Does Decaf Coffee Have to Taste Worse?

Decaf coffee does not have to taste worse than regular coffee, as long as it starts with good beans and is decaffeinated gently. Our Colombia, Antioquia decaf is a specialty-grade coffee from Colombia, decaffeinated with a sugar cane process and roasted by us in Youghal, County Cork, with caramel, honeyed and stone fruit notes in the cup. This is what decaf really is, why it has a bad name, and how to brew it well.

What decaf actually means

Decaf coffee is made by removing most of the caffeine from green coffee beans before they are roasted. Most of it goes, but not all of it, so decaf is a low-caffeine coffee rather than a caffeine-free one. If you are cutting down for health reasons, check with your doctor about what suits you.

Why decaf has a reputation for tasting flat

Much of the decaf people have tried was made from cheaper beans and roasted dark to cover the flaws. That is a problem with the beans and the roast, not with decaffeination itself. A decaf made from good coffee, treated gently and roasted with care, can taste sweet and clean.

How our sugar cane decaf is made

The beans are decaffeinated at origin in Colombia with what is known as the sugar cane process. Locally grown sugar cane is fermented to make natural ethyl acetate. The green beans are lightly steamed at low pressure, soaked in water with the ethyl acetate to draw out the caffeine, and then steamed again at low pressure to remove any trace of it. High mountain spring water is used, and the process removes at least 97% of the caffeine. If you would like to know how processing shapes flavour more generally, read what coffee processing means for your cup.

What it tastes like

The Colombia, Antioquia decaf is a sweet, rounded cup with notes of caramel, honey and stone fruit. The beans are grown at 1,600 to 1,900 metres above sea level and are a mix of varieties. We cup and roast it to the same standard as the rest of our single-origin range, and the sweetness suits milk drinks as well as black coffee.

How to brew it

Treat decaf like any other single origin coffee. Buy whole beans and grind just before brewing, or choose a grind at checkout for French press, espresso, moka pot or filter. Freshness matters as much for decaf as for any coffee, so check the roast date, as we explain in why roast date matters, and if you are not sure which method suits you, see which brew method fits your life.

Who it is for

Decaf suits anyone who loves the taste of good coffee but wants a lower-caffeine cup in the afternoon or evening, or who wants something to serve to guests who avoid caffeine. It comes in 250g and 1kg bags.

Ready to try it?

Shop the Colombia, Antioquia decaf or browse all our coffees. We roast in small batches in Youghal and deliver across Ireland, the UK and the EU.

FAQ

Is decaf coffee caffeine-free? No. Decaf is a low-caffeine coffee, and the sugar cane process used for our Colombia, Antioquia decaf removes at least 97% of the caffeine.

How is sugar cane decaf made? Locally grown sugar cane is fermented to make natural ethyl acetate. The green beans are lightly steamed, soaked in water with the ethyl acetate to remove the caffeine, and steamed again to remove any trace of it.

What does Boardwalk's decaf taste like? Our Colombia, Antioquia decaf tastes of caramel, honey and stone fruit, and it is grown at 1,600 to 1,900 metres.

Can I brew decaf the same way as regular coffee? Yes. Choose whole beans or select a grind for French press, espresso, moka pot or filter at checkout, and use the same recipe you use for other coffees.

Does decaf coffee go stale? Yes, like any coffee, so check the roast date and buy what you will drink within four to six weeks of roasting.

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