Decaf Columbia

About the Coffee

This decaf comes from Colombia, one of the world's most consistent coffee-producing countries. Colombian coffee is grown across several mountain ranges, typically at elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 meters. At those altitudes, cooler temperatures slow the development of the coffee cherry, which tends to produce denser beans.

The caffeine is removed using the Kaffee Veredelungs Werk (KVW) method, also called the European Method. It works by soaking green (unroasted) coffee beans in water to draw out the caffeine, then using a solvent called methylene chloride to selectively remove caffeine from that water. The beans are re-soaked to reabsorb the water-soluble compounds, then dried. The result is a bean that retains most of its original flavor while removing around 95% of the caffeine. The KVW method has been used in European decaf production since the mid-20th century and remains one of the more common approaches in the industry.

About Hale

Hale Coffee is an independent roaster based in Toronto's Junction Triangle neighborhood. They started on Queen and Spadina before moving to their current location, and have focused on building direct trade relationships with producers, with the goal of paying farmers fair prices for their work.

Their sourcing spans multiple growing regions around the world. On the roasting side, they position themselves toward accessibility, offering coffees across a range of roast levels to suit different brewing styles and preferences.