How to choose a decaf coffee

Decaf is ordinary coffee with most of the caffeine taken out of the green beans before they are roasted. After that it is roasted, ground and brewed like any other coffee. Choose a decaf the same way you would a regular blend: by how you brew it and how you like it to taste.

Beans, ground or pods: choose by how you brew

Choose by flavour

Sweet and specialty-style: ST. ALi House Decaf is a Latin American blend from small producers, with notes of chocolate and honey and a buttery body.

Classic Italian: Lavazza Dek blends Arabica and Robusta at a medium-light roast, with fruity, roasted-cereal and winey notes. Bialetti's moka decaf is 40% Arabica and 60% Robusta, mostly Brazilian, at a medium roast with notes of cereals and toasted bread. illy's decaf is 100% Arabica with a lingering sweetness and notes of caramel.

Mild: Lavazza Caffè Decaffeinato is rated 3 out of 10 for intensity by Lavazza, with hints of almond, milk chocolate and dried fruit.

Swiss Water, CO2 and solvent decaf

All the main methods remove caffeine from green coffee before roasting.

  • Swiss Water Process: uses water, a caffeine-free green coffee extract and carbon filters, with no chemical solvents. ST. ALi House Decaf is Swiss Water processed.
  • CO2 process: pressurised carbon dioxide dissolves the caffeine while most flavour compounds stay in the bean. Lavazza decaffeinates Dek this way.
  • Solvent process: steamed beans are rinsed with ethyl acetate or dichloromethane, which carries the caffeine away.

Decaf for cafés and offices

Serving decaf at work or in a café? Lavazza Professional Dek is part of Lavazza's foodservice range. Apply for a business account for B2B pricing on coffee, up to 25% off RRP.

Order by 3pm Melbourne time on business days for same-day dispatch. Delivery is a flat $9.95 under $200 and free over $200, Australia-wide.

FAQs

Is decaf coffee completely caffeine free?

No. Decaf still has a small amount of caffeine. US rules require at least 97% of the caffeine to be removed, and illy says its decaf contains no more than 0.1% caffeine. Testing has found decaf drinks usually keep about 1–2% of the original caffeine, though some samples held more. If you need to avoid caffeine completely for medical reasons, check with your doctor.

What is Swiss Water decaf?

Swiss Water is a decaffeination method that uses only water, temperature and time, with no chemical solvents. Green beans are soaked in a caffeine-free green coffee extract, so the caffeine moves out of the beans while the flavour compounds stay. Carbon filters then trap the caffeine and the extract is reused. ST. ALi House Decaf is Swiss Water processed.

What is the best decaf coffee for an espresso machine?

It depends on your setup. With a grinder, whole beans give the freshest shot: ST. ALi House Decaf has chocolate and honey notes, and Lavazza Professional Dek is a classic Italian Arabica and Robusta blend. Without a grinder, illy Decaf Ground is pre-ground for espresso. Dial it in the same way you would any other coffee.

Can I use decaf ground coffee in a moka pot?

Yes. Bialetti Perfetto Moka Decaf is ground specifically for moka brewing. It is a medium roast with notes of cereals and toasted bread. Lavazza Caffè Decaffeinato also works in a moka pot, and in plungers and filter machines. Fill the basket without pressing the coffee down, and brew on low heat.

Do illy decaf ESE pods fit a Nespresso machine?

No. E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) pods are 44mm paper pods, each holding about 7g of ground coffee. They are not Nespresso capsules. They fit E.S.E. pod espresso machines, and some standard espresso machines can use them with a pod adapter. Check your machine's manual before buying illy Decaffeinated ESE Pods.

Do you deliver decaf coffee Australia-wide?

Yes. We ship decaf coffee beans, ground coffee and pods anywhere in Australia. Order by 3pm Melbourne time on a business day and we dispatch the same day. Delivery is a flat $9.95 on orders under $200 and free on orders over $200. Businesses can apply for a business account for B2B pricing on coffee, up to 25% off RRP.