The best decaf coffee beans from UK roasters
Decaf has shed its bad reputation. Modern methods — sugarcane EA, Swiss Water and natural water processes — strip the caffeine and keep the flavour, and UK speciality roasters now take decaf as seriously as any other coffee. This is a shortlist of 16 decafs from 11 UK roasteries, with the method, origin and tasting notes taken from each roastery's own shop pages and checked on 10 September 2026.
Decaffeination methods, in plain English
- Sugarcane (EA) process. Common for Colombian decafs; the beans are steamed and washed with ethyl acetate derived from sugarcane. Roasters favour it because it keeps the coffee tasting sweet.
- Swiss Water process. A chemical-free water method developed in Switzerland; look for it on Rave's blends below.
- Natural & water EA. Extract's Brazilian decaf uses ethyl acetate alongside water — listed on their shop page as "Natural & Water EA Decaffeinated."
Prefer caffeine? See our full best UK coffee beans shortlist or the best beans for espresso.
Climpson & Sons
The Decaf
- Origin:
- La Plata, Colombia
- The roaster says:
- Selected for quality of flavour and more sustainable processing.
Colonna Coffee
Extract Coffee Roasters
Decaf
- Method:
- Natural & Water EA decaffeination
- Origin:
- Minas Gerais, Brazil (Catuai, Mundo Novo, Bourbon)
- The roaster says:
- Available as beans, pods and coffee bags.
Origin Coffee
Decaf Coffee Subscription
- Method:
- 100% chemical-free decaffeination
- The roaster says:
- A rotating decaf delivered as a subscription.
Pact Coffee
Pact Decaf
- Method:
- Sugarcane ethyl acetate method
- Origin:
- Rotating origins
- The roaster says:
- A rotating decaf menu; check the site for the current coffee.
Rave Coffee
Colombia El Carmen Sugarcane Decaf Nº 77
- Method:
- Sugarcane process
- Origin:
- El Carmen, Colombia
Ethiopia Bensa Bombe Decaf Nº 364
- Method:
- Sugarcane process
- Origin:
- Bensa Bombe, Ethiopia
Guatemala Sugarcane Decaf Nº 339
- Method:
- Sugarcane process
- Origin:
- Atitlán, Guatemala
Signature Blend Decaf Nº 1D
- Method:
- Swiss Water process
- Origin:
- Guatemala & Indonesia
- The roaster says:
- All the punch of Rave's best-selling coffee, without the buzz.
Redemption Roasters
El Vergel Decaf
- Origin:
- El Vergel, Colombia
- The roaster says:
- Nutty, buttery and rich.
Decaf Espresso
- Origin:
- Sierra Sur, Oaxaca, Mexico
- The roaster says:
- Deliciously sweet and moreish.
Steampunk Coffee
Decaf La Serrania
- Method:
- Sugarcane EA decaffeination (Descafecol, Manizales)
- Origin:
- Huila, Colombia (Castillo, Caturra, Colombia; washed)
- The roaster says:
- Balanced and sweet with a smooth baker's-chocolate finish.
Volcano Coffee Works
Decaf Coffee
- Method:
- Sugarcane decaffeination
- Origin:
- Vale de Grama, Brazil
Workshop Coffee
La Plata Decaf
- Method:
- Decaffeinated in Colombia
- Origin:
- La Plata, Colombia
Common questions
Does decaf coffee taste worse than regular coffee?
Modern decaffeination methods such as Swiss Water, sugarcane (EA) and CO2 remove caffeine gently, so a good decaf from a speciality roaster tastes far closer to its caffeinated equivalent than older decafs did. The tasting notes on this page come from the roasters' own shop listings.
What do Swiss Water, sugarcane and EA decaf mean?
They are decaffeination methods. Swiss Water uses only water and filtration; sugarcane (ethyl acetate, or EA) uses a solvent derived from fermented sugarcane; CO2 uses pressurised carbon dioxide. Each coffee below names the method the roaster states on its own site.
Is decaf completely caffeine-free?
No — decaffeination removes the vast majority of caffeine but a small trace remains. If you need to avoid caffeine entirely for medical reasons, check with your doctor rather than relying on decaf.
How were these decafs chosen?
Every decaf listed here is currently on sale on the roaster's own website, with the method, origin and tasting notes copied from the roaster's own product page and re-verified on the date shown at the bottom of this page.
Brew your decaf properly
Decaf behaves exactly like any other bean once brewed — grind it fresh and follow a method that suits it. Our guides cover filter machines, cafetières, siphons, pour-overs and drippers, and the gear page lists the grinders and scales worth owning.