this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2024
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Coffee
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Okay, can I hijack this thread to ask the question from some fellow coffee enthusiasts: Do decaf beans actually tend to suck? I would be interested in a decaf or half-caff blend but curious what the connoisseurs think.. and sorry no I haven’t searched for a post on this in the community so feel free to downvote the crap out of me / take mercy on me and link one of it exists..
Decaf beans are harder to roast well (IMO) so it tends to be that the mass distributed ones won't be great since they're in less demand. You can find small locals that do decaf runs sometimes, or order green beans and do it yourself. Remember, darker means less caffeine, so if you're pulling medium roast beans and have no good decaf source, try something dark that you can tolerate and see whether it helps
I'll be trying to home-roast some decaf eventually; any tips?
More complete overview below, but basically, it can move faster through phases, can't be judged as well by color, and can reach crack at lower temperatures. It's totally possible to get a great outcome! Dialing it in is the fun IMO Link
I’ve never had much success making enjoyable decaf. I switch over to rooibos tea about midday and I’ve been enjoying those cups
I'm going to stray from the crowd here and sing the praises of ethyl acetate (EA or sugarcane) decaffeination. In my experience, it's produced the most consistently "good" decafs. I've had plenty of good SWP beans, but sometimes they result in a more muted flavor. I have yet to have an EA decaf where I've felt that it was lacking for any reason other than roaster error (the roaster being myself). Some of my EA roasts have been so good that my friends have expressed skepticism about it actually being decaf.
That being said, I think if you purchase from a roaster who really takes pride in their decaf, they're unlikely to source a SWP (or really any decaffeination method) that doesn't result in a tasty, flavorful cup. Nobody in specialty coffee sets out to make a roast that a customer doesn't like. That being said, I would avoid any roaster who doesn't openly advertise which decaffeination method was used. To me, it signals either lack of pride in the end result or a lack of care in sourcing.
+1 for Swiss method decaf. I had a roaster in my old neighborhood that had great decaf
I've had some very nice decafs but they're definitely trickier to nail down.
I've found that the best decafs were decaffeinated using the Swiss water process, so I'd look out for that. I'd also keep in mind that decaf beans are more brittle, so dialing in the grind size can be a tad more fickle.
I my own experience decaf beans always disappoint me in terms of flavour. If you want to cut back on caffeine it's easier to just drink less coffee.