Decaf Coffee Beans
Specialty decaf is specialty-grade coffee decaffeinated before it is roasted, to Canada's limit of 0.1% caffeine, by a method chosen to keep the flavor of its origin: here, sugarcane EA.
Decaf doesn't mean flavorless. Our decaf is a specialty-grade lot decaffeinated with sugarcane EA, which uses ethyl acetate made by fermenting sugarcane. Decaffeination can only keep the flavor that was in the green coffee to begin with, so we start with coffee worth drinking and roast it in small batches in Richmond, BC, on a profile of its own.
One to choose from right now, from $26.50. Roasted within 1 business day of your order and shipped within 1–2 business days. Delivery is free across Metro Vancouver with no minimum, and shipping anywhere else in Canada is free on orders over $50.
- Decaffeinated with sugarcane EA, never methylene chloride
- Specialty-grade beans, not commodity leftovers
- Roasted on its own profile, not as an afterthought
- Same traceability as our regular coffees — farm, origin, and processing on every bag
- Roasted to order
- Q Grader guided QC
- Free Metro Vancouver delivery, no minimum
- Free Canada shipping over $50
1 in stock · 2 Coffees
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Swiss Water and sugarcane EA: how the two methods differ
| Method | How the caffeine comes out | Solvent | Our lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Water Process | Green coffee soaks in a caffeine-free green coffee extract; carbon filters catch the caffeine. Run by Swiss Water in Delta, BC. | None, by Swiss Water's own description | |
| Sugarcane EA (ethyl acetate) | Ethyl acetate made by fermenting sugarcane draws the caffeine out of the green coffee. | Ethyl acetate from sugarcane, a solvent Health Canada permits for decaffeination |
Both methods work on green coffee, before roasting, and leave no more than the 0.1% caffeine Canada allows in coffee sold as decaffeinated.
How to Choose Specialty Decaf Coffee
Check the decaffeination method. Ours is sugarcane EA, which draws the caffeine out of the green coffee with ethyl acetate made by fermenting sugarcane. Ethyl acetate is a solvent, though not a synthetic one, and it is one of the solvents Health Canada permits for decaffeinating green coffee. The other method you will often see on specialty decaf is the Swiss Water Process: green coffee soaks in a caffeine-free green coffee extract and the caffeine is caught in carbon filters. Swiss Water, which runs the process from Delta, BC, says it uses no esters or solvents.
For espresso, look for decaf with chocolate and caramel notes, which hold up under pressure. For filter, look for brighter, fruitier profiles. Each lot's page lists its tasting notes and the brew methods it suits.
Brew decaf the same way you'd brew regular coffee. Same ratios, same water temperature, same grind size. The only difference is you can enjoy it at 10pm without regretting it at 2am.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is decaf coffee made?
Caffeine is taken out of green coffee, before roasting. Our decaf uses the sugarcane EA method: the caffeine is dissolved out with ethyl acetate made by fermenting sugarcane. The other common method in specialty coffee is the Swiss Water Process, where the green coffee soaks in a caffeine-free extract of green coffee, the caffeine moves out into it, and carbon filters take it away. Neither method uses methylene chloride.
Does specialty decaf taste as good as regular coffee?
It can, when the coffee was good before it was decaffeinated. The process can only keep flavor the green coffee already had, so we start with specialty-grade lots and roast decaf on its own profile rather than on a regular coffee's.
Is decaf coffee completely caffeine-free?
No. In Canada, coffee sold as decaffeinated may contain up to 0.1% caffeine, or 0.3% for decaffeinated instant coffee. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration puts a typical 8-ounce cup of decaf at 2 to 15 milligrams of caffeine, and a 12-ounce cup of regular brewed coffee at 113 to 247 milligrams.
Can I use decaf for espresso?
Yes. Our decaf comes in espresso grind and pulls shots like any other coffee. Expect a slightly lighter body than a caffeinated espresso; with proper extraction you still get crema and flavor. Each lot's page lists its tasting notes and the brew methods it suits.
Which decaf coffees are Swiss Water processed?
None of ours right now: the decaf on our shelf is sugarcane EA. Swiss Water Process decaf is sold under many roasters' names, and the decaffeination itself is done by Swiss Water in Delta, BC. Each of our decaf lots names its method on its own page.
Do you ship decaf coffee across Canada?
Yes — we ship Canada-wide from our roastery in Richmond, BC. Roasted within 1 business day of your order and shipped within 1–2 business days. Delivery is free across Metro Vancouver with no minimum, and shipping anywhere else in Canada is free on orders over $50.