The necessary evil…
As I await the arrival or our Organic Decaf beans from Mexico, I reflect on how difficult it was to source a lot that I would be comfortable selling to my customers.
The mandate, the mission of Forge, my purpose for starting it, is to only sell the best of the best. If it isn’t, then someone else can sell it. Our goal is not to be big, or sell the most coffee, but to sell the best.
I mulled over not offering decaf at all. Decaf is often the afterthought of the coffee world. After all, the character of the coffee is changed from its original form, somehow impairing its flavor, right? The assumption is often made that since this isn’t “real” coffee, that little to no attention should be paid to it. Taste doesn’t really matter with decaf, does it? It doesn’t sell as well, it gets the “orange” designation, you get the flipped over coaster.
With the sample roasts that I did, I was rapidly coming to the conclusion that decaf might not be the right choice for Forge… they ranged from sour and bland to downright abhorrent… until I found this wonderful organic decaf from Mexico. It hits you hard with toasted caramel, then a pleasant fruited brightness following close behind, settling into mellow chocolate and finishing with a bit of sweetness in the aftertaste. The cup is smooth and rounded overall. It really is close in taste to a regular coffee.
I realized that there are those out there that NEED their decaf. Those with high blood pressure on strict orders to avoid caffeine, people who need to sleep, but still want their cup of joe, people who just don’t like the buzz. It should therefore be my obligation, and in keeping with Forge’s mission, to sniff out the very best decaf I can possibly offer.
I received a sample of your Ethiopia Organic Shakiso, as a christmas gift from my sisters family. I absolutely love it! I went to your blog to read about your interest in offering quality coffee. I had experienced some heart issues six years ago and had to stop drinking caffeinated coffee, (I sneak it in every once in a while!) I had always disliked decaf. I thought what a waste of coffee, what’s the point!? After my heart issue I realized that there are many people out there like me who have medical / health reasons for not being able to have caffeine in their diets. As I read your blog, I was relieved to see that you are also seeking quality decaff. I just wanted to say….Thanks.
Anj
I fall into the category of Decaf Snobs…if such a category exists. I actually drink coffee for the flavors and not the buzz. After a long day, it’s nice to finish off a great meal with a nice cup of coffee. However, in my house, morning always comes much too soon, so decaf has become a requirement. I’ve tried Decaf roasts from nearly every premium coffee roaster I can find. Your new Decaf roast is a true joy to drink. It’s just as rich and smooth as my favorite fully-leaded roasts. It also blends perfectly with your other Mexico Chiapas roast for a very nice “half-caf”. Thank you for adding a Decaf roast to your lineup. You’ve brought something special to LA coffee drinkers.