Decaf coffee explained: what it is and how to brew it

Decaf is regular coffee that has had most of its caffeine removed before roasting. It is a good fit for an afternoon or evening cup, or for anyone cutting back.

Decaf is not caffeine-free

Decaffeination removes most of the caffeine, not all of it, so a cup of decaf still contains a small amount. If you need to avoid caffeine entirely for medical reasons, ask your doctor before drinking decaf.

How coffee is decaffeinated

Coffee is decaffeinated while the beans are still green. Common approaches use water, carbon dioxide or a solvent to draw out the caffeine, after which the beans are dried and roasted like any other coffee. Our roasting partner does not specify which process is used for Trapper Peak Decaf, so we do not make claims about it.

Brewing decaf

Brew decaf exactly as you would regular coffee. Our boxes suggest 15 g of coffee to 250 g of water as a starting point, which is roughly 1 part coffee to 16–17 parts water. Decaf beans can behave a little differently in a grinder, so if the cup tastes thin, grind slightly finer; if it tastes harsh, grind slightly coarser.

Trapper Peak Decaf

Our decaf is a medium roast of coffee grown in Indonesia, with dark chocolate, earthy and herbal notes, a full body and low acidity. It comes whole bean or ground in a 12 oz (340 g) box, roasted to order like the rest of our coffees.