by Nigel Ong
As much as many enjoy sipping coffee, not all are capable of handling the caffeine these beans have. As a result, many roasters offer decaffeinated beans. The idea is to allow you to enjoy coffee without the jittering effects of caffeine.
However, decaf coffee tends to have that reputation of being more lacking in taste and flavor, especially lighter roasts. Will AmazonFresh’s Colombian Decaf Roast suffer from the same problem? Let’s find out.
In this post, I will be reviewing the AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast. As usual, I’ll be brewing it three ways, and then sample it with flavorings. Finally, I’ll compare the roast with similar ones in my collection.
If you want reviews on other AmazonFresh roasts, check out my review on Just Bright and the Donut Cafe Roast.
About AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast
AmazonFresh is part of Amazon and focuses on groceries. You may have seen some of their grocery stores in and around your town. It also produces its own groceries, such as food items.
For coffee, AmazonFresh does carry a lineup of coffee roasts. You can choose from light roasts, such as Just Bright, to dark ones, such as The Bold roast. There are decaf versions, such as the Colombian Decaf we have today.
The Colombian Decaf is made of 100% Arabica Colombian beans and is roasted to medium darkness. The beans are sourced from farmers who are part of the Rainforest Alliance. This standard ensures the protection of the environment and workers.
These beans are then brought to the US for roasting and packing. The roast is then given an orange label on the packaging to separate it from other AmazonFresh roasts. The beans are also decaffeinated.
How Does AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast Taste?
First Impression
One thing I like about AmazonFresh coffee is the packaging. It is simple and to the point. I’m not too fond of coffee with fancy packaging, as I prefer them to spend the cost on ensuring it is good.
By keeping the packaging simple, AmazonFresh saves costs and can pass the savings down to you. This can explain why the coffee is cheaper than many regular roasts.
When I opened the packaging, the coffee smell came through, giving me a good first impression. When I brought my nose close to the coffee, I picked up a deeper aroma. I was reminded of Graham crackers and fresh, oven-baked bread. Very pleasant.
My coffee bag comes as ground coffee, meaning I cannot see the beans themselves. However, the grounds are even, and the size is coarser. This makes the ground coffee good for coffee makers, French presses, or pour-overs right away.
The label claims the coffee has a ‘balanced and smooth taste.’ Let’s see how true the claim is. Let’s get brewing.
French Press
French press is a popular coffee brew that makes a fully flavored coffee. This is because it keeps all the oils and fine particles in the coffee.
I usually use my Bodum Caffettiera French press to make my French press brew, although you can always use your French press of choice. If you prefer a cheaper option. Check out IKEA’s Upphetta French press.
On the first sip, I immediately noticed the softness of the coffee. The coffee has little smoke and is surprisingly mild and soft. I would consider this a medium-light roast, to be honest.
My palate also picked up some soft, cereal-like taste, perhaps cornflakes. I would also say that there’s some Graham crackers taste, too. The flavors from this brew made me feel like I wanted to bite into some cookies or bread.
The coffee has a short finish, meaning the flavors dissipate quickly once I swallow it. This made me want to chase the flavors quickly by going for the next sip.
I usually dislike decaf coffee as the flavors seem muted and sometimes a bit flat. But somehow, the AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf managed to keep the flavors well and, at the same time, not roast the coffee within inches of its life. Nicely done.
Pour Over With Filter Paper
The pour-over method helps to simulate the regular dripper coffee machine most of us have at home. Aside from the machine, I also used filter paper.
The idea here is that using the filter paper helps filter away coffee particles and some coffee oils, allowing me to enjoy a ‘cleaner’ version. I use the following gear for this brewing method, as well as the pour-over brewing method from Starbucks:
To me, pour-over coffee tastes cleaner, with fewer particles and oils. With fewer particles, the coffee becomes less smoky and bitter, allowing me to sample the flavors of the coffee better.
With the AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf, I picked up a softer coffee flavor than the French press version. It also tasted more crisp and cleaner in the mouth.
My palate picked up a stronger starchy taste, with a sweetness similar to when a piece of bread melts on your tongue. A very pleasant flavor. I also detected a bit of cocoa sweetness, although I may also consider it sugarcane-like.
Espresso
The AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf is a medium roast, but I still went ahead and brewed it as espresso. I want to see if I can concentrate the flavors better if I brew the coffee as an espresso. I relied on my Wacaco Minipresso GR to get this done.
When I finished, I could see a great-looking espresso with rich, thick crema. When I smell the crema, it does not have much smoke. Instead, I detected some crackers and bread-like notes.
When I sipped the espresso, the first thing was the general lack of smoke. The AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf tastes not like your regular espresso but more like a Blonde Espresso. It is neither strong nor smashes your palate with smoke and bitterness.
This is a nice cup of espresso, a softer one, though. Surprising, but feel free to experiment and see if you agree.
What Flavorings Work Best With AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast?
Sweetener
For this review, I use two types of sweeteners. One is regular, the other artificial. I brewed two cups of French press coffee and poured one sugar stick into the first cup. I added two drops of Equal artificial sweetener to the second cup.
For both cups, I do not think you really need any sweeteners. The AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf is already quite light in taste and is not very bitter. The coffee even has a slight sweetness from the starchy, bread-like note tool.
However, I would choose the sugared version if I had to choose between the two. It just tastes more natural. The one with Equal has a long, sweet finish, a bit too long for my liking. It kind of makes the whole coffee experience a bit unnatural
Milk
For milk, I added a single shot (about 1 oz or 30ml) of it into a new cup of AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf. I used whole, fresh, UHT cow’s milk here.
The milk instantly turns the coffee brownish, making it look appetizing. The coffee is also a little bit more dense. When I sipped it in, the coffee felt silkier in my mouth and gilded around my tongue smoothly, which was quite fun.
The milk also complements the bread-line notes, making it even more decadent and soft to the palate. Overall, this may be the second-best way to enjoy the coffee after drinking it black.
Be careful with the milk here, as the coffee is quite soft. If you add too much milk, you risk drowning out the coffee.
Creamer
I added two teaspoons of Coffee Mate creamer to my fresh coffee cup. I instantly regretted my decision.
Creamers add more creaminess to coffee than milk in general, and this is the same. The regular, two-teaspoon portion works fine with me, as I like fat with my coffee. Like milk, be careful not to add too much or risk drowning out your coffee.
The creamer also slightly sweetened the coffee, although not as much as milk. However, the sweetness in creamers feels a little less natural, which makes me prefer drinking the AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf with milk instead.
Ice
Finally, I wonder how AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf tastes chilled. I added half a cup of coffee into a glass filled to the brim with ice.
To me, the coffee tastes alright with ice. The smokiness and bitterness of the coffee do not change much, and it is still quite easy to drink. However, I do think there are better-tasting alternatives out there.
I can, however, say that a glass of iced AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf definitely cannot compete with a regular iced Americano. There’s not enough of the deep, dark bitterness that’s so satisfying.
AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast vs. Other Colombian Roasts
Since AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf is made of Colombian coffee, I decided to compare its taste with other Colombian roasts in my collection.
They are the McCafe Colombian Roast and Gevalia Colombian Medium Roast. I brew all roasts as French press coffee and then drink them side by side.
If I had to choose between these coffee roasts, I would actually pick the Gevalia as the best. It has a bit of an edge, as it has more flavor. It is also a medium roast, making it easier for me to drink.
Second comes the AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast, and a close third is the McCafe Colombian. I preferred the AmazonFresh over the McCafe roast because it is softer on the palate.
AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast vs. Other Medium Roasts
Next, I compared the AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf against other popular medium roasts in my stash. They are:
- Folgers 1850 Pioneer Roast
- Lavazza Qualita Oro
- McCafe Premium Roast
- Dunkin Original Blend
- Starbucks Pike Place Blend
As a start, I do have to admit AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf may have been handicapped, as it is a decaf coffee. However, I am surprised it did not finish dead last on the list.
Its light and soft flavors made it stand out against a couple more ‘edgy’ roasts. The AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf is easier for me to drink than the Starbucks Pike Place Blend. I would also put it head-to-head against the Lavazza Qualita Oro.
However, the other roasts are simply better for my palate. They have more intense flavors, yet were able to keep them balanced. I felt much more satisfied sipping this coffee than the AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf.
AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast vs. Regular Coffee
I picked up an Americano from a 7-Eleven and drank the coffee side by side with a cup of AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf roast. I think the 7-Eleven coffee represents the regular coffee you can get from gas stations or convenience stores.
The AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf tastes better. The difference is actually quite stark, too.
It may be decaf, but its soft, balanced flavor satisfies me more. My cup of 7-Eleven coffee tastes a bit flat and watery too.
Is AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast For You?
The AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf Roast is a surprising package. It is soft, balanced, and gentle coffee that is at the same time decaf. I thoroughly enjoyed my sips while I reviewed it.
I think this roast works best for those who like lighter-tasting coffee and, at the same time, want a decaf version. If saving money on coffee is your goal, this is an excellent choice, too. You are definitely not throwing away quality to save some coffee money.The coffee also could work well if you just want something light but not too bright. The AmazonFresh Colombian Decaf does not have those bright, acidic, or citrusy notes. Instead, you get bread-like, starchy notes that are very nice to my palate.