Pour both into white mugs. Look at the surface. Regular espresso has a thick, golden crema—like a foamy crown. Decaf crema is thinner, paler, and disappears faster than your motivation on a Monday.
But drip coffee? Good luck. Both look like murky pond water. The only visual trick: decaf beans sometimes look slightly duller or more matte. If you can spot that, you have superhero eyes.
The Texture Trick: A Slight Sticky Secret
Rub a bean between your fingers. Leftover coffee grind? Feel the moisture. Decaf beans are often stickier because of the chemical or water process used to remove caffeine. Regular beans feel drier—like small, earthy pebbles.
Your grandma’s cookie dough? That’s the decaf texture. Gross? Maybe. But it works if you’re desperate.
Decaf Coffee vs Regular Coffee: Which Coffee to pick?
