AbstractThe popularity of coffee as a beverage has its origin in the stimulant effect of caffeine. However, a market for decaffeinated (decaf) coffee developed when a variety of health problems appeared to be related with caffeine consumption. The caffeine obtained from the decaffeination is mainly used by pharmaceutical, cola‐type soft drinks and cosmetic industries and although decaf coffee amounts to about 10% of the global coffee market, the need for caffeine by these industries is much bigger than is produced. With the increasing consumer appeal for natural products, which is related to a healthier life style, natural caffeine is missing in the market and is being replaced by the synthetic molecule, as has been shown by modern detection techniques. Here, I briefly discuss that while much attention has been paid on decaf coffee, perhaps natural caffeine has become more important and the by‐product may now be decaf coffee.