How to test to see if something has caffeine in it?

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Is there some way I can test to see if a cup of coffee is caffeinated or not? Nevermind "ask the office lady." I am curious if there is a way to test using supplies or ingredients that can be readily found around a home or office.

Thanks.
 

DaFanMan

Senior member
Apr 7, 2002
919
0
0
Drink it, if you get the shakes its caffinated?

All kidding aside not sure if theirs something out there to do this or not.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
i do not know of any consumer products to test for caffeine. its a chemical, and would require chemical testing supplies
and ALL coffee has caffeine, just to let you know
decaf contains minute traces though, such as 5-10mg of caffeine, far away from anything that could keep you awake or add any energy. thats about a third of a can of coke (somewhere around 30-40mg of caffeine in a can of coke)
 

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Thanks for the replies. The story is I bought a bag of coffee at Coffee Bean and had the girl grind it for my espresso machine at work. I noticed a few days later that the bag said DECAF on it, even though I didn't order decaf. I drink enough coffee and am generally pretty upbeat so I don't get the "shakes" or excited when I drink coffee. That being said, I can't just "tell". It's not like alcohol where it's obvious that I am drunk or something.

I realize that it'd take a chemical test but there are definitely some household tricks you can use to test for various substances. Like baking soda plus vingegar. Acid + base. That's the type of "elementary science" I am looking for.