If it’s full coffee flavour you want without jitters and sleepnessless, you’re in the right spot. We’ve dug up the best decaf coffee available to buy in Australia right now.
A growing community of decaf enthusiasts is brewing in Australia and with good reason. Decaf coffee is not only a great option for health-conscious folk looking to avoid caffeine, but it’s suitable for all-day sipping and less likely to wreak havoc with your sleep.
And while some people claim decaf to be lacking in flavour, the following selection of the best decaf coffee is here to prove them wrong.
In fact, some happy customers say it’s even better than the real thing.
Premium decaf looks and tastes incredible. Image: Instagram/@decafco
How is decaf made?
The decaf coffee you find here in Australia is likely made using one of three methods: chemical solvents, Liquid CO2 and water saturation.
Cheaper varieties often use chemical solvents to strip pre-roasted coffee beans of their caffeine, and while this may sound alarming, this and all methods of decaffeination have been ruled as safe by food regulators around the world.
Another method involves using liquid CO2 to strip caffeine from the beans. But the final and increasingly preferred method (because it’s chemical-free) is water saturation, known as the Swiss Water or Mountain Water process. In this process, the beans are completely soaked and later strained through a carbon filter to remove caffeine.
From beans to bags, decaf is available in every form. Image: The Laughing Pug
Why does decaf taste different?
It’s no secret that decaf often gets a bad wrap when it comes to taste. The answer to why decaf coffee tastes different to regular coffee largely lies in the decaffeination process. Removing caffeine is a rigorous process that can strip coffee of some flavour elements and essential complexity that people love in coffee.
But not all decaf tastes questionable!
The consensus among serious decaf sippers is that the natural water saturation process helps coffee beans retain more flavour than other methods. Check out some of the favourites below.
9 Best Decaf Coffee Brands Causing A Stir
Prep your biscuits and armchair! Our shortlist of the best decaf coffee products in Australia is the place to find your new favourite caffeine-free sip.
These products are hand-picked by our editorial team because we’ve tried and loved them, or other Australians have!
From Melbourne-based roasters comes a decaffeinated sip that has fans talking. It uses a water saturation process that retains a full coffee flavour while eliminating the caffeine – and it’s totally chemical-free.
It’s a full-bodied espresso with mild sweetness, big flavour and less acidity and fans call it “delicious”. One happy reviewer writes that “no one knows it’s decaf,” a great sign of a quality brew.
It’s not just coffee lovers who adore Mexico Chiapas Organic Decaf by Decaf Co, but the heavyweights. This particular brew picked up a silver medal in the biggest coffee roasting competition in the world!
With light acidity and a gorgeous smooth texture that honestly looks like the real thing, it’s little surprise fans love it. Flavours include caramel, brown sugar, dates, red berries and nutmeg. Happy customers say it is “the best” and “tastes like regular coffee”.
Prefer the convenience of coffee bags? No problem. The Laughing Pug’s Swiss Wash Decaf comes in handy eco-friendly packaging and packs all the flavour you want in a cup of coffee.
It uses the Mountain Water process which harnesses the beautiful flavours of chocolate, toffee and cinnamon with a touch of apple acidity. Customers love the taste just as much as the convenience of travel-friendly bags.
Vittoria Arabica coffee is a firm favourite in homes and cafes around Australia – and the decaf is no exception. Available in ground or full bean formats, it uses a natural water decaffeination process and delivers an authentic Italian espresso flavour.
Happy customers love the taste profile, with one saying it tastes “so much better than instant” and another praising the “intense flavour”.
If you have a Nespresso machine handy and are ready to make the switch to decaf, Starbucks Espresso Roast Decaf is a fantastic place to start.
Crafted from 100% Arabica beans, it’s full-bodied with a touch of sweetness. Others who’ve tried it note the smoothness and initial sweetness, with one saying it’s “one of the best” decaf capsules around.
Expertly decaffeinated using the water saturation method, Merlo Decaf has a loyal crowd of customers who “won’t buy anything else”.
Its likeness to real coffee, mild acidity and sweet-citrus flavour profile have customers buzzing (caffeine-free, of course). It uses Rainforest Alliance (RFA) Certified Mexican coffee from Mexico and thanks to the natural extraction process, retains all of its flavour profile with no chemicals involved.
Lavazza is one of the most famous names in the coffee world, and it doesn’t exclude decaf fans. Caffè Decaffeinato is aromatic and balanced. Taste notes include dried fruit and it is medium-roasted for easy sipping.
It uses a natural method to decaffeinate the Arabica and Robusta blends, and as such, maintains it’s delicate original aroma. It’s fabulous for plungers, moka pots (stovetop) and filtered coffee machines, with one happy customer pointing out how similar it is to caffeinated coffee.
More than 1000 five-star reviews can’t be wrong! From Rumble Coffee Roasters, Sugarcane Decaf is a must-try for anyone who is after a full-strength brew sans caffeine.
Labelled by the brand “a true speciality lot,” this brew uses Colombia coffee beans and a caffeine-extraction method that replies on spring water and a natural Ethyl Acetate derived from locally sourced sugar cane. The beauty of this method is that it doesn’t expose the coffee beans to excessive heat, damaging the cells. This means better roasting and fabulous flavour.
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From the largest decaf coffee roasters in Australia comes a brew that is as fresh as it is smooth and rich. And when we say fresh, we mean it – Just Fresh Roasted produces so much decaf, they roast daily!
The medium-bodied roast delivers an aroma of dark cocoa and nuts, with flavours including chocolate and blackcurrant – and fans love it. Many happy customers say it is their go-to for decaf and one even called it “mind-blowing”.
Some customers note the lack of bitterness in this brew as compared with many other decaf coffee brands in Australia. So if you prefer a smoother taste, this is the one to reach for.
What a great guide to decaf coffee. It’s nice to know some of the more unique and boutique brands offer decaf. I suffer with insomnia occasionally and know switching to decaf would be beneficial to me, but I have had trouble finding some ground beans that don’t taste muddy. Will definitely be giving some of these a go!
Wow! I had no idea there was so much to chooses from out there. I have recently changed most of my tea to decaf but had no idea so much was available in the coffee ranges. I’ll have to bookmark this page to remember to give some a try. Thanks.
There are some delicious sounding decaf coffee brands in this article. I do love my coffee but find that if i have coffee after a certain time it keeps me awake at night. I will have to give decaf a try and the flavours in these coffees sounds amazing and worth tasting.
Im yet to find a good decaf coffee that i like and tastes full bodied like a regular coffee would! Perhaps I’ve just had terrible options around me. The article was interesting as i didnt know there were different methods to removing the caffeine and the process surrounding it. Makes me definitely appreciate it more.
