COLOMBIA DECAF COFFEE
VALLE DEL CUACA SPECIALTY COFFEE BEANS
Specialty Cup Score: 84.5
Award Winning Decaf Coffee
Nerd Java Decaf is a Finalist for the
2025 Global Coffee Awards
Global Coffee Awards Winners Website
Winners Pamphlet (See us named on Page 22)
This Colombian Decaf Dark Roast Coffee comes straight from a group of
small farms in Colombia’s Valle del Cuaca region.
The best thing about Nerd Java Decaf is that it actually tastes like delicious coffee,
unlike other natural and chemically processed Decaf’s on the market!
No Chemical aftertaste
No Chemical smell
No nauseating bitterness
Our customers love that our Decaf coffee holds onto all the best notes of the bean,
while washing away the harsh effects of the caffeine.
One customer even went back to their old “Trader Joe’s” decaf
When they ran out of ours, they could not believe the difference.
Suffice to say that they came back for more and left us an amazing review on Google.
Check it out for yourself.
Why Sugarcane over Swiss Water?
We chose the Sugarcane process over Swiss Water as the coffee notes are better preserved and taste most like “Coffee” (IOHO). We found that the Swiss Water coffee bean gave a more bland mouthfeel. The main difference, outside of taste, is the caffeine content. Swiss water guarantees 99.9% decaffeination, whereas the sugarcane process guarantees 97%+ decaffeination.
Learn more about the two most popular natural decaffeination processes at the bottom of this article.
Grind Options:
Whole Bean
Regular Drip Grind
Turkish Grind (+$5)
Espresso Grind (+$3)
Course Grind
Bag Options:
16 oz Bag (Full Size Bags)
Our Colombia Decaf Dark Roast Coffee is:
- Award Winning!
- A Dark Roast.
- Low Acidity with a pH of 5.
- Rich Gourmet Coffee.
- Valle del Cauca is a department in southwestern Colombia.
- Has rich chocolate, sugarcane, and nutty notes.
- When sweetener and milk are added, the floral undertones add complexity.
- Enjoy the coffee black or with add-ins.
- Learn more about this coffee here.
From the first sip, you will experience a rich, flavorful cup you can enjoy black or doctored up with your favorite add-ins for a smooth wake-up call any time of day.
Sweetener and milk or creamer of choice bring out the bean’s individual flavors without watering down the cup.
If you like your coffee black, this roast is smooth and easy to drink, with just the right balance of acidity and bitterness that still allows the bean’s flavors to come through.
Any way you take your coffee, this roast will not disappoint.
- The grind is perfect for Single Serve (K-Cup), Drip Coffee Pot, Pour Over, and Iced Hot Coffee. Any way you take your coffee, this roast will not disappoint.
- Do you like to grind your beans? Like Espresso and Cold Brew? Check out our whole bean option so you can grind your beans your way.
- Are you curious about our Colombia Roast but do not want to commit to a whole bag? Try 3 oz of this coffee as part of our Nerdy Sample Pack or Mix-n-Match Sample Packs.
Ingredients: Colombian Huila Pitalito El Tiple Supremo 2023 Coffee Beans
Roasted in Small Batches, so you get the full flavors of the bean without compromise.
Learn more about Sugarcane and the Swiss Water Process
| Feature | Sugarcane (Ethyl Acetate) | Swiss Water® Process |
|---|---|---|
| Solvent Used | Natural Ethyl Acetate (from fermented sugarcane) | Pure water and Green Coffee Extract (GCE) |
| Caffeine Removal | Approximately 97% | At least 99.9% |
| Flavor Profile | Bright, sweet, and fruit-forward; retains acidity well | Smooth, full-bodied, with chocolatey and nutty notes |
| Ideal For | Light to medium roasts; fruity origins (e.g., Ethiopian) | Medium to dark roasts; classic rich profiles |
| Eco-Impact | Often processed at origin, reducing shipping carbon footprint | Uses more water but is 100% chemical-free |
- Flavor Retention: The Sugarcane process is widely praised by specialty roasters for its ability to preserve the “brightness” and complex floral or fruity notes of high-altitude beans. The Swiss Water Process is known for being “cleaner,” but can sometimes result in a slightly more muted or “one-note” profile than its original caffeinated version.
- Caffeine Sensitivity: For individuals with extreme caffeine sensitivity, Swiss Water is the superior choice because it removes a higher percentage of caffeine (leaving only 1–2mg per cup). A cup of sugarcane decaf can still contain 5–10mg of caffeine.
- Brewing Dynamics: Baristas note that sugarcane decaf beans are more porous and can clog paper filters, often requiring a coarser grind and gentler pouring technique. Swiss Water beans tend to produce more “fines” (tiny particles) during grinding, but generally drain more predictably in pour-overs.
- Roasting Behavior: Sugarcane-processed beans tend to darken faster and “sweat” oil more quickly than regular coffee, requiring roasters to pull them earlier to avoid over-development. Swiss Water beans often require slightly longer development to achieve even ground color.
