Top 8: The best decaf coffees to drink at any time that won't disrupt your sleep
Our Top 8 has plenty of roasters you can trust
Decaffeinated coffee can be disappointing. Without the caffeine kick that gives us a perceived or real energy lift, what can be left is a bland drink that becomes even more bland when we add milk. But in the hands of good roasters, there is hope, and today’s challenge was to find the best of them.
Introduced in 1906 by Ludwig Roselius in Bremen, Café Hag was the first decaf on the market. However, the decaffeination process, which involved using chemical solvents to extract the caffeine, received bad press. Since then, water has been used to extract caffeine through Swiss water extraction or sugar cane and water.
Barista and YouTuber James Hoffmann is a terrific source of information on decaf and contrasts each method. He doesn’t favour one over another but says choosing a roaster you can trust is more important. Our Top 8 has plenty of those.
Like regular coffee, decaf contains antioxidants which can add to our health armoury. Decaf means we can enjoy coffee at any time of day or night without fear of losing sleep.
We also tasted instant decaf, mostly sweet and lacking good coffee flavours. However, M&S decaf Rich Roast coffee bags (€4) were as good as the same brand’s ground decaf.
To make good coffee, let the water sit in kettle for a few seconds once boiled. Whole coffee beans and ground coffee freeze well.
