Decaf

Often frowned upon, decaf coffee can be delicious when done well. We believe they should be treated with the same respect as our other coffees, and we’re on a mission to bring you the cream of the non-caffeinated crop.

Our current decaf is a gem. Hailing from Mexico, the cup boasts notes of red apple, cocoa & raspberry cordial, all with a super smooth finish.

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Our new decaf coffee comes from the Frailesca region and the Sierra Mariscal, traversed by the Sierra Madre de Chiapas in southern Mexico, where 24 communities of coffee growers are located.

This coffee is influenced by the favourable microclimates of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, which benefits local biodiversity and the economy.

The coffee farms, situated between 1,200 and 1,800 masl, are developed in polycultures that offer significant environmental, social, and economic benefits. Cultivating ‘polyculture’ is the practice of growing more than one crop species together to enhance productivity, reduce the need for chemical fertiliser, and provide natural protection against disease and pests.

We sourced these beans through our friends from Ensambles Cafes Mexicanos, who dedicate their efforts to finding producers with a commitment to quality, sustainability, equity and social welfare.

This particular lot of Quetzal was decaffeinated using the Mountain Water Process, unique to Mexico. In this process, the green beans, packed with caffeine, are soaked in water from high-altitude mountains. This expunges most of the caffeine content. 

The next step involves running the water, now loaded with caffeine, through an elaborate filtration system. This system helps to clear away about 99% of the caffeine originally found in the beans but maintains the flavour components of the coffee. 

The mountain water, then saturated with coffee flavours, but without the caffeine, is added again to the beans resulting in a sweet and consistent coffee. 

In the case of Quetzal, this showcases notes of dark chocolate and cocoa, with hints of red apple and forest berries such as raspberry, strawberry and blackberry. On the dry smell, there is also an interesting and unexpected aroma of sage and nutmeg.

Fun Fact: “Quetzal” is the name for a small bird found in Central America and southern Mexico that lives in tropical forests. This resplendent colourful bird has been a symbol of freedom since Mayan times, because of a popular belief that it would let itself die of hunger, rather than living in captivity.