Does caffeine have a taste?
In its natural form, yes. In a word: bitter. Although the caffeine content itself typically can’t be tasted in a beverage, it is often used as a flavoring agent in soft drinks. Can you taste the difference between caffeinated and non-caffeinated versions of the same soda? Decaffeinated coffee is typically made from beans of inferior quality so that may account for the difference in quality of taste, but many people notice a significant difference in flavor between caffeinated and non-caffeinated soda so, yes, caffeine may be a factor in taste. Then again, it could be all psychological. Do a blind taste test and see if you notice a difference.
