Decaf Coffee: How It's Made and How to Brew It Well
Decaf coffee still contains caffeine. Not much, but some. If you thought decaffeination meant zero caffeine, you're not alone, and you're also not quite right. Most decaf has about 97 per cent or more of the caffeine removed, leaving roughly 2 milligrams per cup compared with around 95 milligrams in regular coffee. That's a big difference, but it's not nothing.
The tea in this guide: Nott Coffee Aurora Decaf Coffee Beans 250g from £13.95 Shop it →
The real question most people want answered is simpler: does decaf taste any good? It can. It often doesn't, because it's treated as an afterthought. But when roasters start with decent beans and roast them carefully, decaf can be fruity, chocolatey, bright or rich, whatever the coffee was always meant to be. The trick is knowing how caffeine gets removed, what that does to the beans, and how to brew them without making excuses.
At a glance
- Decaf has about 97 per cent of caffeine removed, leaving roughly 2 mg per cup
- Four main methods: solvent-based (most common), Swiss Water, sugarcane and CO₂
- Swiss Water and sugarcane often taste cleanest; solvent methods are safe but can strip flavour
- Decaf beans are slightly more porous, so brew carefully and store well
- Not completely caffeine-free: speak to your GP if you need to avoid caffeine entirely
How is coffee decaffeinated?
Caffeine is removed from green coffee beans before roasting. The beans are warmed and soaked in liquid to open their structure, then one of four methods extracts the caffeine while leaving most of the flavour compounds behind. All four are considered safe by food regulators in the United States, Europe and around the world.
Direct solvent method
The most common approach. Green beans are steamed, then a solvent (usually methylene chloride or ethyl acetate) bonds with the caffeine molecules. The beans are washed, steamed again and roasted at very high temperatures, which evaporates any remaining solvent. The US FDA sets a limit of 10 parts per million for traces of methylene chloride and calls the consumer risk 'essentially non-existent'.
Swiss Water process
No solvents touch the beans. Instead, beans are soaked in warm water to create 'flavour-charged water', which passes through an activated charcoal filter that captures caffeine molecules but lets flavour compounds through. The beans are then re-soaked in that flavour-charged water to reintroduce what was lost. It's a gentler process and often produces a cleaner cup.
Sugarcane method
Uses ethyl acetate derived from fermented sugarcane, which is why it's sometimes called 'natural decaffeination'. The process is similar to direct solvent, but the sugarcane origin can leave a subtly sweeter flavour. Colombian decafs often use this method, and it's worth trying if you find Swiss Water options too mellow.
Carbon dioxide method
Water-soaked beans are sealed in a stainless-steel tank and exposed to liquid CO₂ at very high pressure. The CO₂ dissolves the caffeine while leaving larger flavour molecules behind. It's expensive, so you'll mostly see it used for commercial-scale decaf.
Does decaf coffee taste different?
Honestly, it can. The decaffeination process removes some of the oils and aromatics that give coffee its body and brightness. Cheaper decafs often taste flat, papery or a bit hollow. But that's not inevitable.
Light-roast decafs designed for filter brewing tend to keep more fruit and acidity. Darker roasts developed for espresso lean on chocolate and caramel to fill out the cup. The key is finding a roaster who treats decaf as proper coffee, not an apology.
Aurora Decaf from Nott Coffee is a good example: light-roasted with mandarin, grape and caramel notes, developed specifically for filter. If you prefer something rounder and darker, Eclipse Decaf has milk-chocolate and caramel with more body.
Coffee
Nott Coffee Aurora Decaf Coffee Beans 250g
A light-roast decaf with mandarin, grape and caramel notes. A fruity option for filter coffee.
Have a lookHow do you make decaf coffee?
The same way you make regular coffee, but with a bit more care. Decaf beans are slightly more porous after decaffeination, which means they extract faster and can tip into bitterness or thinness if you're not paying attention.
Filter coffee method
- Weigh your coffee and water. Start with a 1:15 or 1:16 ratio, for example 15 grams of coffee to 240 grams of water.
- Grind medium-fine, roughly the texture of granulated sugar.
- Use fresh water just off the boil, around 93 to 96°C.
- Pour slowly and evenly. Total brew time should be 3 to 4 minutes for a V60 or similar.
- Taste. If it's thin and sour, grind finer next time. If it's dry and harsh, go coarser.
Espresso method
You can pull espresso with decaf, but use a roast designed for it. Light-roast filter decafs often taste thin and sour under pressure. Look for a medium or dark roast with chocolate or nut notes, and aim for a slightly longer shot (28 to 32 seconds) to get enough body.
Decaf brewing cheat sheet
| Method | Ratio | Grind | Water temp | Brew time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filter (V60, Chemex) | 1:15 to 1:16 | Medium-fine | 93–96°C | 3–4 min |
| Cafetière | 1:15 | Coarse | 93–96°C | 4 min |
| AeroPress | 1:12 to 1:15 | Medium | 85–90°C | 1–2 min |
| Espresso | 1:2 | Fine | 92–94°C | 28–32 sec |
Common decaf mistakes
Decaf has a reputation for tasting bad. Often that's not the coffee's fault.
Using stale beans
Decaf goes stale faster than regular coffee because the beans are more fragile after processing. Keep the bag sealed, store it somewhere cool and dark, and grind only what you need. Whole beans stay fresh for three to four weeks after roasting if stored properly. Ground coffee fades faster.
Brewing too coarse
Because decaf extracts quickly, a coarse grind can leave you with a thin, sour cup. Go finer than you think, then adjust.
Expecting it to taste like caffeinated coffee
It won't, quite. The best decafs have their own character: often a bit softer, sometimes sweeter. That's not a flaw, it's just different.
Coffee
Nott Coffee Eclipse Decaf Coffee Beans 250g
A smooth decaf with milk-chocolate and caramel notes. Most of the caffeine is removed, not all of it.
Have a lookBest decaf coffee: what to look for
Ignore the word 'decaf' on the bag and read the rest. Look for origin, roast date, tasting notes and decaffeination method. Swiss Water and sugarcane tend to taste cleaner. Single-origin decafs often have more character than blends.
A round-up in The Independent praised Swiss Water decafs for their mid-bodied, rich spiced-chocolate flavour, and Colombian sugarcane decafs for their heavy body and nutty-molasses notes. Both styles are worth trying if you're exploring.
We stock Aurora Decaf and Eclipse Decaf from Nott Coffee, both roasted in small batches and available as whole beans. Aurora is light and fruity for filter; Eclipse is darker and richer for espresso or milk drinks.
Is decaf coffee safe?
Yes. All four decaffeination methods are approved by food-safety regulators worldwide. The solvents used in direct methods evaporate during roasting, and the FDA says the risk from residual methylene chloride is 'essentially non-existent'. If you're concerned, Swiss Water and CO₂ methods avoid solvents entirely.
Decaf is not completely caffeine-free. It usually contains about 2 mg per cup, but may contain as much as 15 mg. If you need to avoid caffeine entirely for medical reasons, speak to your GP or choose a naturally caffeine-free option like herbal tea or rooibos.
What does the research say about decaf?
Coffee, including decaf, is described as the single biggest source of antioxidants in the Western diet. Most research doesn't distinguish between regular and decaf, and much of it is observational, meaning it shows associations rather than proving cause and effect.
A large UK Biobank study found that drinking three cups of any kind of coffee per day was associated with a 12 per cent reduction in overall mortality, with similar findings for instant, ground and decaffeinated coffee. A 2022 study found no significant difference in heart rate or blood pressure between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee drinkers.
We make no health claims. Tea and coffee are drinks, not medicines. If you have questions about caffeine and your health, speak to your GP.
What to try next
If you're exploring decaf, start with Nott Coffee Aurora Decaf for filter brewing: mandarin, grape and caramel in a light roast. For espresso or milk drinks, Eclipse Decaf is smoother with milk-chocolate and caramel.
Prefer something with caffeine but equally bright? Danelaw Fjødr is their lightest roast, with citrus and juicy fruit notes.
We also stock decaffeinated teas for the evenings. Decaf Earl Grey and Decaf English Breakfast are both recognisably the real thing, just with most of the caffeine removed. For a proper caffeine-free option, try our herbal teas and tisanes.
Black Tea
Bergamot and smooth black tea, with most of the caffeine removed. Still recognisably Earl Grey.
Have a lookNot sure where to start? The Tea Finder quiz will point you in the right direction.
we pack orders by hand in Huddersfield, and delivery is free on UK orders over £35. You can also call into the shop in Byram Arcade, Huddersfield, if you'd like to talk coffee or tea in person. The kettle's always on.
Frequently asked questions
How do they make decaf coffee?
Caffeine is removed from green coffee beans before roasting. The four main methods are direct solvent, Swiss Water, sugarcane and carbon dioxide. All involve soaking the beans to open their structure, then extracting caffeine while leaving flavour compounds behind. Swiss Water and sugarcane methods avoid chemical solvents.
Does decaf coffee have any caffeine?
Yes. Decaf has about 97 per cent of caffeine removed, leaving roughly 2 milligrams per cup compared with 95 milligrams in regular coffee. If you need to avoid caffeine completely, choose a naturally caffeine-free drink like herbal tea.
What is the best decaf coffee?
Look for beans with a clear origin, roast date and decaffeination method. Swiss Water and sugarcane processes often taste cleanest. Single-origin decafs tend to have more character than blends. We stock Nott Coffee's Aurora Decaf for filter and Eclipse Decaf for espresso.
Is Swiss Water decaf better?
Many people think so. The Swiss Water process uses no chemical solvents, relying instead on charcoal filtration and flavour-charged water. This often produces a cleaner, more nuanced cup. It's worth trying alongside sugarcane decafs to see which you prefer.
Can you use decaf coffee for espresso?
Yes, but use a roast designed for it. Light-roast filter decafs often taste thin and sour under espresso pressure. Look for a medium or dark roast with chocolate or nut notes, and aim for a slightly longer extraction time to build body.
How long does decaf coffee stay fresh?
Whole beans stay fresh for three to four weeks after roasting if stored in a sealed bag away from heat and light. Ground coffee goes stale faster, so grind just before brewing if you can. Decaf is slightly more fragile than regular coffee, so freshness matters even more.
Sources: National Coffee Association · Healthline · The Independent
