Disclosure: Pull & Pour received coffee samples for this post, however, as always, all opinions are 100% my own.
A few weeks ago I posted on Instagram asking for people to share their favorite decaf options. I don’t drink decaf very often, but do enjoy it from time to time. Little Buffalo Coffee wrote sharing that I had to try this coffee, which uses the sugarcane cane decaffeination process. They said it was the first decaf they’d tried that didn’t taste like decaf—I was intrigued. Most of the decafs I’ve tried have used the Swiss water process and while their flavor can be good, they always seem to lack the depth and complexity of a non-decaf coffee. For this reason, I was extremely excited to try the sugarcane cane processed Desvelado Decaf.
The coffee began with a rich, chocolate fragrance that was sweet and carried notes of apple with it. During brewing the chocolate notes became quite prominent. The flavor was surprisingly complex with notes of dark chocolate, Fuji apple (apple notes without any acidic bite) and a rounded sweetness. As the coffee cooled, more complex fruit notes appeared. There was a smooth mouthfeel and a fairly full body, but the acidity was fairly muted. The aftertaste was much of the same with a smooth finish and lingering notes of chocolate. I tried the coffee in a variety of pour over methods, as well as AeroPress and it worked well in each of them. I really enjoyed the extra depth that came through in the AeroPress.
The Bottom Line
Desvelado Decaf was a wonderful coffee. If I didn’t know going into it that it was a decaf, I don’t think I would have suspected it after enjoying a full cup of it. It was likely the most complex decaf coffee I’ve tried and while it lacked a bit of the acidity I love in coffees, it had enough depth of flavor and complexity to make up for it. If you are looking for a solid decaf option, this is a great one to try.
