this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2025
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Coffee

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For medical reasons I can only have decaf. Still try to make time for a good cup (of decaf) after dinner. (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 days ago by PlaidBaron@lemmy.world to c/coffee@lemmy.world
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[–] Grey@lemmy.dbzer0.com 26 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I like James Hoffman's take on decaf, and death before decaf people. I don't remember his exact words but the essence is that decaf drinker are purer coffee enthusiasts than death before decaf people, because the later is just admitting that they're just after caffeine content

[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

100% agree with his take on this. I drink loads of coffee, but probably 95% is decaf. I just like the taste.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

Oh absolutely. I'm a water instead of decaf type and yeah honestly I'd probably usually prefer a caffinated water in the morning to coffee if all else was equal

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 11 points 4 days ago

Love a cup of decaf in the evening. Also your choice of cup is inspiring.

[–] oatsandboats@lemmy.zip 10 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Decaf only drinker here, still find new Aeropress recipes and do research for the best beans!

[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I love Hoffman's Aeropress recipe for a cup of coffee! Share some recipes you like if you don't mind!

[–] oatsandboats@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

I genuinely had the best luck with Tim Wendelboe's! (https://timwendelboe.no/brewing-guides/aeropress/)

[–] Scolding7300@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Wanted to ask if there's good brands that sell decaf in supermarkets, I'm guessing there aren't any? Tried Peete's but a few of their's suck

[–] fritobugger2017@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I hear that decaf is getting better and that there are new processes that maintain the flavor.

[–] sqw@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 4 days ago

fine china makes everything taste better.

[–] Jayb151@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

My wife has been drinking decaf lately. I've actually started roasting our own beans for her. The taste is pretty much identical to the full strength coffee I roast for myself. So much so that I often segment out some for her and mix the rest together to lower the caffeine for me... And I drink a lot more coffee than she does.

Roasting you're own green beans is easy af. I use a cast iron pan and an outdoor stove because it does make a lot of smoke.

[–] kata1yst@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Same boat here, 4 years now. There's excellent decaf beans out there finally, and it's improving every year!

[–] godot@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

50-60% of my coffee intake is decaf. If I could only drink decaf I would drink pretty much exactly as much coffee as I do now.

I will have a cup tonight with you.

[–] Ioughttamow@fedia.io 5 points 4 days ago

I’m switching to decaf shortly, just a few more caf beans to go. Figure since I’m on stimulants now I should switch

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

That's a beautiful cup

[–] 200ok@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago (3 children)

I can't seem to find a good decaf coffee that doesn't "taste like decaf".

I'm open to recommendations 🙏

[–] shifty@leminal.space 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I get that 'decaf' taste if I over extract. Too hot of a brew or too much time. Just last night I did decaf in an aeropress, 30 seconds at around 90°C (I let the kettle go longer than usual and was too lazy to cool the water down to ideal temp) and it brought out that undesirable flavor.

Whereas brewing the same beans at 75-80°C for 1-2 mins I don't get that flavor profile at all.

If you are new to brewing decaf I recommend under extracting it. Generally all decaf are much easier to extract. So this usually means lower temps, coarser grinds or less water. I didn’t believe it until I tried it and now I love decaf even more

Ever since I read that comment, I gave decaf another go and have been very pleased. Been drinking one cup of coffee in the morning and a cup of decaf each night.

Ive had the best and most consistent experience with Illy decaf espresso ground coffee (in the round blue and silver aluminum cans) and roasted to order decaf green beans from my local roaster, also espresso grind. Brewing in an aeropress for around 30 seconds and 75-80 °C

I haven't had any good experiences with pourover decaf in those single serve pourover packets, tried maybe 20 different brands from specialty gourmet decaf to cheap 7 eleven finds.

Edit: I also tried taking the ground decaf out of those single serve pourover packets, and brewing in the aeropress but that didnt improve the flavor. So the beans and decaf process has to be a factor, and not just the brewing process.

[–] 200ok@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Thank you so much for the insight and suggestions... this is amazing!

[–] Polkira@piefed.ca 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm more of a tea drinker, but my spouse really likes the decaf beans from Saltwinds Coffee Company. They're a Canadian east coast company. https://www.saltwindscoffee.com/product/decaf-ocean-fresh/?v=34f67f9dfb46

That and Kirkland decaf are his go-to's. Like OP, he also can't have a lot of caffeine anymore.

[–] 200ok@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Thank you!

[–] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

I cant beat whats already been said here. I also only buy local coffee beans, so I dont really think my recommendations would be useful to you (and it would give away where I live).

[–] Crostro@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I don't know your medical reasons, but caffeine in general has caused me to go to the ED at least 7 times with inconclusive results. Ekg, halter monitor, cardiac event monitor, follow up with a cardiologist. No answers. But whatever it was, avoiding caffeine has stopped those events from happening completely. I tried going the decaf route and did for a while, but with time, I learned I can't trust the roulette of going anywhere for coffee and trusting the decaf is actually decaf. (Hence the 7 trips to the ed). I miss it and don't at the same time. This made me want to risk coffee again.

[–] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 0 points 4 days ago

Brew it at home if you miss it! Ive never had an issue with bagged decaf.

As for getting it out, I dont go to any of the big coffee chains. They tend not to be as careful. If I go to my local coffee places I just ask them after theyre done if they made it decaf. I explain its because caffeine can send me to the hospital. Theyve always been really good about it.

Thats my best advice.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Care to share favorite sources for EA process?

[–] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

All the coffee I drink is swiss water method. Just seems to be the most common these days.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Most common but so life-sucking, I haven't had a Swiss water coffee that can hold a candle to EA. Do you think you are just finding more decaf available or do you think you are finding just better-done Swiss water process?

[–] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Pretty much all the coffee I buy is from local roasters so they tend to be a lot more careful with their coffees. I dont buy any of the big brands. I find their decaf is a throwaway they know people will buy anyway.