Decaf Consumption Expands Amid Caffeine Debate
Mixed Reactions from Office Workers to Coffee Ban for Health Reasons
A company's decision to ban the use of office coffee machines in the afternoon for the sake of employees' sleep health has sparked heated debate among office workers. Some criticize it as "excessive interference," while others defend the move, arguing that "providing coffee is not an obligation."
A scene of coffee orders piling up at a cafe on the way to work. Unrelated to the article. Asia Economy DB
On August 26, a post titled "Banning Office Coffee After 4 PM-Is This Even Reasonable?" appeared on the Remember community. The author, who identified themselves as an employee at a real estate development firm, reported that management had issued a notice stating, "Effective immediately, to promote employee health and improve sleep quality, the use of coffee machines in the break room is prohibited after 4 PM."
The author complained, "The CEO must have been deeply influenced by a YouTube video about caffeine disrupting sleep in the late afternoon," adding, "We often work overtime-what are we supposed to do about our fatigue?" They went on to suggest, "Isn't this just an excuse to save on coffee capsule costs under the pretense of employee health?"
The post garnered over 60,000 views and sparked widespread discussion. Many online commenters criticized the policy, saying, "It would have been better if they had just admitted it was to cut costs," and "If they really cared about sleep health, they would have provided decaf." On the other hand, some defended the company, noting, "It's not common for companies to even have a coffee machine," and "Restricting something that's not good for your health isn't necessarily a bad thing." They argued that providing coffee is not a company obligation.
Growing Consumption of Decaf for Health Reasons
In fact, numerous studies have shown that consuming caffeine in the late afternoon negatively affects sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends, "If you consume caffeine within six hours of bedtime, your total sleep time can be reduced by more than an hour," and advises, "It's best to stop consuming caffeine at least eight hours before going to bed."
Amid these concerns, decaffeinated coffee is gaining attention both in Korea and abroad as a new alternative. According to Starbucks Korea, sales of decaf beverages reached 32.7 million cups last year, a 55% increase from the previous year. Decaf beverages now account for more than 10% of all Americano sales. Twosome Place announced in February that cumulative sales of its decaf cold brew surpassed 1.5 million cups.
Across the industry, companies are launching new decaf products in response to the growing "wellness trend" that prioritizes health.
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