[hpcjoe]

Wait ... but ... why? (in jest)

I understand why, though some of us think of decaf "coffee", much the same way others view white "chocolate". At some point, the thing you modified it to be, isn't representative of the original thing. IMO, it should not be called coffee or chocolate, even with a descriptive adjective up front.

This is a minor nit to pick, but still, for those of us with a strong love of (addition to) coffee (or chocolate), its an important distinction.

[sgtnoodle]

They're both still coffee and chocolate, though. That reminds me of my college roommate who tried to argue that gelato isn't ice cream, using light beer vs dark beer as an analogy!

[1_player]

TIL gelato isn't ice cream. I'm from Italy, where "ice cream" is the translation of gelato, and by that I mean the sweet and icy milk-based stuff people eat during the summer, however you English speakers decide call it.

[jimhefferon]

:-)

> I understand why, though some of us think of decaf "coffee", much the same way others view white "chocolate".1

Had a cardiovascular adventure some time ago. Caffeine was involved, and so I don't have. I agree decaf is a poor substitute, as is white, but they are all I can get.

[mFixman]

If you try to define what is or is not coffee (or chocolate, milk, meat, ...) using its composition you'll end up with a lot of ambiguous and incorrect rules.

The correct way to solve this is to remember that language is an imprecise medium to transmit ideas. White chocolate is chocolate because people consider it chocolate, not the other way around.

[bengale]

I drink decaf tea because I like drinking tea but caffeine messes with my heart these days.

[edjw]

The flavour is the same

[pengaru]

Maybe your goal is to stain your teeth, and you don't particularly appreciate the drug's effects/addiction.