The Scoop On Decaf: How Decaf Coffee Is Processed
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If you have been following with my coffee series you know how much I love the stuff. A cup of good cup of regular is certainly my style most of the time. When Im avoiding or limiting caffeine I certainly miss the ritual of a cup of coffee! And while I like herbal tea it just doesnt always cut it for me like coffee does. And that my friends is where decaf comes into play.
So, have you ever heard decaf is actually worse for you than regular coffee due to the chemical processing? Or maybe youve heard decaf isnt actually decaf? If you have any questions about decaf coffee including how decaf coffee is processed, then this article is for you!
What Is The Best Tasting Decaf Coffee
When it comes to quality and taste, some of the best organic decaf coffees that consumers selected are just a few select brands.
According to top surveys, the best decaf coffee consumer reports with a good rating is as follows
- Allegro Organic Decaf Blend Medium Dark $18.65 per lb, 42 cents per cup
- Starbucks Decaf House Blend $12.36 per lb, 28 cents per cup
- Peets Decaf House Blend $12.80 per lb, 29 cents per cup
- Caribou Daybreak Morning Blend Decaf $13.99 per lb, 46 cents per cup
- Archer Farms Breakfast Blend Decaffeinated $9.05 per lb, 34 cents per cup
- Seattles Best Blend Decaf Light Roast $9.59 per lb, 15 cents per cup
- Kickapoo Organic Decaf Breakfast Blend $14.65 per lb, 32 cents per cup
- Sams Choice Organic Blend Decaffeinated $8.00 per lb, 18 cents per cup
- Bucks County Decaf Breakfast Blend $11.70 per lb, 42 cents per cup
Out of the top 10, only 4 brands are organic the best organic decaf coffee listed are Allegro Organic Decaf Blend Medium Dark , Caribou Daybreak Morning Blend Decaf, Kickapoo Organic Decaf Breakfast Blend, Sams Choice Organic Blend Decaffeinated. In addition, some of the best organic decaf coffee brands are sustainably sourced and hand packed for compete goodness.
Buyers Guide: How To Find The Best Instant Decaf Coffee
A lot of people who say that instant decaf coffee tastes bad havent even tried it. They figure that since instant coffee lacks freshness, and decaf coffee lacks flavor, instant decaf coffee is doubly bad. Our top instant decaf pick, NesCafé Tasters Choice Decaf House Blend, alone debunks that myth. Instant decaf coffee is heavily consumed around the world, and roasters are constantly improving on flavors.
Its wise to taste the coffees for yourself, but thats not really the most economical way to go about it. With the list of our top picks, weve taken some of the guesswork out of it for you. However, were aware that our choices arent suited for everyone. In this next section, well cover some criteria to keep in mind when choosing a decaf instant coffee.
SEE ALSO: What are our favorite decaf coffee bean brands? See our findings here!
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Which Organic Decaf Coffee Is Water Processed
Today, you can find several brands of ground decaf coffee on the market. Some of the best Swiss method decaf coffee brands include
- The Organic Coffee Co., Gorilla Decaf, flavorful organic decaf coffee beans, Ground
- Jeremiahs Pick Organic Water Processed Decaf Coffee
- Kicking Horse Organic Decaffeinated Coffee, best Swiss water process decaf coffee, Dark Roast
- No Fun Jo Decaf Organic Swiss Water Decaf Coffee, Fair Trade & USA Organic Certified
- Cafe Don Pablo Decaf Swiss Water Process Colombian Gourmet Coffee Decaffeinated Medium-Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee
Kava Acid Neutralized Instant Coffee
This is one of the best decaf coffee brands for instant brews. It is ideal for people who prefer low acidity. This instant coffee actually is acid-neutralized by 50%. In addition, the flavor is strong, well balanced, and flavorful. In fact, this instant decaf coffee ground will delight the taste buds. It is the best ground decaf coffee.
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Starbucks Via Instant Italian Roast Dark Roast Coffee
This is instant decaf coffee that tastes like regular. In addition, the best decaf espresso beans are used to make a dark and full bodied roast. Likewise, for instant, it is one of the strongest decaf coffee brands available. The caffeine free instant coffee is rich and bold with flavor that will keep you satisfied. It is the best decaffeinated instant coffee with the best decaf espresso coffee beans.
Trader Joes Decaf Coffee
If you want safe decaf coffee, Trader Joes organic decaf coffee is the best choice. Trader Joes Organic Decaf Coffee is a 100% Arabica whole bean coffee that has a long shelf life, keeping its full medium roast flavor. In fact, it is so fresh that the oils are still visible on the bean. The flavor is naturally complete and poised with hints of citrus and caramel.
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Best Organic Decaf Coffee Brands
If you are looking for the best instant decaf coffee, read on for some more information on decaffeinated coffee brands that use organic growing practices and natural decaffeination processes for delicious, healthier coffee.
There are many reasons to consider switching to decaf coffee. Perhaps your regular coffee is keeping you from sleeping soundly at night or you want to be more health conscious and reduce your caffeine intake. If youre considering switching to decaf coffee to have a better impact on your health, the last thing that youll be looking for is coffee beans that are full of chemicals. If you are looking for the best instant decaf coffee, read on for some more information on decaffeinated coffee brands that use organic growing practices and natural decaffeination processes for delicious, healthier coffee.
Best Decaffeinated Coffee Reviews
When you have to give up caffeine, but coffee is your favorite way to start the day, there is always the alternative decaf coffee.
Ideally, decaf coffee should offer you the same mesmerizing aroma and appealing taste as its caffeine counterpart. Unfortunately, a great cup of decaf is hard to come by. The same also goes with the good cup of Jo that is caffeinated.
However, a quality cup of decaf java involves a few major factors such as
- Length of brewing drip coffee vs espresso
- The type of coffee bean roasts e.g. light roast, medium roast, dark roast
- Method of processing Traditional solvents vs decaf coffee brands that use Swiss water method
However, if you want to experience the full flavor of a good cup of Joe, then only purchase organic decaf coffee Swiss water process coffee beans. On the contrary, if you are on a budget and need cheap decaf coffee that is high quality, there are a few brands available at your local grocer.
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Amazonfresh Decaf Colombia Ground Coffee
- Process unknown
- Medium roast
- Pre-ground
Amazons Decaf Colombian medium roast ground coffee has a smooth, full-bodied and well-balanced flavor with notes of brown sugar and cocoa. Its 100% organic and grown in Colombia but we dont know exactly how its sourced and how its decaffeinated. Nonetheless, it tastes pretty good! Like The Chosen Bean decaf, youll need to use an extra dose of grinds or longer brew time to get a really strong, rounded flavor.
Available in packs of 12oz/340g, the coffee is roasted and packaged in individual batches all in the USA. You can buy single refill packs or multiple packs in one go to save money.
Why Would You Want To Drink Decaf Coffee
You can want to drink decaf coffee for many, many reasons. Often times, people do not like the way caffeinated coffee makes them feel, or they get the jitters. Pregnant women are not supposed to drink or consume any form of caffeine, but sometimes that a good cup of Joe is all you crave. Some people feel their heart beat faster, and they start to sweat simply because of caffeine. Decaf coffee can fix all these problems by giving people an alternative to the classically caffeinated coffee that they can enjoy in the same way.
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In Search Of Decaf Without Chemical Solvents
It didnt take me much Googling to find non-chemical alternatives. The most famous one is a process called Swiss Water:
Swiss Water is an innovative, 100% chemical free decaffeination process removing caffeine for coffee roasters around the world.
In this process, the coffee beans are soaked in caffeine-free green coffee extract, allowing the caffeine to be extracted from the bean and into the solution while the flavor components are retained in the beans. The now caffeine-saturated green coffee extract is then processed through activated charcoal to remove the caffeine, thus becoming caffeine-free again and ready to extract caffeine from a new batch of coffee. The coffee beans are then dried to their originating moisture level and re-bagged. The Swiss Water Process results in coffee that is 99.9% caffeine free.
Nice! I found solvent-free decaf coffee.
Yesterday I ordered my first bag of ground Swiss Water coffee. And today I made a cup:
The taste is much much much better than the methylene chlorinated decaf. Its a little weaker, so you have to use more ground powder to make a coffee. But still pretty good.
Ignore the text on the bag, its imported and repackaged by a Korean importer.
Theres one other decaf method thats not chemical: treating coffee with pressurized carbon dioxide. Its the least used method and reviews about the taste arent that positive.
And best of all, now I can fall asleep a little better.
What Are Some Health Benefits Of Decaf Coffee
The nutritional value of decaf coffee is the same as normal coffee without caffeine, in theory. People are still looking into how stripping away the caffeine might also strip away the health benefits. In general, coffee contains antioxidants that combat free-radicals. The health benefits of that range from preventing cancer to clarifying your skin.
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Video Result For Water Process Decaf Coffee Brands
Swiss Water Decaf Process
Swiss Water® Process Decaf at Darrin’s Coffee
The Science of the Swiss Water® Process
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Swiss Water® Process Decaf at Darrin’s Coffee
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Swiss Water Processed Decaffeinated Coffee – Laird…
Here’s the skinny on Swiss Water Process Decaf Coffee
How To Choose Best Decaf Coffee Beans
Furthermore, however hard you try to remove only the caffeine, it is inevitable that the coffee will lose some of the oils and flavors that make a truly delicious cup.
This is something decaf drinkers will have to accept.
Finally, decaf is harder to roast. After decaffeination, the beans turn brown and contain less moisture.
This means they roast faster and are harder to control during the process.
The best advice is to opt for light roast since most decaf beans wont stand up to dark roasting.
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Best Flavored Decaf Coffee
Volcanica Costa Rica Decaf Tarrazu Decaf Coffee
This single-origin coffee from the Volcanica brand is a sure-fire way to kickstart your day. Full-bodied and smooth, this particular coffee is the best decaf coffee flavor there is! You will instantly love the subtle chocolate flavor with notes of crisp, toasted apple.
To add, the beans are sourced from the southern mountainous region of San Jose. Theyre naturally processed, removing the caffeine, all while preserving the distinct origin characteristics of this Costa Rican coffee. Off the bat, you will be enjoying a full-bodied cup of java with a lively finish.
What We Like:
What We dont Like:
- A bit pricey
Low Acid Decaf Coffee Buying Guide
If youre looking for a delicious, caffeine-free coffee that is also low in acid, look no further than the low acid decaf options. These are the best alternatives for coffee lovers whod like to have a good cup without all the added sugar and caffeine. Theyre delicious and guarantee freshness, and theyre also good for your health. And whats more, you can even donate a small portion of the proceeds to the US military not bad!
Theres a new low acid brand in town! Mommee Coffee offers a variety of delicious low acid blends that are fair-trade, chemical-free, and guaranteed to be tasteful and better than other low-acid coffee. This coffee contains no added sugar or chemicals, so its great for new moms who dont want to spend a lot of money on specialty coffee. Plus, you can get your caffeine fix without feeling guilty.
Lifeboost Coffee is a great low-acid decaf coffee made with 100% Arabica beans. The beans are grown slowly and allowed to mature. Theyre hand-picked, washed with mountain spring water, and roasted in Columbus, Ohio. This brand boasts a delicious chocolate-caramel taste and has a pH level of 6 instead of 7. Its also certified ethically grown, and fair-trade and is available in environmentally-friendly packaging.
low acid decaf coffee Buying Checklist
Ingredient list: Youve got to pay attention to the ingredient list. Some ingredients are more harmful than others.
Calculate the cost: In advance, calculate the costs and think if it fits in your budget.
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Deans Beans Organic Coffee
- Natural water process
- Dark roast
- Fine espresso grind
1lb of dark roasted, rich, full-bodied, nutty and bold decaf coffee. Its similar to a French roast in flavor. Dean uses a natural water process to decaffeinate the beans without stripping away the flavor. Its ground finely, so this is your ideal decaf coffee for an espresso!
Although its a blend of beans from around Central America, Deans Beans are all 100% USDA Certified Organic, Fairtrade, Kosher, chemical, and GMO-free. They very nearly took the Organic Choice award in our list, but we thought that the smoky Allegro offered something a bit more unique.
The price of this coffee puts it more in the special occasion/event category rather than the everyday decaf choice.
Cafe Don Pablo Decaf Colombian Gourmet Coffee
Cafe Don Pablo is one of the best tasting decaf coffee varieties made from Colombian Supremo beans.
In addition to using high quality Colombian Supremo, Cafe Don Pablo is decaffeinated using an all natural Swiss water method.
This amazing coffee has natural notes of cocoa and caramel with a hint of citrus.
This smooth blend is perfect for any time of day, and makes an especially delicious coffee to serve with desserts or pastries.
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Subtle Earth Organic Water Process Decaf
Naturally decaffeinated utilizing the Swiss Water Process method. Tastes like the real thing without the caffeine!
Full body with a deep, rich, chocolaty flavor and a clean finish. Smooth milk chocolate with notes of honey, caramel and cocoa. 100% Arabica coffee, Non GMO, Certified Organic by CCOF.
The slight caramelization of the natural sugars in the bean give this Medium-Dark coffee a touch of roastiness, while it still retains its natural flavor character, giving it a sweet, pleasant aftertaste with low acidity.
*Note: Because of the Swiss Water Processing, the beans will appear darker than the level they are roasted to.
100% Arabica Coffee, Swiss Water Process Decaf, GMO free, Certified Organic by CCOF
Top : Best Decaf Coffee
Weve already told you about the best overall coffee beans, but we saved decaf for this list. After a lot of research on your behalf here are the best decaf coffees weve found. All these options have been Swiss water processed.
Weve excluded chemically decaffeinated options, such as the Eight OClock Whole Bean Coffee, which is processed with methylene chloride known in your local hardware store as paint stripper. It might be safe or it might not, but hey, why take the risk?
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This 100% chemical-free Swiss Water Processed decaf coffee is low-caffeine, low acidity, organic, and sustainably sourced from the Nicaraguan mountains.
These 100%-Arabica single origin beans are praised for their smooth, balanced flavors, with low acidity and caffeine levels. Home baristas describe the flavor profile as caramel and nutty. Life Boosts organic beans are Fair Trade, shade-grown, handpicked, spring water washed, and grown at high altitudes like the best coffee usually is. This company is serious about offering amazing tasting coffee without risking the health benefits.
You wont be inspired by their branding or packaging, but at the end of the day that does not matter as long as the product is gold standard.
Their beans are sourced from the best growing regions around the world, particularly those defined by rich, volcanic growing soil, and usually at fairly high altitudes both of these factors being renowned for yielding incredibly high-quality beans.
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Sf Bay Coffee Decaf French Roast Coffee Pods
Best water-processed decaf coffee
When you purchase this high-quality coffee from SF Bay, you’ll not only be supporting a family-owned company, but youll also be helping the farmers who grow the beans as well. The coffee company works with farms in Honduras and Mexico and uses some of the proceeds from its sales to help them improve their businesses and standard of living, as well as the quality of and access to health services in their communities. The company applies that same kind of care to the quality and taste of its premium java, which is water processed for a chemical-free experience and packaged into compostable pods.
How Do I Track My Order
When your coffee is roasted and on its way to you, the tracking number will be emailed to you. Deliveries are usually shipped via USPS and we aim for 3-4 days delivery time, depending on your location. Please take note when you order that not all roasters roast and ship 7 days a week, so there may be some lead time before your order is ready at the roaster itself. We indicate this on the coffees order page itself whenever possible. If you order coffee from multiple roasters, you will receive an e-mail with tracking information separately for each roaster.
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