for the past few days)

Really, that's interesting. Maybe I need to give it another try.

I mean, I have no doubt in your statement, I don't know many people who can't tell the difference, I just never have been able to.

> I think there'd have to be a serious health negative

Not a health negative but you build a tolerance to it. So then when you actually "need" a caffeine boost you'll need more of it. So...you'll have to buy a bigger mug and deal with more sever headaches if you somehow go without it.

I am actually doing what the article suggests. I normally don't drink coffee (I drink tea) except when I need a boost, then wean myself off of it. Then I do get the headaches and I manage them buy drinking more tea than usual and taking aspirin.

I guess I am saying the downside of not having regular coffee (just that) outweighs the upside, which is the occasional use for an energy boost.

You switch out the first benefit for tea, I switch out the second for usually either sugar or exercise.