8 Best Decaf Coffee Beans

November 30, 2021| Kurt Parker

The best decaf coffee beans offer a unique coffee-drinking experience. As their name suggests, these coffee beans don’t have too much caffeine. Such a quality enables them to produce one-of-a-kind flavors.

Over the years, many decaf coffee brands emerged in the market. They proved that they are as good as their caffeinated counterparts.

In fact, our team has searched for the finest decaf coffee brands today. If you want to know them, check the reviews below. Also, we made a short guide on how you should choose decaf coffees and why you should consider drinking one.

In this guide, we cover the following decaf coffees

1. Kicking Horse Coffee, Dark Roast (Best Decaf Overall)

2. San Francisco Bay Medium Roast Decaf (2nd Best Decaf Overall)

3. Volcanica Costa Rica Decaf Tarrazu Coffee (Best Budget Decaf)

4. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Breakfast Blend Decaf (Best Quality Decaf)

5. SF Bay Coffee DECAF French Roast (Best Dark Roast Decaf)

6. Verena Street Whole Decaf (Best Medium Roast Decaf)

7. Gevalia Signature Blend De

caf Coffee (Best Light Roast Decaf)

8. Four Sigmatic Adaptogen Organic Medium Roast (Best OrganicDecaf)

Best Decaf Coffee Beans Review

Without further ado, let’s get started.

1. Kicking Horse Coffee, Dark Roast – Best Overall

Why we love it – The whole bean features a dark and profound taste. It is calming, thanks to its mellow finish.
Decaffeination method – Swiss water processed
Taste – Balanced chocolaty flavor with an extended finish
Origin – Central and South America
Certifications – Fair trade, United States Department of Agriculture, Kosher, Shade Grown, Climate Pledge Friendly
Type of beans – Arabica
Ratings – 4.5 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

Many reviews said that its one of the most flavorful decaf coffees today. Furthermore, they enjoyed the fact that it is an organic brand. They claimed that it is doesn’t cause jitters or anxiety.

Negative Reviews:

Some suggest that its taste is too mellow for their preference. Other than that, this coffee bean is definitely a good choice.

The Kicking Horse Coffee features an all-organic composition. It doesn’t involve any chemicals during its entire decaffeination process. Moreover, it doesn’t have any preservatives that you should be wary about.

It is sourced from environmentally responsible farms. It is a compelling reason to indulge yourself in this decaf coffee brand.

This particular decaf caffeinated exudes a deep flavor. It is somewhat reminiscent to the taste of caffeinated coffee. This is because the beans have been dark roasted at the foot of the Canadian mountain peaks!

You can get the most out of the whole organic decaf through various brewing method. From cold brew, decaf espresso, pour-over, to French press, you are free to choose! You can also brew this certified organic beverage via a drip machine!

2. San Francisco Bay Medium Roast Decaf Gourmet Blend – 2nd Best Overall

Why we love it – It is a decaffeinated blend from high-quality Arabica beans. It showcases distinct spectrum of flavor notes. Moreover, it doesn’t also involve chemicals, making it a healthy organic decaf coffee.
Decaffeination method – Swiss water processed
Taste – Notes of sweet mandarin, toasted almond, and chocolate
Origin – Central America
Certifications – Fairtrade, United States Department of Agriculture, Kosher
Type of beans – Arabica
Ratings – 4.5 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

Most reviewers suggest that the coffee is aromatic and flavorful. Furthermore, they also said that its price provides more value than what you pay for.

Negative Reviews:

It has been revealed that the grounds of this decaf coffee have a little bit of oily sheen. Some don’t like this kind of quality.

The San Francisco Bay Medium Roast Decaf Gourmet Blend is popular decaf. Each cup of this coffee delivers a smooth finish without any jitters. Drinking it can give you a relaxing sensation but without making you sleepy.

The Arabica beans used in this decaffeinated coffee are Kosher-certified. Hence, you can guarantee that the roasted coffee ground has fresh packaging. It is the reason for its oily quality.

Whether it is drip or pour-over, this decaffeinated coffee is perfect. The San Francisco Bay ensures that you will get a robust flavor in every cup you have. It doesn’t have any artificial flavorings and chemicals, either. You’ll only be getting a genuine organic decaf experience.

3. Volcanica Costa Rica Decaf Tarrazu – Best Budget

Why we love it – This medium roast, whole bean coffee is affordable and good tasting. It is rich, fresh, and organic, too.
Decaffeination method – Swiss water processed
Taste – Well-balanced taste with a hint of chocolate, nutty tones
Origin – Central America
Certifications – Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance Certified
Type of beans – Tarrazu coffee beans
Ratings – 4.3 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

Overall, this Volcanica coffee is a strong decaf coffee. Many people appreciate its lively, fruity finish. It also has strokes of subtle chocolaty notes.

Negative Reviews:

Some commented that its packaging emits a plastic smell. But they also said that the said scent disappears over time.

When searching for a good decaffeinated coffee, one should not miss the Decaf Tazzaru. Aside from its superb taste, this fresh roasted coffee is inexpensive. It has organic and fair trade certifications, as well. They ensure that the beans have no chemicals or artificial preservatives.

The exquisite flavor of the Volcanica coffee beans is due to how it was cultivated and harvested. They came from the high-altitude, low-temperature farms of the Costa Rican mountains.

This Volcanica coffee has 99.9 percent caffeine-free content. But at the same time, it didn’t sacrifice the beans’ original flavor and quality. Such finesse on its quality should appeal to many coffee drinkers.

4. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Breakfast Blend Decaf – Best Quality

Why we love it – The quality of the Keurig Green Mountain is in this decaffeinated coffee. Not only is it sustainable, but it delivers a fresh, rich flavor every time you take a sip.
Decaffeination method – Swiss water processed
Taste – Light roast beans are bright and clean, with a balance of nuttiness and sweetness.
Origin – Central America
Certifications – Orthodox Union Kosher
Type of beans – Arabica
Ratings – 4.8 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

This decaf is suitable for those with acid reflux and anxiety attacks. It is a certified organic beverage that gave users the same feel of caffeinated coffee.

Negative Reviews:

A few people told that its flavor is too weak for them. But it is not surprising, though. After all, it is light roast coffee blend.

The Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Decaf Coffee offers a nuanced, engaging taste. Every box of this product contains vibrantly aromatic Arabica beans. Careful natural processing took place to maintain the beans’ freshness and flavor.

As a light roast decaf blend, you can ensure that it will not cause jittery side effects, even for those who have sensitive systems.

This light roast coffee also includes K-Cup pods that are compatible with every Keurig Single-Serve Coffee Maker. This allows drinkers to prepare the coffee in any way they want. It is perfect for a cup of decaf espresso or pour-over.

5. San Francisco Bay Coffee Decaf French Roast – Best Dark Roast Decaf

Why we love it – This organic decaf coffee features a bold, full-bodied flavor. It is rousing but will trigger acid refluxes and acid attacks. Furthermore, it has simple packaging but is fully compostable. We have a list here of the best low-acid coffees, in case you prefer it.
Decaffeination method – Swiss water processed
Taste – Its medium dark roast ensures rich taste while imparting a semi-strong finish
Origin – Central and South America
Certifications – Fairtrade, United States Department of Agriculture, Kosher
Type of beans – Arabica
Ratings – 4.6 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

Many agree that this coffee has a delicious smell and taste. They even said the knock-off Keurig pods are compatible with different coffee makers.

Negative Reviews:

Based on the reviews, this product is somewhat prone to manufacturing defects, especially on the pods and packaging. While these flaws don’t always occur, they still have to be addressed anyway.

Lots of coffee aficionados are looking for dark roasted coffee for their decaf cold brew or French press. If you are among them, we suggest checking out the San Francisco Bay Coffee Decaf French Roast. This one works with different K-cup style single brewers such as the Keurig 2.0.

This Swiss Water processed decaf blend produces authentic, robust flavors. It is not as strong as full-bodied caffeinated drinks, but its flavor is vibrant and sophisticated.

The Kosher coffee grounds of the SF Bay Decaf French Roast have been freshly packaged. They have any harmful components, either, making the blend a Fair Trade certified option. By the way, this product uses the highest levels of Swiss Water Process.

Meanwhile, the OneCup pods, one-way coffee valve, and outer bag of this product are all from plant-based materials. They are compostable and don’t harm the environment after discarding them.

6. Verena Street Whole Decaf – Best Medium Roast Decaf

Why we love it – An organically decaffeinated medium roasted beans with mellow flavor. The whole bean coffee is aromatic but doesn’t contain any hint of bitterness.
Decaffeination method – Swiss water processed
Taste – Smooth, full-bodied flavor with notes of rich roast
Origin – Central America and Indonesia
Organic seal – Fair Trade, Kosher Orthodox Union, Rainforest Alliance Certified farms
Type of beans – Arabica
Ratings – 4.4 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

Those individuals who dislike bitter-tasting coffee enjoy this drink. Many also applauded its pronounced and aromatic quality.

Negative Reviews:

Few people stated that its flavor gets lost when you brew it on espresso machines.

Drinkers get a genuine organic flavor decaf in this Fair Trade certified beverage. Like other blends here, its coffee beans underwent Swiss Water decaffeination process. Hence, it is not only savory. It is safe, too.

The Arabica beans used in Verena Street are from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Their quality are sustainable and non-environmentally damaging.

The Verana Street is a family-owned business. They also the ones who takes care of roasting and packaging of the beans!

Furthermore, the manufacturer only processes coffee in small batches. In this way, you can only get the freshest coffee beans in their inventory. You will not get leftovers and nearly-expired products.

7. Gevalia Signature Blend Decaf Coffee – Best Light Roast Decaf

Why we love it – We are huge fans of Gevalia’s signature blend. It is refreshing enough to the senses and doesn’t leave a dull taste to the mouth.
Decaffeination method – Swiss water processed
Taste – Perfect balance between a light body and crisp, polished finish
Origin – South America, Central America, and East Africa
Certification – 4C Certification, Kosher
Type of beans – Arabica
Ratings – 4.8 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

One of the notable aspects of the Gevalia Signature Blend is its oozing aroma. Drinkers of this coffee attested that its flavorful scent is as good as its taste.

Negative Reviews:

Few users commented that its deposits lots of coffee grains in cups.

The Swedish heritage of Gevalia is compelling proof of its quality. As an organic decaf, you can have the peace of mind that it doesn’t have any bitter, chemical after-taste.

Each of the K-cup coffee pods can fill your cup with rich, lightly roasted beans. The beans went through slow roasting to keep their aroma and flavor.

The K-cups are usable for Keurig 1.0 and 2.0 brewing platforms. The authentic coffee taste elevates your senses without getting on edge. The coffee is smooth until the last drop.

8. Four Sigmatic Adaptogen Organic Medium Roast – Best Organic Decaf

Why we love it – This medium roasted organic coffee boasts all-natural ingredients. Drinkers will feel collected and calm. It is an instant coffee, too. No brewing required!
Decaffeination method – Swiss water method
Taste – Natural organic coffee flavor with hints of an earthy taste
Origin – South America and Central America
Certification – Climate Pledge Friendly, United States Food And Drug Administration
Type of beans – Arabica
Ratings – 4.5 out of 5

Positive Reviews:

Many of its users are happy that it is both affordable and tasty. They also like the fact that it is instant coffee. It allows them to have a decaf drink even in the middle of a rush.

Negative Reviews:

This coffee comes in small packs, which is somewhat irking some of its users.

The Four Sigmatic Adaptogen Organic Coffee contains many adaptogens that help ease stress. It has organic tulsi, ashwagandha, and eleuthero on its composition. They are natural ingredients that are effective in keeping you cool at all times.

Furthermore, this coffee doesn’t taste like herbs when dissolved. You can even mix it with almond cream, raw dairy, or coconut milk so that you can make it more flavorful and appealing. You can include this coffee in their paleo, keto, and vegan diet.

Like other decaf drinks here, this brand is using the Swiss Water process. It retained the natural flavor of the Arabica without awful chemical taste. Visit this page for a full-list of the best organic coffee beans.

How To Choose The Best Decaf Coffee

It is a simple fact that many of us enjoy drinking decaffeinated coffee. Coffee enthusiasts are always looking for this drink, whether it is in the evening or the day.

But it is not that simple to find authentic decaffeinated beans these days. As much as possible, you want the real thing to soothe your senses. If you settle on the run-of-the-mill decaf beans, you’ll end up having a bland drink that could ruin your day.

Decaffeination changes the flavor of the coffee. But with modern decaffeination methods, coffee-holics can still enjoy tasty bean decaf coffee.

Hence, in this guide, we will give a concise introduction on how decaf coffee is made. Moreover, we will discuss the things that you need to look for when searching for decaf coffee beans.

How Decaf Coffee Is Made?

While it is true that a lot of people are into decaf coffee, there is still a significant bunch that veers off from it. After all, decaffeination actually removes most of the caffeine from the coffee beans.

Manufacturers do this procedure before they roast the beans. In this context, decaffeination only involves “green beans.”

Based on European law, decafs only have 0.1 percent caffeine for roasted beans. Meanwhile, its0.3 percent for instant coffees and insoluble. [6]

Decaffeinating coffee beans follow the process below:

Using steam or boiling water to swell the green coffee beans. It allows the successful extraction of caffeine.

Removing the caffeine from the beans through activated carbon, water, or chemical solvents.

Regulating the moisture level of the decaffeinated beans by drying them.

By the way, you shouldn’t worry about the chemicals used in the decaffeination process. They are safe forms of methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. Their job is to speed up caffeine extraction without affecting the coffee’s flavor.

Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Decaffeinated Coffee

Swiss Water Method

It is evident that not all decaf coffee is similar. Producers may use different methods for extracting caffeine. Each of them yields different results (and flavor) once you drink them.

The most preferred decaffeination approach is the Swiss Water Process. This particular method is the safest and most efficient means of caffeine extraction.

Swiss Water Process follow strict organic procedures. It can remove up to 99 percent of the caffeine in beans. While doing so, the majority of the coffee’s flavor still remains.

So how does this Swiss Water Process work?

Cleaning and pre-soaking the green beans before submerging them in hot water.
Separating the beans from the green coffee extracts.
Using carbon filters to trap the caffeine contents of the coffee extracts.
Combining the coffee extract with a batch of new, clean green coffee beans
Natural transfer of the caffeine from the new batch of green coffee to the green coffee extract.

The Swiss Water Process simple but effective. It is capable of maintaining the flavor and oil of the coffee. Hence, you don’t need chemicals to decaffeinate coffee.

About Roasts And Brews

You can notice any lost flavor in a decaf coffee in light roasts. On the flip side, it is not that evident when it comes to dark roasts.

You can also identify the change in the tasting notes when making traditional brews. But for cold brews, that’s not too much.

To simplify things, you compare the flavor of a coffee in a balanced line. On one end of the line, you can place the original taste of the bean. On the other end, there’s the diffused flavor of the roast. When you roast coffee, the roasted flavor overwhelms the inherent taste of the bean.

The process of decaffeination doesn’t usually influence the roast flavor. Hence, it is a given that a dark or medium roast will have a minimal difference. This is true in either caffeinated and decaffeinated versions.

Hot water shows the flavor difference of decaffeinated coffee beans and its counterpart. After all, hot water brewing releases the compounds that produce the flavor of a coffee. [7]

Decaf coffees don’t contain many compounds. Hence, hot water brewing will emphasize their somewhat bland flavor.

This is quite the opposite when it comes to cold brews. Cold water doesn’t remove the same volume of compounds. Hence, the flavor of decaf coffees isn’t that emphasized.

In a nutshell, temperature makes different reactions in decaffeinated beans.

Why Do Some People Dislike Decaffeinated Coffee?

Coffee lovers all over the world have varying preferences when it comes to their coffee. That’s not a surprising fact, though.

Hence, it is understandable that the best tasting decaf coffee it is not for everyone.

A decaffeinated bean coffee has undeniable difference from caffeinated ones. If you grew up drinking caffeinated coffee, you’d spot this nuance. It is on the texture, flavor, and depth.

But when brewed and roasted well, decafs can be as good as your most delicious coffee. The best decaf coffees are enjoyable for those who can’t drink the standard cup of coffee. In fact, many became coffee lovers after drank decaf!

Is Decaf Coffee Healthy?

Drinking decaffeinated coffee doesn’t mean that you are not intaking any caffeine. This is not a caffeine free coffee. Hence, it still provides specific benefits to your body.

Manufacturers are using the Swiss Water Process to create organic decaf coffee. At the same time, this procedure yields significant nutrients and flavor notes.

Below are some of the healthy reasons why drinking decaf coffee is a brilliant idea.

Boost In Antioxidants

Don’t doubt these decaffeinated coffee beans. They still contain lots of antioxidants. They almost have the same antioxidant contents as a standard cup of coffee. [1]

The primary antioxidants present in coffee are polyphenols and hydroxycinnamic acids. They are essential in removing the free radicals in your body. It reduces your chances of developing cancer, diabetes, and cardiac complications. [2]

Improved Sleep

The best decaf coffee beans have low caffeine content. It makes them great for those who want to sleep well. After all, caffeine is an active ingredient that can keep your system awake. [3]

Furthermore, decaffeinated coffee might also help in curbing anxiety. It is a mental stress that prevents sound sleep. [4]

Reduced Acidity

One should know that coffee is an acidic beverage. The average pH value of most coffee variants is between 4.8 to 5. Of course, acidity isn’t bad news for many people. For some individuals, too much acid can aggravate their existing medical conditions. [5]

Caffeine is a trigger for gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and acid reflux. After all, it has high acidity.

Instead, it would be best if you opted for decaffeinated drinks. The decaffeination process addresses the acidic contents of a standard cup of coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions About Decaf Coffee

Q: Does decaffeinated drinking coffee have risks?

A: The best decaf coffee brands are safe for consumption. Even those decaffeinated using chemicals don’t pose any health risks. There’s no evidence stating that decaf coffee is bad for the health. This is especially true for Fair trade certified brands.

Q: How much caffeine does a decaffeinated coffee have?

A: According to the US guidelines, a coffee bean should have at least 97.5 percent of its caffeine content for it to be labeled decaffeinated. When you convert this figure, this should be around 3 to 6 milligrams of caffeine per cup.

Q: Is decaf coffee better than regular coffee?

A: The reduced caffeine content is quite beneficial. It prevents them from experiencing anxiety and jitteriness.

If you are allergic to caffeine, you might want to consider switching to decaf ground coffee, as well. Don’t worry, though. the best decaf coffee brands can still deliver smooth flavor to your system.

Q: Is Swiss Water Processed coffee safe?

A: Yes. This procedure doesn’t involve chemicals. You can ensure that the caffeine extraction doesn’t yield any harmful side effects. Most of the best decaf coffee these days are Swiss Water processed.

Final Words

The best decaf coffee beans can be a satisfying drink to every coffee lover out there. They have minimal caffeine content as compared to regular coffee. Yet, they still have flavorful tasting notes.

Many favorite decaf coffee brands these days can make pickiest coffee connoisseurs happy. But we recommended that you go with Swiss Water Processed coffee beans. They give the ideal brewing results!

In this guide, we find the Kicking Horse Coffee to be the most flawless and flavorful. You should try it first!

We hope that you found this guide useful. See you next time, and enjoy every sip!

For more brewing guides and coffee tips, checkout this page.

References:

[1] Antioxidant capacity of coffees of several origins brewed following three different procedures

[2] Understanding antioxidants

[3] Coffee And Caffeine: How Caffeine Makes You Feel More Awake

[4],[5] Does Caffeine Cause Anxiety?

[6] Regulations concerning decaffeinated coffee

[7] Does Cold Brew Coffee Have More Caffeine than Hot Coffee?