Decaf has a reputation problem. For years it meant thin, flat coffee made from whatever beans didn't make the cut elsewhere, stripped of caffeine using harsh chemical solvents. Drift, our decaf roast, is built to prove that reputation wrong.
Same standard, minus the caffeine
Drift starts from the same place every Altura bean does: 100% speciality Arabica, sourced from Brazilian farms above 1,500 metres, scored 80+ on the SCA scale (here's what that score actually means). We don't have a separate, lower bar for decaf, it goes through the same sourcing and roasting standards as Cruise, Peak, and Ascent.
What makes it different: Swiss Water Process
Caffeine has to be removed somehow, and the method matters. Drift uses the Swiss Water Process, a chemical-free method that uses only water, temperature, and time to draw caffeine out of the green beans while preserving their flavour compounds. No solvents, no shortcuts, just osmosis and a lot of patience. The result is 99.9% caffeine-free coffee that still tastes like coffee.
Who Drift is for
Drift isn't just for people avoiding caffeine altogether. It's for the second cup after dinner, the evening catch-up, or anyone who's sensitive to caffeine but doesn't want to give up the ritual of a proper coffee. Brew it exactly as you would any of our other roasts, our brewing guide covers French press, drip, and pour-over, and they all work well here.
Roasted to order, same as everything else
Like the rest of our range, Drift is roasted in small batches after you order, not pulled from a shelf. Freshness matters just as much when there's no caffeine to distract from a stale cup, arguably more.
If you've written off decaf before, Drift is worth giving another chance.
Frequently asked questions
Is decaf coffee completely caffeine-free?
Not quite, but close. Drift is 99.9% caffeine-free, which is about as close to zero as coffee gets while still being coffee.
What is the Swiss Water Process?
A chemical-free way of removing caffeine using only water, temperature, and time. It protects the bean's flavour compounds far better than solvent-based methods.
Does decaf taste worse than regular coffee?
It doesn't have to. A lot of decaf tastes flat because it starts with lower-grade beans. Drift uses the same speciality-grade Arabica as our caffeinated roasts, so the flavour holds up.
Give Drift a try and see for yourself.
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