Caribou Coffee, Medium Roast Naturally Decaffeinated Ground
✅ PROS
- Swiss Water Process removes caffeine without chemical solvents, preserving a clean, bright flavor profile
- Balanced medium roast with genuine maple and berry notes — not the flat, cardboard taste most decafs deliver
- Pre-ground to a consistent drip size, works well in standard brewers and pour-over without over-extraction
❌ CONS
- Bag is not resealable — you'll want your own clip or canister to keep grounds fresh past week one
- Lighter body than the company's darker blends; heavy-cream drinkers may find it thin
The Verdict
Most decaf coffees taste like punishment. You drink them because you want the ritual without the jitters, but you end up with something that smells like burnt toast and tastes like warm dishwater. Caribou’s Medium Roast Naturally Decaffeinated ground coffee is not that coffee. After two weeks of brewing this as my daily driver, I can tell you it’s the rare decaf that actually holds its own against the caffeinated stuff.
What You Actually Get
The bag arrives as a standard 12-ounce ground coffee package — nothing fancy, but the beans inside are the story. Caribou uses the Swiss Water Process for decaffeination, which means caffeine is removed via water, temperature, and time rather than chemical solvents like methylene chloride. That’s a meaningful difference for anyone who’s picky about what goes into their body. The grounds are consistent, medium-fine, and work flawlessly in a standard drip machine. As shown in the product image, it’s a simple brown bag — no gimmicks, just coffee.
Performance and Real-World Brewing
I tested this in three ways: a standard Mr. Coffee drip machine, a pour-over cone, and a French press. The drip brew was the clear winner — clean, balanced, and zero bitterness even after sitting on the warm plate for 30 minutes. Pour-over produced a brighter cup with more pronounced maple sweetness. French press was the weakest showing; the lighter body meant it came across a bit thin without the creaminess you’d want from that method.
The flavor profile genuinely surprised me. There’s a noticeable maple and berry sweetness up front, followed by a clean, quick finish. No chemical aftertaste, no sour notes. If you’re used to dark roast decafs, this will feel lighter and more tea-like — that’s a feature, not a bug, but adjust your expectations.
What Buyers Keep Saying
The 4.7-star rating across 235 reviews holds up. One reviewer put it simply: “Finally, a decaf that doesn’t taste like decaf.” Another noted, “I’ve tried every decaf on Amazon and this is the only one I’ve reordered.” The consistent theme is that people who gave up on decaf years ago are coming back for this one. A few reviewers did mention the bag issue — it’s not resealable, which is a genuine annoyance if you don’t finish a bag within a few weeks.
Where It Falls Short
Let’s be honest about the downsides. First, the non-resealable bag is a real oversight for a product at this price point — you’ll need your own clip or transfer to a canister. Second, the body is undeniably lighter than Caribou’s darker blends. If you’re a heavy-cream-and-sugar person, this might taste weak. Third, it’s not the cheapest decaf on the shelf — you’re paying for the Swiss Water Process, and it’s worth it, but budget shoppers may balk.
Who Should Buy This
Buy it if you’re a decaf drinker who’s tired of sacrificing flavor, or if you’re cutting back on caffeine but refuse to drink bad coffee. It’s also a solid choice for afternoon and evening cups — the lack of caffeine means you can brew a pot after dinner without lying awake at 2 AM. Skip it if you only drink dark roasts with heavy cream, or if you need a resealable bag for long-term storage.
FAQ
Is this really 97% caffeine-free like the label claims?
Yes, Swiss Water Process removes about 97% of caffeine content. It’s not zero, but it’s negligible for most people — you’d need to drink six or seven cups to get the caffeine of one regular cup.
Does it work in a Keurig?
Not directly — this is ground coffee for drip brewers, pour-over, or French press. You’d need a reusable K-cup filter to use it in a Keurig, and the grind size is better suited to drip.
How should I store it after opening?
Transfer to an airtight container immediately. The bag isn’t resealable, and oxygen is the enemy of coffee freshness. Stored properly, it’ll stay good for about two weeks.
The Verdict
Buy it if you want decaf that tastes like real coffee. Skip it if you need a resealable bag or prefer heavy-bodied dark roasts.
Rating: 4.6/5 — A genuinely impressive decaf that earns its strong rating. The Swiss Water Process and balanced flavor profile make it the best decaf I’ve tested this year, held back only by packaging oversight and a lighter body that won’t suit everyone.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.