Is Decaf Coffee Safe During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is one of the most common reasons people come to us. The morning cup you love suddenly comes with a question mark — and "just cut out coffee" is easier said than done when it’s part of how you start your day. So let’s look at what’s actually known about decaf and pregnancy. Fair warning: we’re roasters, not doctors, and your provider knows your situation better than any blog post. But here are the numbers, plainly.
The caffeine math
A cup of regular coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine. Decaf has 2 to 15 mg per 8-ounce cup — a small fraction. The Swiss Water Process we use removes 99.9% of the caffeine. So switching from regular to decaf cuts your caffeine dramatically, even if you keep the same number of cups.
What the guidelines say
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests keeping caffeine under 200 mg per day during pregnancy — roughly two cups of regular coffee. At 2 to 15 mg a cup, decaf sits far below that line, which is a big part of why so many people switch to it while expecting.
The honest caveat
Here’s the part a lot of coffee sites skip. A 2025 research review found there isn’t a proven, universally "safe" caffeine threshold in pregnancy — some studies note associations even at low levels, and caffeine clears the body much more slowly late in pregnancy. That’s not a reason to panic about the trace amount in decaf. It’s a reason to keep your total intake low and talk to your provider. Decaf helps you do exactly that — it lets you keep the ritual while keeping caffeine to a minimum.
Why the process matters here, too
If you’re switching for your pregnancy, it’s worth knowing how your decaf was made. We only use the Swiss Water Process — water instead of chemical solvents. When you’re already being thoughtful about what goes in your body, a chemical-free cup is one less thing to wonder about.
The bottom line
Decaf lets you keep your morning coffee while cutting caffeine to a fraction of a regular cup. For most people, that’s a welcome middle ground during pregnancy. Just keep an eye on your total daily caffeine, and check with your doctor or midwife about what’s right for you.
If you’re making the switch, our Starter Sampler is a gentle way to find a decaf you love — single-origin, Swiss Water, roasted fresh. Questions? Reply to any email. We’re real people, and we read every one.
— Carol & Eric