We Ranked This Cafe Bustelo Coffee As Worst - It Was A Watery Disappointment - Tasting Table

"The words "Death Before Decaf" have inspired shirts and mugs, brick-and-mortar businesses, and a dogma that leaves caffeine-free coffee-drinkers emptyhanded. The phrase may be a playful jab, but it's also emblematic of the bitter truth - which is that, yeah, decaf coffee often tastes pretty lousy compared to its fuller-bodied, full-caf counterpart. Too frequently with decaf, the dominant tasting note is "disappointment," and even a rockstar coffee brand like Café Bustelo couldn't perform a miracle."

"This decaf coffee arrives in an ultra-fine grind, in classic Café Bustelo fashion. But, as our taste-tester notes, "The aroma was muted and didn't offer the toasted depth I had hoped for." Once we brewed a cup, our initial disappointment with the grounds' aroma was made holistically consummate. Per our reviewer, "Its watery appearance translated directly to the palate," as this coffee "didn't hold much flavor at all.""

Café Bustelo's decaffeinated ground coffee comes in the brand's iconic yellow packaging and an ultra-fine grind. The brand is known for a rich, earthy, robust profile with roasted nuttiness and strong performance as an economical grocery-store coffee. The product promise claims the robust aroma remains uncompromised for an authentic espresso taste. The decaf's aroma proved muted and lacked toasted depth. Brewed cups exhibited a watery appearance that translated to a weak palate presence and little retained flavor. The decaffeinated variety placed at the bottom of a seven-variety ranking of Café Bustelo ground coffees.

Read at Tasting Table