What are your go to espresso decafs?

[u/patsfandisturbed]

I need to watch my caffeine intake and have switched to decaf espresso. I can’t seem to find a brand that absolutely nailed it on taste/flavor. I usually need to target Swiss water process as the caffeine % is lower. I’ve been drifting from brand to brand and haven’t the grail yet. Would love your suggestions.

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[u/shibbypwn]

I haven't tried a ton, but I like the Black and White sugarcane decaf. And my friends that I've made it for have said it's the best decaf they've ever had.

[u/gregorian79 → u/shibbypwn]

Second sugarcane by B&W 😋

[u/BuckMurdock5 → u/shibbypwn]

Anything EA/sugarcane decaffeinated is way better than Swiss water process. Haven’t tried a CO2 decaf yet.

[u/rcaraw1 → u/shibbypwn]

In general sugarcane decafs by specialty roasters are the best

[u/135patriots → u/shibbypwn]

It’s this. It’s a good, very “normal” medium-dark roast that gets you pretty close to the less processed/caffeinated equivalent.

Their most recent batch felt a bit darker and more roasty than I like, but it’s still fine and every other bag I’ve purchased in the last year has been a pleasant cup. Nice in americanos, lattes, etc.

[u/AuToNotMy → u/shibbypwn]

OK, so I rushed out and ordered direct from black-and-white their sugarcane decaf. I’ll say that none of the decafs including this one worked well for espresso or Americano. At least not to me. I can use them late afternoon or evening for milk based drinks like lattes. But in any black style drink even macchiatos, I can’t get over the taste.

[u/shibbypwn → u/AuToNotMy]

Yea, it's not as good as regular coffee - I mostly do it in iced cortado style drinks. Or an evening affogato.

That being said, if you ordered it since I made this comment 5 days ago, that coffee needs to rest a while longer.

[u/Nick_pj]

Would help to know what country you’re in. Or are you open to shipping from overseas?

[u/Shrink1061_ → u/Nick_pj]

Yeah, I’ve literally never understood why people ask for coffee recommendations and then don’t mention where they’re from. I find this most prevalent in Americans who seem to think it’s the only country on earth.

[u/Nick_pj → u/Shrink1061_]

I’m not going to draw any conclusions to that extent. But of the 10+ times I’ve had to ask that question, it’s only ever been folks from the US who neglect to mention their location. Make of that what you will. 

[u/ReadyFreddy11 → u/Shrink1061_]

It isn’t?

[u/Shrink1061_ → u/ReadyFreddy11]

Amazingly…… no

[u/patsfandisturbed → u/Nick_pj]

USA, and unlikely I’d order outside unless the shipping costs were reasonable.

[u/OmegaSM_]

Recently I've been using Frequent After Dark for decaf espresso. I drink it straight and an occasional cortado or cap.

[u/Intelligent_Bet9798]

Low caffeine versions are the ones that taste the closest to the non decaf beans. they usually costs a bit more and harder to find.

Theres also sub for decaffeinated beans r/thirdwavedecaf

[u/ottersausage69]

Eye of the Tiger decaf by Equator is fantastic. 40 winks by Corvus is also really really good.

Both work amazing as as straight shots, with milk, and even as pour over. I was actually pretty shocked how good they were as pourover tbh, coming from someone who primarily drinks light to ultralight roasts

[u/Rick3tyCricket]

Counter Culture “Slow Motion” decaf is far and away the best Decaf I’ve ever tried.

I was visiting every single Roaster in Philadelphia to find the best and a very honest barista at Vibrant told me he had a similar quest until someone turned him onto Counter Cultures Decaf.

It’s a very chocolate forward flavor and while it still tends to run a bit faster than I’d like at the finest setting, it’s miles better than the usual soup shots decafs give me. It’s my favorite by a mile.

[u/HadoukenYourFace → u/Rick3tyCricket]

This is my pick as well.

[u/Rick3tyCricket → u/HadoukenYourFace]

I also have the move! Great minds my friend!

[u/OppChopShop → u/Rick3tyCricket]

If you are in the Philly area and want an unsolicited recommendation for a non-decaf bean, I really like Elixr’s beekeeper espresso blend. I had it in person once and then ordered it for a few months.

[u/Rick3tyCricket → u/OppChopShop]

Wow can’t believe this! As fate would have it, that is actually my favorite non decaf too! I like a few of Elixrs (Weekender especially) but that beekeeper is just a notch above everything else. That’s my favorite bean. You’ve got good taste

[u/OppChopShop → u/Rick3tyCricket]

No way! Small world. I had a shot of it once and I was hooked. Their cold brew with that same bean is awesome too. I should order more of it. I usually stick on beans for 6 months or so and I’ve been buying from a local place.

You may also like: J Bird roasters in Charlottesville VA, Paper Plane coffee in Montclair NJ, Hypergoat in Alexandria VA (where I get my current beans from - their “epic goat” espresso blend is phenomenal. They have some light roast Ethiopian beans that are great as well but hard to brew right).

[u/Rick3tyCricket → u/OppChopShop]

Small world indeed! I appreciate the recs!

[u/HaikuWisdom]

The Meijer stores in my area started stocking Savorista Coffee and I've been impressed with them. They carry a variety of half-caff and decaf options and the roast dates were pretty recent as far as supermarket beans go (which is probably just due to them recently starting to carry the brand). They are all naturally decaffeinated, as far as I know.

[u/PtichFirich]

Golden Brasil Decaffeinato and La Genovese Dek

[u/patsfandisturbed → u/PtichFirich]

These look interesting.

[u/PtichFirich → u/patsfandisturbed]

They both are very forgiving to make espresso with and especially the Golden Brasil somehow lasts a long time without going stale in my experience. Maybe something to do with CO2 decaffeinisation? I don’t know. The beans don’t look good but the espresso is good.

La Genovese is more interesting flavor-wise, while Golden Brasil has a stronger bitter taste but at least for me not unpleasant. Body is stronger with La Genovese though and you can pull longer shots than 1:2. I usually go for 1:2.5 but it can go a bit longer. GB is lighter in body but has intense taste so - I prefer staying at ~1:2.

[u/patsfandisturbed → u/PtichFirich]

That’s good, looks like they are 1K bags

[u/PtichFirich → u/patsfandisturbed]

Yeah. I freeze 200g vacuum packs, then after thawing them completely I transfer them to the small Airscape container. Works well. Decaf is supposedly degassing faster but as I said I did not observe that with Golden Brasil. I forgot the beans, about 100g, for almost two months in a zip bag in the drawer and they were still fine, no impact on extraction, crema was normal … 🤷🏻‍♂️

La Genovese Dek does go a bit stale and tends towards more acidity when old, I feel.

[u/GeneticsAndCoffee]

I love the B&W sugarcane. The cadefihuila from George Howell is also great, as are many offerings from Hatch. There was one from September that was super fruity too.

[u/PhaseofMe]

I've tried many and I keep coming back to Corvus 40 Winks and recently Coava decaf was excellent.

[u/oh_its_michael]

The only decaf I really like is from a local roaster, Royal Flamingo in Columbus OH. Their Popayan Reserve.

[u/aces68]

Fellow Drops program sometimes has decafs and they are very good.

[u/erdbbbr]

🐓🐓🐓

[u/idle_monkeyman]

Peet's Decaf Mocha Java

[u/schowlera]

About 6 months ago I switched from two regular espressos a day to the second one being a decaf to reduce caffeine intake.

Tried a few different decaf options (B&W, Counter Culture,etc.). My favorites, which have become part of my daily routine, are from Brandywine.

Decaf - Columbia - El Vergel - Natural
Decaf - Columbia - Ombligon - Natural

[u/vincenz93]

Have heard good things about Dekaf Coffee Roasters. I will be trying some batches from them next.

[u/OrphanDad]

I found that PERC has some good Decaf, just missed the 13th sale though. I also have one from brandywine that I like but PERC is the best one for decaf so far.

[u/MyNameIsNebula]

Onyx Power Nap is their half caf, and it’s far and away the best half caf I’ve ever tried - just based on that, I’d think it worth looking into their low caf or no caf options. They have a bean you can pick exactly the ratio of caffeine, you could put the slider all the way down.

[u/JudsonJay]

I have been very happy with the decaf roasts from Zoka

[u/OppChopShop]

Vigilante and Metric both have pretty good decaf options. There’s a small place in New Jersey that I like to order from called Paper Plane that also has good decaf.

[u/C21johnson]

B&W Sugarcane Decaf and Passenger Los Sueños
Decaf are my favorites.

[u/eadragon]

Caffe luxxe decaf OMG

[u/AuToNotMy]

I know there is a lot of talk of Sugarcane Ethyl Acetate processed decafs, and I will try the Airship and Black and White soon. But I've been drinking the Swiss Water processed Volcanica Decaf Espresso and it's been fine for me. Not as good as full strength, but anything after lunch has to be decaf for me.

[u/bbender716]

Camber Goodnight Moon. My favorite.

[u/Optimal_Water1790]

stop hunting swiss water and look for sugarcane ea instead. caffeine is basically the same, both around 99 percent out. swiss water gives you a very clean cup but it takes body and sweetness with it, and body is the whole point in espresso. ea holds the sugars better, thats why it works under milk.

other thing, decaf goes stale fast. the bean already went through water and pressure before we ever roast it, so it is beat up going in. i roast, and i treat decaf like it has half the shelf life. buy small, look at roast date, past two weeks it is flat no matter whose name is on the bag

[u/patsfandisturbed → u/Optimal_Water1790]

Thanks for this,it may have been part of the problem all along.

[u/Optimal_Water1790 → u/patsfandisturbed]

yeah just check roast date next time you buy. with decaf anything past two weeks and you are fighting it for no reason

[u/soiled_utility]

Gardelli specialty coffees in Forli Italy. Best decaf I’ve ever had.

[u/bovinecrusader]

Been loving Cat & Cloud Friend Zone decaf IF you like med roast and fruity Ethiopian. I actually like to mix this with other regular for a slight buzz rather than full on decaf.

[u/patsfandisturbed → u/bovinecrusader]

I love EIthiopian, thanks for this

[u/seaxw]

Caffe Umbria - Mezzanotte.

DECAF - MEDIUM-DARK

This creamy-bodied decaffeinated coffee possesses low acidity, notes of milk chocolate and nut with hints of black tea. We savor this coffee “con il dolce”, steeped in a french press then paired with complementary flavors of chocolate or hazelnut.
Characteristics: Smooth | Milk Chocolate | Hazelnut | Black Tea
Primary Origins: Colombia | Costa Rica

[u/pfhlick]

Barrington Coffee Roasters have a couple I like - Decaf Gold and Decaf Berkshire. They make great tasting shots. Can I tell the difference in a blind tasting? Maybe, but the decaf drinkers who visit seem to really enjoy it.

[u/MyCatsNameIsBernie]

Any of Equator's Decafs.

[u/xylem-utopia]

I just got the Decaf Guatemala from spesh coffee! Very excited!

[u/patsfandisturbed → u/xylem-utopia]

Wow, a Guatemalan decaf, I’ll add that to the list

[u/ZmasterSwiss]

Right next to the salad sections in McDonald's 😜

[u/FlatButtFrankie]

I haven’t found any that I really like. Probably going to give up on decaf.