How To Make Decaf Coffee Taste Better – 6 Easy Tips
If you’re in a rush, here’s an easy solution:
One simple ingredient I use to quickly make decaf coffee taste better is cinnamon. Add a pinch or two of fresh cinnamon powder to your mug just before you brew your coffee in it. This will make it much more enjoyable to drink.
Using top-quality decaf beans and freshly ground coffee will also improve results.
Alright, with that said, let’s take a deep dive into this topic.
But first…
I’ve got a confession to make.
You see, I was one of those folks that thought decaf coffee tastes pretty horrible.
C’mon, can you blame me?
Decaffeinated java has a pretty bad rap for tasting like c*ap most of the time.
Spending last weekend at my former college roomie’s home, however, changed my opinion.
My bud Jake and his gal were both huge fans of decaf coffee.
And you know what?
The decaf they served up actually tasted amazing. In fact, I ended up downing several mugs of the stuff. 🙂
This got me thinking…
Can Decaf Coffee Taste As Good As Regular Coffee?
Many coffee aficionados are of the opinion that decaf coffee can actually taste almost as good as regular coffee, as long as you do it right.
Since the beans are roasted for a longer period of time, more of their natural flavors can be extracted.
Couple this with the right flavorings, and decaf coffee may even end up tasting better than your regular brew.
With that in mind, here are some tips and strategies you can use right away to take your decaf coffee from being ‘barely drinkable’ to ‘surprisingly good.’
How To Make Decaf Coffee Taste Better – 6 Quick Solutions
* Tip #1
Use cinnamon (or any other flavoring)
In my opinion, this is hands down the easiest (and laziest) way to upgrade your plain ol’ decaf is to add cinnamon powder to your mug before you brew your coffee.
Not much, just a dash or two should be fine.
Cinnamon infuses more depth into the beverage and does a fantastic job of disguising the somewhat bland flavor of decaf.
Vanilla extract, cocoa powder, caramel, mint, honey, and condensed milk are some other options you can try that really boost the overall flavor of decaf coffee.
Hint:
If you want a decaf latte to taste good, add your favorite liquid coffee creamer to enhance its flavor profile.
* Tip #2
Opt for high-grade decaf beans
The best way to upgrade the taste of your decaf is by purchasing specialty decaf beans from trusted roasters.
This is because just like regular coffee, the quality of the beans you’re using has a significant impact on the taste of your decaf.
According to many java experts, medium to dark roast beans are more robust in terms of flavor, so they are considered the best when it comes to brewing decaf coffee.
Lighter roasts, on the other hand, are generally overlooked because the lackluster taste of decaf tends to be more pronounced when you use them.
Hint:
For better quality, purchase decaf beans that are ‘specialty grade’ or that have been decaffeinated using the ‘swiss water’ method (which is basically a chemical-free way of flushing away the caffeine content from a coffee bean).
Btw, if you’re wondering what the best decaf coffee bean brands are to buy, here are the ones I typically get:
Volcanica house blend decaf (my personal favorite)
Colombian supremo decaf coffee
Coffee bros decaf roast coffee
Sumatra mandheling coffee
Volcanica Costa Rica decaf Tarrazu coffee (good value for money)
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe decaf coffee
Bonus:
When I don’t have superior quality decaf beans on hand, I sometimes add a tiny pinch of salt and baking soda + a teaspoon of molasses (treacle) to my mug.
The former helps remove the cardboard taste and the latter elevates the flavor of your decaf, making it much more palatable.
* Tip #3
Ensure your decaf beans are super fresh
Let’s face it:
If you use old decaf coffee beans, your beverage is probably going to taste stale too.
That’s why it’s crucial you choose beans that are freshly roasted.
The difference in flavor is massive.
Another important factor of course is maintaining the freshness of your decaf beans.
To do this, you need to store them properly, preferably in an airtight canister, away from strong smells, moisture, and light.
* Tip #4
Use fresh coffee grounds + good coffee-to-water ratios
It’s a no-brainer really.
If you want a pleasant-tasting decaf, you need to use freshly ground decaf beans.
The longer you leave them exposed to the elements (light, heat, moisture, etc), the faster the flavor of the grounds disappears.
Worse, it’ll result in your coffee tasting fairly acidic.
So it’s always recommended that you begin the coffee brewing process by grinding your own beans. (Just so you know, I use a burr grinder for this purpose).
In order to preserve the flavor profile of the beans, it’s suggested that you brew your coffee within 30 mins of grinding them.
Furthermore, the amount of coffee grounds you use can also determine how your decaf tastes.
Personally, I stick with 10 grams of coffee grounds per 180 ml of water. This gives me a good cup of decaf coffee that contains all of the characteristics of the beans I used to brew it.
* Tip #5
Nail down the water quality + temperature
A cup of coffee is mostly made up of water (around 90% in fact), so the quality of water you use to brew your decaf matters a lot.
While standard tap water might seem like an ok option, filtered water is considered to be far more ideal for brewing.
Getting the water temperature right will also help you make a better cup of decaf.
Ideally, when brewing decaf coffee, you want your water temperature to be between 90 degrees Celcius and 96 degrees Celcius.
Bonus:
If you want your decaf coffee to taste like regular coffee (and who doesn’t, eh?), use dark roast decaf beans and prepare cold brew coffee.
Why cold brew you ask?
Well, because it takes time to prepare, most of the flavors end up being extracted from the decaf beans. So it’s going to end up tasting a lot better as opposed to a hot mug of decaf.
* Tip #6
Try various brewing methods
The flavor of your decaf can vary slightly depending on the coffee brewing technique you use.
Try experimenting with different methods (pour-over, cold brew, french press, etc) to see which one results in the most enjoyable coffee.
How To Make Decaf Coffee Taste Good – Video
Here’s a quick video (under 6 mins) that shows you how to whip up an amazing cup of decaf at home.
Go ahead and give it a watch. You’ll come away with some useful tips you can put into practice the next time you decide to make yourself some decaf coffee.
How To Make Good Decaf Coffee – In Summary
While decaf coffee is known for being weak and watery, by following the tips outlined on this page, you can elevate it from ‘not so enjoyable‘ to ‘pretty darn good.’
The quickest way to make decaf coffee taste better is by adding cinnamon (or any other flavoring you fancy) to your mug before you brew it.
Other ways include:
* Using top-grade decaf beans
Higher-quality beans translate to an increase in the flavor of your decaf coffee.
* Using decaf beans that are FRESH
It’s simple. The fresher the beans, the better the flavor, so stick with freshly roasted beans and you’ll be golden.
* Grinding your own beans
I’d strongly suggest that you grind your own beans just before brewing.
Pre-ground coffee (while convenient) can lose flavor quickly which would result in a bland cup of joe.
Ensuring water quality and temperature + good coffee-to-water ratios
Brewing your decaf with filtered water at the correct temperature and finetuning your coffee-to-water ratio ensures your decaf is flavorful and has the right strength.
* Experimenting with multiple brewing methods
If your current brewing technique is not resulting in a good decaf, try changing things up by switching to another one to see if it makes a difference.
And there you have it – 6 proven tips on how to make decaf coffee taste better.
