Decaf coffee beans and ground decaf coffee

What decaf coffee is

Decaf starts as ordinary green coffee. The caffeine is taken out of the raw beans before roasting, and the beans are then roasted like any other coffee. A small amount of caffeine stays behind, so decaf is low in caffeine, not free of it. If you have been told to limit caffeine, keep that in mind.

How the caffeine is removed

All methods work on the green beans, which are first softened with water or steam. The main ones are:

• CO2 process: carbon dioxide under high pressure draws the caffeine out of the beans.
• Water process: the beans are soaked and the caffeine is filtered out of the water, without a solvent.
• Solvent process: a solvent such as ethyl acetate or dichloromethane binds the caffeine and is then removed again during steaming, drying and roasting.

Which method is used differs per coffee. If it matters to you, check the product page.

Decaf in this category

• Fresh-roasted decaf beans: Decaf Espresso, 100% arabica decaf espresso beans, and Decaf Special.
• Italian decaf beans: Lavazza Decaf My Easy Day Classico in 500 g, and illy Decaf in 250 g.
• Ground decaf: Lavazza DEK Classico and Illy Decaffeinated, both 250 g, and Landhaus Entkoffeiniert, a decaf filter coffee in 500 g.
• Tasting packs: the illy Espresso Tasting Pack with Decaf, in beans or ground, if you want to compare decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee.

Beans or ground?

Choose decaf coffee beans if you have a bean-to-cup machine or a grinder: you grind just before brewing and keep the most flavour. Choose ground decaf if you brew with a filter machine, cafetière or moka pot and have no grinder. Check the grind on the product page: coffee ground for espresso is too fine for a cafetière, and filter coffee is too coarse for an espresso machine.

Does decaf taste different?

The difference is small. Many people cannot tell them apart in a cappuccino, but some find decaf slightly milder, especially as a straight espresso. Decaf beans are a little more porous after processing, so once the bag is open they lose their freshness a bit sooner. Buy a pack size you will finish within a few weeks and keep it closed, cool and dark.

When decaf makes sense

• A coffee after dinner or in the evening.
• Cutting down on caffeine without giving up the taste of coffee.
• A half-caf: mix decaf and regular beans in the grinder to set your own balance.
• Guests who do not drink caffeine: keep a pack of ground decaf next to your regular coffee.

Looking for regular coffee as well? See all our coffee beans and ground coffee.