Colombia Excelso Medellin Decaf Swiss Water

Colombia Excelso Medellin Decaf Swiss Water is a 100% Arabica decaf whole bean coffee, medium roasted, with notes of milk chocolate, nuts and cocoa. We recommend it to anyone who loves a classic espresso but wants to cut down on caffeine or enjoy coffee in the evening. Thanks to the Swiss Water method it keeps the character of Colombian beans while 99.9% of the caffeine is removed.

Colombia Excelso Medellin: a chocolatey decaf coffee

This coffee comes from the Medellin area in the Antioquia department, in the Colombian Andes. It is grown at 1200-2000 m above sea level and comes from the Caturra, Typica and Bourbon varieties. Washed processing gives it a clean, well-defined cup.

In the cup you get milk chocolate, nuts and cocoa. These are natural flavour associations that come from the beans and the roast, not added flavourings. The coffee has a classic character without exotic accents. It works as an espresso and as a longer black coffee from a bean-to-cup machine.

Excelso is a Colombian bean size grade, slightly smaller than Supremo. It is not a botanical variety or a processing method.

Swiss Water: how decaf is made without solvents

Swiss Water is a decaffeination method that uses water, green coffee extract and carbon filters. No chemical solvents are used to remove the caffeine.

The green beans are first soaked in water. Then they go into Green Coffee Extract, a solution saturated with the coffee’s flavour compounds but free of caffeine. Because of the difference in concentration, caffeine moves from the beans into the extract, while most of the flavour compounds stay in the coffee.

The caffeine is captured by carbon filters, and the extract can be reused in the process. Decaffeination is carried out by Swiss Water in British Columbia, Canada.

The result is a coffee with 99.9% of its caffeine removed that still keeps the character of its Colombian origin.

Does Swiss Water decaf contain caffeine?

Yes, decaf can contain trace amounts of caffeine. The Swiss Water method removes 99.9% of it, but that does not mean absolute zero. So “decaf” does not mean completely caffeine-free.

Colombia Excelso Medellin Decaf is a good choice if you want to drink coffee in the evening or limit caffeine in your daily routine. If you are looking for decaf during pregnancy, remember that it can still contain small amounts of caffeine. It is worth discussing your individual intake with your doctor.

Swiss Water vs Mountain Water: what is the difference?

Both methods use water to remove caffeine from green beans, but they are not the same process. Swiss Water is a technology developed and run by a company based in Canada. It uses Green Coffee Extract and carbon filtration.

Mountain Water is a separate water decaffeination method. In our shop you will also find Mexico El Tucan Decaf, made with this method.

When you compare decaf coffees, look beyond the way the caffeine was removed. Origin, varieties, processing and roast profile all affect the taste of the final cup.

How to brew Colombia Excelso Medellin Decaf

The medium roast makes this coffee suitable for espresso machines, bean-to-cup machines and moka pots. You can also brew it in a filter coffee machine, especially if you prefer classic chocolate and nut profiles over fruity coffees.

• Espresso machine: a traditional espresso with notes of cocoa and milk chocolate.
• Bean-to-cup machine: black coffee or a base for cappuccino and latte.
• Moka pot: a stronger brew with a clear nutty character.
• Filter methods: a gentler cup with a classic profile.

Decaf can behave differently from regular coffee when grinding and extracting. Start with your usual settings, then adjust the grind to the taste of the brew. If the espresso runs too fast, try a finer grind. If it tastes too bitter or astringent, try a coarser grind and check the extraction time.

Roast profile and bag sizes

Colombia Excelso Medellin Decaf Swiss Water is medium roasted. This profile brings out the notes of milk chocolate, nuts and cocoa. We recommend it for espresso, bean-to-cup machines and moka pots, including everyday milk drinks.

The coffee comes in 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg bags. Choose a smaller bag to try it, or a larger one for regular brewing at home or in the office.

We roast this coffee fresh once a week.