- How to choose the best decaf coffee beans
- Brewing decaf: espresso, plunger and pour-over
- Our Colombian decaf
- Frequently asked questions
Our own Colombian decaf is a single origin, treated using a sugarcane natural process.
Key takeaways
- Judge decaf the way you would judge any specialty coffee: where it was grown, how it was processed, what it tastes like and when it was roasted.
- Ask how a decaf was decaffeinated. Ours is treated using a sugarcane natural process.
- Buy whole beans if you have a grinder, because coffee's aromas start to change once it is ground.
- Our Colombian decaf's espresso recipe is 22.5 grams in, 44 grams out, 25 to 30 seconds at 94 degrees. For a French press, use 30 grams per 250ml.
- A 500g bag makes about 22 espresso shots, so if one bag lasts you longer than two weeks, store it well or freeze it in portions.
How to choose the best decaf coffee beans
Decaf deserves the same questions as any other bag. Here is what to check, and what our Colombian decaf offers on each.
| What to check | Why it matters | Our Colombian decaf |
|---|---|---|
| How it was decaffeinated | Tells you how the caffeine was taken out, so you can compare like with like | A sugarcane natural process |
| Where it was grown | A single origin, coffee from one clearly defined place, tells you where your beans come from | Colombia |
| Tasting notes | Tells you what to expect in the cup | Butterscotch, dark chocolate, caramel |
| A recipe for your method | Like any coffee, decaf needs dialling in: small grind and recipe adjustments until it tastes right | Espresso and French press recipes on the product page |
| Whole beans or ground | Aromas start to change once coffee is ground | Whole beans, or pre-ground for espresso |
Two more checks apply to any bag. First, the roast date: coffee keeps changing after roasting, and there is no single perfect number of days, so follow the roaster's advice for your brew method. Second, the size: buy an amount you will drink while it is fresh.
A decaf sold without an origin, a method or tasting notes gives you very little to judge it on.
Brewing decaf: espresso, plunger and pour-over
Brew decaf with the same care as any coffee: weigh the coffee and water, time the brew and taste. These are our starting points.
| Method | Starting recipe | Which bag |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 22.5g in, 44g out, 25 to 30 seconds, 94 degrees | Whole beans, or pre-ground for espresso |
| French press (plunger) | 30g of coffee per 250ml of water | Whole beans, ground to suit the plunger |
| Pour-over | Six grams of coffee for every 100 grams of water, starting at 93 degrees | Whole beans, ground medium-coarse, like sea salt |
The espresso and French press recipes come from our decaf's product page. The decaf page does not list a pour-over recipe, so that line is the general starting point from our brew guides.
Each method needs its own grind. Our pre-ground decaf is ground for espresso, so for a plunger or pour-over, start with whole beans.
Our Colombian decaf
Our decaf range is simple: one coffee, in two formats.
- Colombian Decaffeinated Coffee: a 500g bag of whole beans.
- Colombian Decaffeinated Coffee, pre-ground espresso: a 500g bag, ground for espresso.
We describe it as smooth and rich, with a profile of butterscotch, dark chocolate and caramel.
Making a 500g bag last. At our espresso recipe, a 500g bag makes about 22 shots, so at one decaf a day it lasts about three weeks.
Coffee kept airtight and away from heat and light is fine at room temperature if you finish it within two weeks. Beyond that, freeze it in single-use airtight portions, grind each one straight from the freezer and never refreeze. Our guide to freezing coffee beans explains why.
Frequently asked questions
Is decaf coffee completely caffeine-free?
Not necessarily, and we don't publish a caffeine figure for ours. Our Colombian decaf is treated using a sugarcane natural process. If you need to avoid caffeine entirely, for example on medical advice, check with your doctor before drinking decaf.
Does decaf taste as good as regular coffee?
It can, if it starts as good coffee and is brewed with care. Our Colombian decaf is decaffeinated using a sugarcane natural process that keeps its flavour, and it tastes of butterscotch, dark chocolate and caramel. Brew it like any specialty coffee: freshly ground, weighed and dialled in to your method.
Why does my decaf taste flat or bitter?
Start with the same checks as any coffee. Flat points to freshness, grind or water. Sour or thin suggests under-extraction, so grind slightly finer. Bitter, harsh or dry suggests over-extraction, so grind slightly coarser. Change one thing at a time, brew again and taste.
Should I buy decaf whole beans or pre-ground?
Whole beans, if you have a grinder. Coffee's aromas start to change and fade once it is ground, so grinding just before you brew keeps more of them. Our pre-ground decaf is ground for espresso, which suits you if you have an espresso machine but no grinder. For a plunger or pour-over, buy whole beans and grind them to suit.
Can I get decaf on a subscription?
Yes. Both formats of our Colombian decaf can be ordered as a subscription from the product page. Pay-as-you-go plans deliver every one, two or four weeks, and you can skip, reschedule or cancel anytime. For workplaces, our office subscriptions include Colombian decaf in four 500g bags or more. See all subscription options.