Decaf Coffee Basics

I used to write off decaf as "fake coffee" until I learned it keeps most of the flavor and just drops the caffeine, usually before roasting. Here's what it actually is and how I brew it.

What changes

Brew decaf like its caffeinated twin, but it can extract a touch faster. Same ratios, slight grind tweak if it tastes thin.

What surprised me

Decaf isn't some weird substitute — it's the same bean with the caffeine pulled early, and it brews almost identically. I treat it like its caffeinated sibling and just watch the clock. The "decaf tastes flat" line is usually just bad decaf, not the method.