The Decaf Project by James Hoffman

At Decadent Decaf, we’re always excited to spotlight innovations in the world of coffee and we’re very excited about The Decaf Project - an ambitious initiative by James Hoffmann to redefine how we think about decaffeination and offers an unparalleled learning opportunity for coffee enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Decaffeination often takes a back seat in the coffee world, but The Decaf Project aims to change that. By shining a spotlight on decaf, James Hoffmann is helping to elevate its status and challenge preconceived notions. For us, this initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to celebrate the rich diversity of decaf coffee.

So, what is the mad coffee scientist that is James Hoffman doing?

Well, the Decaf Project aims to understanding and celebrate the differences between various decaffeination methods by partnering with leading decaffeination facilities worldwide to source green coffee that has undergone three distinct decaffeination processes, such as the Swiss Water Process and CO2 processes of decaffeination.

How will the Decaf Project work?

Exact details are not 100% clear, but we understand that the project provides roasters and consumers an opportunity to taste and evaluate these processes side by side.

Each roaster participating will receive:

• One sack of caffeinated green coffee
• Three sacks of decaffeinated coffee - each processed differently
• Total of 280kg green coffee per roaster

The response to The Decaf Project has been phenomenal, with over 450 coffee roasters expressing interest.

However, only 58 Sets will be available for the project and they are strictly allocated to USA, UK, Europe and Australia to make it fair via Caravela Coffee.

The Decaf Project has been meticulously planned to provide a seamless experience for roasters and consumers for a live tasting event planned in December.

As part of the project, James Hoffmann has cupped the coffees and promises a fascinating tasting experience.

Indeed, the goal isn’t to crown a “best” decaffeination process, but to explore the nuances each decaf method brings to the cup.

The Decaf Project will also includes a series of educational videos explaining the decaffeination processes used by facilities like Swiss Water, CR3 and Coffein Compagnie to try and demystify the science behind decaf and help consumers appreciate the craftsmanship involved.