Decaffeination softens the florals, yet this decaf retains Yirgacheffe's outline: orange and lemon zest, a clean black-tea texture, and a milk-chocolate and cane-sugar finish.
Buying Tips
Process: Caffeine is removed with water and activated carbon — common brands are Swiss Water and Mexico's Mountain Water Process — removing about 99.9% of caffeine
Versus sugar-cane decaf: Water process tastes cleaner and more tea-like; sugar-cane (EA) decaf is noticeably sweeter
Freshness: Decaf stales faster; buy small bags and finish within two to three weeks
Brewing Notes
Pour-over: Medium grind, 90°C, ratio 1:15
Note: Decaf beans are less dense and extract faster — grind slightly coarser to avoid bitterness