People used to think decaf coffee was the worst thing in the world.
But that isn’t true anymore.
Decaf coffee has changed enormously since it was first introduced, going from a slightly gross beverage into a super-tasty alternative that doesn’t make you jittery.
Yes, you read that right. All the flavor without the side effects. Doesn’t that sound awesome?
Well, it’s not always that way. There are still some brands that produce awful decaf beans, almost undrinkable. You want to avoid those.
That’s why we’ve assembled a list of high-quality, tastebud-stimulating decaf coffee beans. If you’re looking for a jitter-free alternative, then check why we think they’re so good!
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TOP PICK  | Volcanica Coffee House Blend Best For: Drip Brewing – Black Process: Swiss WaterProcessed
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Contents
What is Decaf Coffee?
Decaf means decaffeinated. This refers to caffeine-free beans (or low caffeine) that taste EXACTLY like any other coffee, but without the caffeine side effects, not everyone likes.
This coffee is typically made by inflating the green coffee beans, rinsing them with water, and then using carbon solvent to remove the caffeine. Some methods use chemicals like methylene and ethyl acetate.
Either way, the process removes between 90% and 99% of all the caffeine from a typical coffee bean. In many countries, decaf coffee typically has less than 1% caffeine than usual.
6 Best Decaf Coffee Beans Reviews 2021
1. Volcanica House Blend – Best Overall
For those who prefer an intense yet pleasant taste with every sip, nothing will make them happy like the House Blend from Volcanica.
Using coffee beans directly from Central and South America, this blend delivers the richest flavor any decaf coffee has, but without the acid that would upset your stomach.
How does Volcanica make it happen? They use the safe and chemical-free Swiss water process on the richest beans out there, eliminating the caffeine without affecting the taste.
Something you’ll love about it is the cost. In contrast with other decaf coffee beans, the House Blend is affordable but tasty, so you’ll go back to it every month.
Highlighted Features:
- Best For: Drip Brewing – Black
- Decaf Level: 99.9%
- Origin: South and Central America
- Roast: Medium
- Process: Swiss Water
- Certification: Kosher
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2. Koa Coffee Decaf Kona – Highest Quality
Nothing like a premium batch of decaf coffee to boost every morning.
Koa Coffee makes that possible with the Decaf Kona mix, one of the richest single-origin bean bags you can get.
Boasting a medium roast and a Swiss-water decaffeinating process, it brings everything you need a typical coffee to have, without the jittery-inducing chemicals.
What’s more, this coffee claims to have an unforgettable taste. For those who’ve hated other decaf coffee beans, this one is ready to make you feel the other way. You’ll LOVE how tasty it is.
It all comes down to the unique Hawaiian tones that get rid of the acidity bite while boosting sweetness. A combination that will make the memory of cheap decaf coffees fade from your mind.
Highlighted Features:
- Best For: French Press – Espresso
- Decaf Level: 99.9%
- Origin: Kona – Hawaii
- Roast: Medium
- Process: Swiss Water
- Certification: Organic – Fair Trade
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3. Lifeboost Organic Decaf Coffee – Best Low Acid
Let’s be honest. Getting decaf coffee from low-quality brands is never worthwhile.
That’s why Lifeboost offers the total opposite. And what’s more, a COMPLETELY organic alternative at that.
This medium roast bag of beans is hand-roasted, hand-picked, and spring-water washed using the Swiss method.
The result? A chemical-free alternative boasting all the taste from Arabica beans without the drawbacks of chemically decaffeinated ones.
What sets it apart is the RICHNESS of its flavor. As soon as you taste it, you won’t be skeptical of decaf coffee anymore, thanks to the chocolatey and caramel tones.
There’s no drawback to this one.
Highlighted Features:
- Best For: Drip Brewing – Black
- Decaf Level: Not disclosed
- Origin: Nicaragua – Arabica
- Roast: Medium
- Process: Swiss Water
- Certification: Rainforest Alliance – Organic – Shade Grown – Single Origin
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4. FRC Organic Sumatra – Best Swiss Water Decaf
If there’s a coffee bean origin you can’t ever say bad things about, that would be Sumatran coffee. And it’s not a secret why.
The flavor is exceptional, to say the least. You can spot a note of cream, a bit of earthy flavor, plus a chocolate pinch that delights even the most trained palate.
But such tang does not come alone. This is a decaffeinated coffee with a bold body and a medium roast. You’re getting the whole package in one, ready to massage your taste buds without putting you in alert mode.
And it is from Fresh Roasted Coffee, easily one of the best brands you can get.
Highlighted Features:
- Best For: Drip Brewing – French Press
- Decaf Level: Not disclosed
- Origin: Aceh – Sumatra
- Roast: Medium
- Process: Swiss Water
- Certification: Organic – Fair Trade
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5. Outofthegreycoffee Rise and Shine Coffee Blend -Best Blend
Decaffeinated coffee doesn’t have to taste just like caffeinated one. The Rise and Shine blend from Outofthegreycoffee is a perfect example of that.
It is still a rich blend, ready to delight your buds every time. The taste is other-worldly because it captures your smell as well, thanks to a highly aromatic approach.
But there’s something about this you may appreciate that others don’t: it is a light-medium roast blend. A combination of light acidity with TONS of richness makes this handcrafted coffee a go-to option.
The best of all? You won’t have to empty your bank account to buy it.
Highlighted Features:
- Best For: Drip Brewing – French Press – Espresso
- Decaf Level: Not disclosed
- Origin: Brazilian – Colombian
- Roast: Light Medium
- Process: Swiss Water
- Certification: Organic
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6. Volcanica Dark Roast Espresso – Best For Espresso
Once again, Volcanica comes with one of the tastiest blends you can get that will hypnotize your buds.
How is that possible? Easy – a dark-roast coffee with the most exciting notes: a bit of spice and acidity, a rich coffee intensity, and the sweetness of caramel. They come together to deliver a coffee flavor you won’t find anywhere else.
Coming from a Swiss water decaffeination process, this Volcanica blend has it all. The intensity, the sweetness, and the spiciness without any of the caffeine.
Once you taste it, you won’t go back to whatever you were tasting before. We’re sure of that.
Highlighted Features:
- Best For: Espresso – Black
- Decaf Level: 99.9%
- Origin: Central America
- Roast: Dark
- Process: Swiss Water
- Certification: Kosher
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How Does Decaf Coffee Taste?
When compared to caffeinated coffee, you will find it a bit milder. Because the beans go through a washing process to clean the caffeine, many of its other properties go away. And this can affect the taste.
Having said that, decaf coffee is not flavorless in the slightest. In fact, many decaf coffee beans are actually spicier and more intense than most caffeinated alternatives as brands put a lot more effort into making them pleasant, just like these decaf espresso beans.
Different Decaf Methods: Go with the Swiss Water Method!
The decaffeination method will tell you a lot about the taste and chemical content of the coffee you’re getting. Here’s more about each:
Indirect Solvent Method
It uses methylene chloride or ethyl acetate to remove the caffeine. First, the beans are placed in boiling water for a few hours. Then, they go into a tank with the chemicals for up to 10 hours.
Once the process finishes, the beans will have little to no caffeine. They’re put back into boiling water so they can absorb some of the oils back.
This process, however, leaves some of the chemicals behind.
Direct Solvent Method
The beans go through a steaming process for about 30 minutes. Then they’re soaked in either methylene chloride or ethyl acetate for 10 hours.
To finish, the beans go through a steaming process again to remove most of the chemicals.
This process leaves fewer chemicals behind than the indirect alternative.
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Method
Here, the beans are placed inside an aluminum tank. Then the liquid carbon is poured over, the tank is pressurized up to 1,000 PSI, and the caffeine is taken apart in the process.
This method stands out because it removes the caffeine only, without affecting much of the flavor. And as a plus, it leaves no trace of chemicals behind.
Swiss Water Method
This is the most popular and the one we recommend.
It’s simple. The beans go through hot water to dissolve the caffeine. Then, the created water goes into a charcoal filter, where the caffeine is trapped, but the GCE (Green Coffee Extract) water with the oils and taste passes through.
Now, the beans are discarded, but the GCE water is used to decaffeinate other beans. This results in the new beans absorbing the oily/tasty water while still removing the caffeine, so you get no caffeine with all the taste.
Is Decaf Coffee Completely Free of Caffeine?
No. Even the highest-decaffeinated brands leave at least 0.01% of caffeine behind. But that’s an enormous difference from 100%, so you can say they are ALMOST entirely free of caffeine.
Some blends may offer less than 99% decaffeination, by the way. So be careful when choosing, as you may want more than that.
Best Brew Methods for Decaf Coffee
You can prepare decaffeinated coffee however you prefer. But because it tastes slightly different from regular coffee, you may want to enhance its flavor somehow, right? Here are some brewing methods for that:
Drip Brewing
Want to enjoy the taste of coffee to the max? Drip brew it then.
French Press
Brewing with the French press helps to maintain most of the coffee flavor, much more than any other brewing method.
Cold Brew
If you liked the taste of coffee in other drinks, cold brew coffee is your best choice. You can also drink coffee without any creamers and other additions. Plus, it produces low-acid coffee that’s super easy on the stomach.
Decaf Coffee Beans: A Recap
As you can see, there’s certainly no excuse when it comes to tasting decaf coffee – especially with such high-quality beans like the above.
If you’re confused and don’t know what to pick, go for the Volcanica House Blend. The richness and taste it offers are unparalleled. And for its price, there’s no better alternative.
However, no matter which coffee beans you choose from the list above, you can’t go wrong with any. They’re all premium choices which rich flavor that will make you forget the fact you’re drinking decaf coffee:
- for the highest quality beans, choose Koa Premium Decaf
- for the best strong decaf coffee beans, Espresso Blend from Volcanica is the best option
- for low-acid decaf coffee beans, Lifeboost Coffee is your best choice
Don’t dismiss the others though, there’s enough for every palate!
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