There’s nothing quite like a delicious coffee to start your morning off on the right note. But what’s the solution if your coffee craving comes in the late afternoon or after dinner?
That’s when decaffeinated coffee comes into its own, offering the same rich aroma and taste as regular coffee.
Welcome to the wonderful world of decaffeinated coffee, or ‘decaf’ coffee as it is lovingly referred to by coffee drinkers everywhere.
Nespresso uses a natural decaffeination process that happens before the coffee is roasted, resulting in decaf coffee beans that are beautifully rich, and full of character and flavour.
Here, we look at every aspect of decaffeinated coffee, from how it’s made to the taste profiles of some of Nespresso’s Decaffeinato range of coffee pods.
What is decaf coffee?
“Decaf” is short for decaffeinated and, contrary to popular belief, decaf coffee beans do contain a small amount of caffeine. On average, a cup of Nespresso decaf coffee contains 99.9 per cent less caffeine than a regular cup of coffee.
However, the intensity of your coffee has nothing to do with how much caffeine is in your cup (or glass, or mug). It’s the degree of roasting at the decaffeination stage that impacts the body and bitterness in your coffee.
How is coffee decaffeinated?
Nespresso’s decaffeination process is 100 per cent natural and – given the process takes place before the coffee is roasted – preserves the taste and flavour integrity of the beans.
Any Nespresso coffee that is used in a decaf blend is made by one of two traditional methods: water or CO2.
Here’s how they work…
The water method
Green coffee beans are placed in a tank with hot water, which naturally separates the caffeine from the coffee beans. To ensure the flavour of the decaf coffee bean is retained, a carbon filter is introduced into the water. As the hot water moves through the carbon filter, the caffeine molecules stick to the filter, allowing the rich coffee flavour to absorb back into the bean as the temperature cools.
The CO2 method
Coffee beans and carbon dioxide (CO2) are added to a pressurised chamber and then heat is applied. The heat forces the caffeine out of the bean and, as the temperature cools, the caffeine sticks to the carbon.
What does decaf coffee taste like?
Nespresso’s decaf capsules (for both our Original or Vertuo coffee machines) retain all the same flavour, aroma, character and quality as caffeinated coffee. Our Arpeggio Decaffeinato capsule, for instance, have the same lovely cocoa notes as their caffeinated counterpart, and the result is a balanced milky coffee – without the caffeine.
Nespresso Original Arpeggio Decaffeinato. This short and dark roast combines cocoa notes with sweeter blends to create a velvety masterpiece.
Should I drink decaf coffee?
Whether you drink caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee is a personal choice and the fact is there’s no reason why you can’t drink both, whether it’s an espresso in the morning, and a decaf latte later in the day.
The truly great thing about decaf coffee is that you can consume it in so many different ways – hot or cold (iced decaf latte, anyone?); at breakfast, in the afternoon or after dinner; even in your favourite coffee-inspired cocktails.
Top tip: Try using the Arpeggio Decaf and Altissio Decaf capsules in this Spiced Espresso Martini recipe or whip up this delicious Choc-Coconut Frappe for an afternoon treat.
Try it now
Nespresso has a delicious range of decaffeinated options for you to try.
No matter what your choice of brew – from lattes and flat whites to mochas and cappuccinos – our decaf range makes the perfect coffee, every time.
