As coffee lovers, sometimes we see ourselves in need of different options. For example, some people are immune to caffeine in the usual dose and go as far as to supplement caffeine on top of drinking their regular morning coffee.
Some of us might be too sensitive to caffeine or might have underlying health conditions that call for either a reduced caffeine intake or cut back a little. In any case, decaf coffee is there for us and will give us the full deliciousness of coffee with almost none of the caffeine!
As coffee lovers, sometimes we see ourselves in need of different options. For example, some people are immune to caffeine in the usual dose and go as far as to supplement caffeine on top of drinking their regular morning coffee.
Some of us might be too sensitive to caffeine or might have underlying health conditions that call for either a reduced caffeine intake or cut back a little. In any case, decaf coffee is there for us and will give us the full deliciousness of coffee with almost none of the caffeine!
The 8 Best Decaf K-Cups
San Francisco Bay OneCup
Roast: Dark
Flavor Profile: Malted Chocolate, Dark Brown Sugar, Creamy, Smoky finish
Body: Full-bodied
Overall: 9
The Organic Coffee Co. OneCup
Roast: Medium-Light
Flavor Profile: Milk Chocolate, Creamy, Brown Spice
Body: Medium
Overall: 9
illy Decaffeinated K-Cups
Roast: Medium
Flavor Profile: Balanced, notes of Caramel
Body: Full-bodied
Overall: 8
Dunkin’ Donuts Original Decaf Keurig K Cups
Roast: Medium
Flavor Profile: Notes of Chocolate and Nut
Body: Rich and Smooth
Overall: 8.5
Green Mountain ‘Breakfast Blend’ Decaf K Cups
Roast: Light
Flavor Profile: Sweet, Nutty
Body: Medium
Overall: 8.5
The Donut Shop Medium-Roast Decaf K Cup
Roast: Medium
Flavor Profile: Smooth, Balanced
Body: Extra Bold
Overall: 8
Peet’s Coffee House Blend Decaf K-Cups
Roast: Dark
Flavor Profile: Lively, Sweet, Balanced
Body: Medium
Overall: 8
Newman’s Own ‘Organics’ Decaffeinated K-Cups
Roast: Medium
Flavor Profile: Bittersweet
Body: Bold
Overall: 9
Folgers 100% Colombian Decaf K Cup
Roast: Medium
Flavor Profile: Rich and Lively
Body: Full-bodied
Overall: 9
McCafe Medium-Roast Decaf Keurig Pods
Roast: Medium
Flavor Profile: Rich and Smooth
Body: Medium
Overall: 8.5
Buyer’s Guide
Can’t decide which one to get? No problem! We’re here to walk you through what factors are most important when deciding which coffee to get. Let’s get to it:
Taste
Coffee is admittedly much more complicated now than it used to be. It went from merely a cup of coffee to a vessel containing a myriad of different flavors. Some of which are very exotic, like spices and nuts— but not all of us enjoy these in our coffee.
If you enjoy exotic coffee, then it’s probably a good idea to go for a flavor profile that looks more exotic.
But if you aren’t as welcoming with new and exotic flavors, we strongly suggest you play it safe and go for more traditional flavor profiles. These won’t include intense flavors in them but are most frequently described as “balanced,” “rich,” and “smooth.” All good qualities in coffee!
Price
Price does not equal quality. That much is something that any experienced coffee lover will tell you.
Decaf, however, can be at times a little more expensive than regular coffee. This is because the beans undergo a decaffeination process to rid them of caffeine. This extra process, logically, will cost everyone -and ultimately the customer- more money.
This means that as far as decaf coffee is concerned, they are relatively in the same price range. However, half-caf coffee is a term used to refer to coffee that isn’t decaf but has roughly half the caffeine content of regular coffee. These might be a little cheaper.
Quality
Quality is mainly dependent on an individual’s personal preferences, taste. You could be presented with the best coffee in the world and find out that it doesn’t do it for you the same way your local barista’s coffee does.
We’ve attempted to give marks to each of the coffees on our list on a 1 out of 10 scale, which we think is quite accurate. Still, we recommend you follow your instincts!
Roast
This one is quite simple;
Light roasts will make for a coffee with a very mild bitterness that will be imperceptible with just a touch of cream and sugar. Great for light meals or breakfast as it isn’t such a strong flavor.
Medium roasts hang in the balance and can adapt to almost any kind of coffee. They are bitter but not too strong, and they are still sweet without being light.
Dark roasts are very strong both in their aroma and flavor, as it’s all more concentrated. These kinds of coffees go great for espresso and tend to be quite bitter but more rewarding. Dark roasts allow for a broader range of flavors to develop. If you can get past the bitterness, they are the most delicious of roasts.
Type of Coffee Beans
Always aim for arabica instead of robusta beans because, as your local barista will tell you, arabica is where all the flavor is.
This choice is particularly correct of decaf coffee: robusta has a lot more caffeine than arabica beans, making it a little harder to get all of the caffeine out. On average, robusta beans have about three times the amount of caffeine of arabica beans. Avoid at all costs!
Quantity Of K-Cups
Nobody likes humongous boxes, although it’s great when they come perfumed in coffee aroma. Here, it all comes down to how much coffee you plan to drink a day.
Calculate first how frequently you want to be shopping for coffee. Some people may not have the time to be worrying all the time about coffee or to check how much they have left. In these cases, buy as much as you can reasonably afford on coffee so you can forget about buying coffee for a few months.
Otherwise, try estimating how many coffees you plan to drink a day. Multiply by 30, and you’ll have an approximation of how much coffee you need per month!
Conclusion
Decaf is a whole world in and of itself. Taking the caffeine out of coffee might seem, at first, like you’ll also be taking part of its flavor. But you’ll be surprised at how delicious coffee can be even when it’s decaf!
Whenever shopping for decaf, be sure you go for the Swiss water method or the CO2 method, as these two are the best ones for getting rid of caffeine and preserving the most flavor.
