Coffee Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people interested in all aspects of producing and consuming coffee. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
I recently bought a bean-to-cup coffee machine and I drink alot more coffee than I should. As decaffeinated coffee would do me good I was hoping that there was a decaf coffee bean. I would like to use the bean grinding function of my machine but I do not want the caffeine.
I have looked online and can't find any but I am sure that someone will have tried to make a decaf coffee bean.
There's no strain of coffee bean that has no caffeine when it is grown, but you can find whole-bean, decaffeinated coffee. "Decaffeinated" coffee has been treated to have most of the caffeine removed. Decaffeination is done when the beans are still whole, so you can certainly find whole-bean, decaffeinated coffee (though I suppose decaffeination could also be done after grinding). The decaffeination process is often done with whole, green (not-yet-roasted) beans, which are subsequently roasted (still whole). Most places will sell whole-bean, decaf coffee -- local coffee roasters, coffee shops, markets, mail order from the usual suspects... Starbucks, illy, Lavazza, Peets, ... Look for "whole bean decaf".
For more on the subject of decaf coffee, see this question about how decaf coffee beans are produced and another question about the fact that decaf coffee still has a little caffeine in it.
The concept of "half-caf" coffee has become popular, mixing part decaffeinated beans with part regular (not-decaffeinated) beans, which might be a good option in your case to reduce (but not eliminate) the caffeine. These half-and-half blends are also available from retailers.
Swiss Water Decaf beans are your best option, and also the best starting point. Reason being, is that it so good! But I would say that as I'm a supplier, but I also say it because I have not found anything else that is comparable for flavour and cost. Ultimately it will come down to your taste buds but if start here then at the very least you have a high benchmark. Checkout the video on how they treat the beans here: https://youtu.be/fhz9njRLbl0
While I don't believe it is possible to buy these yet, scientists have discovered a strain of Coffea Arabica which naturally has very little caffeine.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/jun/24/food.research
There are several online stores selling decaf whole beans. To name but a few:
Cafe Justo has whole bean decaf and 50%/50% coffee. https://www.justcoffee.org/ They see coffee by the pound, not 12 oz.
