“Decaf” is short for “decaffeinated,” a removing of caffeine from such products as coffee, tea, and soda. Nestlé marketed a product called “Decaf” instant coffee, beginning in 1953. It’s difficult to determine when “decaf” became a word that did not refer specifically to Nestlé‘s brand name product. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary records “decaf” from 1961.
 
   
Wikipedia: Decaffeination
Decaffeination is the act of removing caffeine from coffee beans, cocoa, tea leaves and other caffeine-containing materials. (While caffeine-free soft drinks are occasionally referred to as “decaffeinated”, some are better termed “uncaffeinated”: prepared without adding caffeine during productiMerriam-Webster Online Dictionaryon.) Despite removal of most caffeine, many decaffeinated drinks still have around 1–2% of the original caffeine remaining in them, and research has found that certain decaffeinated coffee drinks can contain around 20% of the original caffeine.
 
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
de·caf noun \ˈdē-ˌkaf\
: coffee that does not contain caffeine : decaffeinated coffee
Origin of DECAF
short for decaffeinated
First Known Use: 1961
 
12 December 1953, New Castle (PA) News, pg. 28, col. 1 ad:
New Decaf Instant
Coffee ... 2 reg. jars 63c
(Axe’s Market.—ed.)
 
30 April 1954, Cleveland (OH) Plain Dealer, “In the Markets: New Coffee, New Sausage,” pg. 20, col. 4:
Two foods made their appearance in the markets this week, a “decaffeinated” instant coffee, called Decaf, and Brown N’ Serve Sausage.
 
Decaf, produced by the Nestle Co., has a true coffee flavor, we are told, because of a revolutionary Swiss process that removes caffein before roasting. Decaf is 97% caffein free.
 
11 August 1954, Cleveland (OH) Plain Dealer, pg. 18, col. 6 ad:
DECAF
INSTANT COFFEE
 
Google Books
24 September 1955, The Billboard, pg. 3, col. 1:
Decaf Coffee, Nestle Co.
 
Google Books
15 September 1958, Life magazine, pg. 79, col. 2 ad:
Make your coffee new Decaf— the feel wonderful coffee. It’s coffee processed a new modern way, without disagreeable caffein. Fills your cup with all the goodness that’s in the coffee bean. All wonderful taste — no disagreeable caffein. Sleep? Naturally! Get a jar today.
DECAF COFFEE
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Heart Disease Worries? Watch the Decaf
Author: J. Raloff
Edition/Format: Article Article : English
Publication: Science News, v140 n11 (19910914): 165
Database: JSTOR Life Sciences Collection
 
,a href=“http://www.worldcat.org/title/who-needs-decaf/oclc/53897343&referer=brief_results”>OCLC WorldCat record
“Who needs decaf?”
Author: Tanya Michaels
Publisher: Toronto : Harlequin, ©2003.
Series: Harlequin flipside, 06.
Edition/Format:   Book : Fiction : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Regular & decaf : one friend with schizophrenia, one friend with bipolar, one ongoing conversation, one cup at a time
Author: Andrew D Gadtke
Publisher: Edina, Minn. : Risen Man Publishing, LLC ; 2008.
Edition/Format:   Book : English
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark NESTLE’S DECAF
Goods and Services (EXPIRED) IC 030. US 046. G & S: DECAFFEINATED INSTANT COFFEE. FIRST USE: 19550908. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19550908
Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number 71697117
Filing Date October 25, 1955
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0633758
Registration Date August 28, 1956
Owner (REGISTRANT) NESTLE COMPANY, INC., THE CORPORATION NEW YORK 2 WILLIAM ST. WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK
Prior Registrations 0357353;0605903;AND OTHERS
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 19760828
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD