For most coffee roasters, adding a decaffeinated option to the lineup follows a very predictable script. You open up a spreadsheet sent over by a green bean importer, scroll down to the small "decaf" subsection, select an anonymous lot that has already been processed, and hit order. It is simple, fast, and completely hands-off.
But when your entire brand is built on the foundation of Farmer Owned Coffee, "off-the-shelf" simply does not work. We promised our community total transparency, exceptional quality, and a direct connection to our farms. Buying an untraceable, pre-decaffeinated lot from a generic list would mean compromising on everything we stand for. So, we decided to go the extra mile.
The Challenge of a Dedicated Lot
Creating a custom decaf selection from scratch is quite an operational challenge for a young roastery. Decaffeination facilities require significant minimum volumes to run a single, dedicated batch. We couldn’t just send a few stray bags from our warehouse; we needed an entire intentional shipment grown specifically for this purpose.
Driven by our collective model, we coordinated directly with our partner network in Ethiopia. To make this project a reality, we imported an additional lot of our top-selling Guji Natural coffee from Hester and Dawit from their Bette Buna farm. This specific lot traveled across the ocean with one singular destination in mind: a specialized decaffeination plant in Bremen, Germany.
Our Custom Decaf Profile
By taking full control of the selection and processing, we preserved the true, vibrant essence of our Ethiopian heirloom varieties. The resulting cup completely transforms how decaf is experienced:
- ➔ The Processing Method: Natural EA Decaf—utilizing natural ethyl acetate derived from fruits like sugar cane to strip the caffeine while keeping delicate flavor oils intact.
- ➔ The Flavour Integrity: A beautifully balanced, creamy cup highlighted by notes of warm cane sugar and crisp orange.
True Specialty Quality, Zero Compromise
The easy path would have been cheaper and faster, but it wouldn't be Paso Paso. By taking the hard route, we ensured that the workers at Bette Buna farm still receive their premium living wages, housing, and education support, while you get an incredible specialty decaf completely free of compromising shortcuts.
This is decaf with a big heart and a clear conscience—proof that when farmers own the brand, the extra mile is the only path worth walking.
