Low Caffeine Coffee
What is low caffeine coffee?
Low caffeine coffee is coffee with a lighter caffeine load than a standard brew. But it doesn’t move away from the craft of speciality coffee. If you’re someone who brews at home, that distinction is important. You still want a coffee that responds well to a recipe, and it shouldn’t feel thin or flat.
These varietals are coffee intentionally selected to provide a gentler, more manageable lift. Some varieties are naturally lower because of the plant itself, and others are decaffeinated after harvest. The best low caffeine coffee keeps the pleasure of brewing quality coffee while softening the hit. If you’re after a coffee that’s completely caffeine-free, our Passiflora Decaf is a Colombian sugarcane EA decaf from Tolima.
Roasted as an omni-roast, this coffee works across espresso or filter and has a rounded, biscuity warmth that makes each cup more enjoyable than the last. For naturally low caffeine coffee, trust BSC for single-origin specialty coffee.
Locations
We're always brewing good times nearby
Bold Street, Liverpool
Bold Street Coffee,
89 Bold Street,
Liverpool, L1 4GD
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8am – 6pm
Sunday: 9am – 5pm
In our original location, you can find Bold Street Coffee serving up signature breakfast dishes, sandwiches, and sweet treats, like doughnuts and pastries.
How to find us:
Head to St. Luke’s (locally known as the ‘Bombed-Out church’). You’ll find yourself at the bottom of Bold Street, where we’re just a couple of minutes walk up the road.
The Plaza, Liverpool
Bold Street Coffee, The Plaza,
100 Old Hall Street,
Liverpool, L3 4QJ
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 7am – 6pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 3pm
Fancy a full English breakfast in the heart of Liverpool’s business district? Our Plaza location brings the same quality coffee and breakfast options to professionals. We even offer a 20% discount to residents of The Plaza and Cotton Exchange!
How to find us:
Walk into The Plaza building on Old Hall Street, just a short trek from Moorfields Station.
Is low caffeine coffee the same as decaf?
No, it’s not the same as decaf. Decaf is coffee that has undergone a specific process (such as the Sugarcane Ethyl Acetate or Swiss Water method) to remove approximately 97–99% of its caffeine content.
With decaf, the aim is a near-total absence of stimulants. Naturally low caffeine coffee is just that – it’s coffee with less caffeine than a typical cup.
Much more about moderation than removal, this is often achieved by sourcing specific species like Coffea stenophylla or varietals like Laurina, which naturally contain about half the caffeine of a standard Arabica bean.
Or it can be a ‘Half-caf’ blend, a 50/50 mix of a standard single-origin bean and a high-quality decaf bean. The stimulant content is halved, but the original profile stays the same.
From a speciality point of view, the question is: has the coffee been sourced well and roasted with care? Low-caff is worth drinking in its own right, and a good cup should have enough sweetness and structure to sit alongside the rest of the menu.
Why do we love low caffeine coffee?
1. Naturally lower caffeine
Did you know that lower-caffeine varieties can be harder to grow at scale? Natural mutations like Laurina and Aramosa are interesting because they show that caffeine doesn’t have to be reduced only through processing.
For a lot of coffee lovers, a brew that’s genetically predisposed to be mellow is something you have to try at least once.
2. Full flavour
The best low caffeine coffees won’t lower your expectations: just like any other coffee, you want a biscuit-like warmth that doesn’t collapse into something dull when brewed as filter.
Many low-caf beans (especially naturally occurring ones) haven't always undergone intensive decaffeination processing, so the terroir is incredibly clear.
You’ll get the bright acidity and heavy body you’d expect from a specialty-grade Arabica, just with little to no caffeine.
3. Drinkable any time of day
The weight of a full-caff brew can sometimes feel heavy, so why not enjoy the same ritual when a softer cup makes more sense?
When you want the process of making a coffee as much as the caffeine itself (grinding, letting the shot run), low caffeine coffee makes room for a cup beyond your usual window.
Shop Bold Street’s low caffeine coffee favourites
Passiflora Decaf
Passiflora comes from smallholder producers in Tolima, Colombia, and is decaffeinated using the sugarcane EA process (which both reduces caffeine and preserves the sweetness in the cup).
What you get is a decaf with a well-rounded profile that works well for espresso, milk drinks, moka pot, and slower brews where the notes of hazelnut and Biscoff have time to come through.
Low Caffeine Coffee FAQs
Does low caffeine coffee still taste good?
Yes, low-caffeine coffee can taste amazing because caffeine content doesn’t determine how good a coffee tastes. The quality of the green coffee, how it’s roasted, and how it's brewed all play a massive part.
Who is low caffeine coffee for?
You might be a caffeine-sensitive drinker who loves specialty flavour, or someone who loves a late-afternoon brew but doesn’t want to be up all night. Low caffeine options are for anyone who wants more flexibility with their coffee.
How much caffeine is in low caffeine coffee?
It varies by bean and brew method. Naturally low-caffeine varieties can contain less caffeine than typical Arabica, but dose, extraction and serving size all affect how much caffeine ends up in the cup.
Turns out, they love our coffee
