If, like me, you love coffee but can’t tolerate caffeine (or you are simply looking to cut back on the amount you consume), then you’re in luck. The universe has blessed us with a truly sumptuous decaf concentrate from Orbital Coffee. I am not kidding when I say it tastes just as good, if not better, than any cold brew you can buy from even the hippest coffee shop.
Those of us who are relegated to drinking decaf every day know that it is rare to find decaffeinated cold brew. I’ve long resorted to making it at home in a French press, to mixed (mainly poor) results. When the warm weather hits, I become deeply jealous of everyone showing off their tasty cold brew coffee.
So when I first heard that Orbital Coffee specializes in decaf blends, and, more specifically, makes a coffee concentrate that is perfect for cold brew, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Orbital uses a chemical-free Swiss water decaffeination process that removes caffeine without stripping it of its natural inherent flavors or infusing it with possibly harmful chemicals.
“The blends rival the bold flavor and deliciously smooth texture of regular iced coffee or cold brew, but without the jitters.”
The brand has three concentrate options, each of which is certified organic: Ethiopia decaf cold brew concentrate, which is 99% decaf, Colombia decaf cold brew concentrate, which is 97% decaf and a half-caff concentrate, which is 50% decaf. Half-caff is too rich for my blood, so I stuck with the Ethiopia and Colombia cold brews.
The Ethiopia concentrate has a really rich, smooth and creamy flavor with peach, molasses and brown sugar tasting notes. The Colombia concentrate is slightly juicier, with citrusy notes paired with caramel, dark chocolate and brown sugar for a bright, silky honey finish.
I’m absolutely smitten with both of these flavors. They rival the bold flavor and deliciously smooth texture of regular iced coffee or cold brew, but without the jitters. I’d often drink two cups a day and never felt any caffeine-like effects. They’re also lower in acidity than the average coffee concentrate, making them easier on the tummy.
Each bottle is available in two sizes: 16 ounces, which makes 8-10 servings and 32 ounces, which makes 18-20 servings of coffee. Give yourself another reason to look forward to your morning cup of joe and try out one of these tasty concentrates.
While both of these concentrates can be warmed and enjoyed hot, I delighted in drinking them over ice. It’s so rare that decaf drinkers can enjoy a truly lush and decadent cold brew, sans caffeine. You can snag them at the Orbital website for either $15 or $30, depending on which size you get. The brand does have an Amazon storefront, but as of right now, it’s only selling coffee beans there. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get the concentrate there one day!
Interested in more items that can help elevate your morning coffee game? Check out these must-have coffee maker accessories from previous reporting by HuffPost Shopping writer Erica Kam.
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A mug warmer to keep your drinks at the perfect temperature
If you’re a slow drinker but hate sipping on lukewarm or cold coffee, a mug warmer like this one by Mr. Coffee can be a game-changer. The warmer, which has 4.2 stars across over 57,000 ratings on Amazon, is a compact 8.6 inches long and can heat up your cup of joe (or tea, or hot cocoa or soup… do you see the vision?) in just a couple of minutes. It’s incredibly simple to use, with just an on/off switch to operate and an indicator light to let you know when your drink is hot. This is one of those inventions you’ll soon wonder how you went this long without.
Promising review: “I’m guilty of always preparing my coffee, doing a million other things, and once I get back to it, its super cold, so this warmer helps. It’s very durable, and will get the coffee HOT, (depending on th emug of course) FYI the glass insulated cups dont work with this, but regular ceramis/porcelain coffee cups or even aluminum one will!” — Maria M.
Third Wave Water mineral packets
In a previous story, two U.S. Barista Champions — Morgan Eckroth and Laila Ghambari — recommended these Third Wave Water mineral packets for coffee nerds.
“These mineral packets are mixed with distilled water and are crafted specifically for coffee,” Eckroth said. “They’re fantastic if you live in an area that has particularly soft or hard tap water. Of note, there are several different packet types for different roast levels and brewing methods.” We’ve linked the medium, light and dark roast profiles below, but Third Wave Water makes options for espresso, cold brew and more.
“With coffee being 99% water, it’s a simple way to make a significant improvement to your brew,” Ghambari said.
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Reusable K-cup filter pods, if you own a Keurig
We’ve previously covered the benefits of reusable K-cup coffee pods like this set of three that comes with a scoop, for owners of Keurig machines. You’ll be producing less waste by not using as many single-use pods, and you can expand your coffee horizons beyond what’s available as a K-cup. The pods have a universal fit that works with most Keurig models, as well as some Cuisinart, Breville and Mr. Coffee machines — check the product images for a full list. The accompanying scoop holds exactly 2 tablespoons, the exact right portion, to make filling the pods easy-peasy.
Promising review: “We have tried 4 different brands of K-cup reusable pods. None of them clean like these. It takes almost no time to rinse them out. They last a long time. First set lasted three years with daily use by three big coffee drinkers! This is our second set. Highly recommend. The scoop was a great bonus. No more spilling the grounds when filling the pod.” — JA
A milk frother with over 160,000 5-star ratings
This bestselling Zulay milk frother is reviewer-beloved and great for making lattes, cappuccino and other coffee drinks at home. It can froth milk in seconds, and can be cleaned just as quickly (just run the whisk part under hot water and turn it on). Included with the frother is a stand for easy storage. The frother comes in a bunch of colors and is made of stainless steel.
Promising review: “Frothing is at full force here, yet compact. Just the right amount of power for my home. Built to last, doesn’t compromise coffee taste, but it enhances it. Great product, would gift to someone else.” — Quincy Davies
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A knockbox for your espresso machine
If you have an espresso machine, getting a knockbox will make your cleanup process so much easier. This one by Dreamfarm, which is HuffPost editor-recommended, has a shock-absorbing steel bar with a rubber sleeve so you can bang your used grounds into it without making a ton of noise or mess. It can fit right on the drip tray of most espresso machines and is even dishwasher-safe.
Promising review: “I purchased this knock box years ago and it has been a quiet, steady, reliable partner in the kitchen ever since. Very sturdy – it is still in tip top shape, easy to clean and does the job well. It is rare to buy something these days that you know will last – but this an exception. Well worth the money.” — Moshi Mom
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An espresso stirrer with removable needles, as well as some extras
This espresso distributor tool can be used to get rid of clumps in your coffee grounds and comes with 10 needles, as well as 10 extra needles if you ever need to replace any. The removable design of the needles allows you to add as few or as many (up to 10) as you want, giving you a bit more flexibility than other stirrers. The tool also comes with a stand so you can easily store it upright on the counter when it’s not in use, keeping the area safe from the sharp needles.
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A bottle of liquid descaler to clean your machine
One of the simplest ways to up the quality of your coffee? Make sure your machine is clean. Get rid of mineral buildup inside the machine (aka scale) with a descaler like this 8-ounce bottle of Nuvera liquid coffee maker cleaner. This works on all types of coffee makers, according to the brand, and can work a little harder than soap to get rid of lime buildup for a better taste.
Promising review: “Life saver! A few months ago any drinks I made with my nespresso tasted off. I thought it may have been my taste buds until someone recommended I descale it. There isn’t a Nespresso boutique near me, nor did I want to pay for shipping to receive the Nespresso descaling kit, so I decided to give this a go. I’m so happy I did because my coffees taste back to normal. It made a world of difference. Not to mention the great price. I will definitely use again.” — Selena
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Or this coffee maker cleaner in tablet form from a reader-beloved brand
Affresh tablets for cleaning dishwashers and washing machines are beloved by HuffPost readers, but did you know they make tablets for coffee machines too? You can descale your machine monthly by filling the reservoir with water, dropping one of these bad boys in and running one or two brew cycles (depending on the type of machine you have). Then refill the machine with just water to run one or two more cycles, and rinse the machine. Cleaning has never been so effortless.
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A handy bamboo holder for your paper filters
Made to fit both #2 and #4 cone-shaped coffee filters, this minimal bamboo holder is both a practical storage piece and a funky-looking piece of decor for your coffee counter. The bottom legs have a curved design that can keep them from scratching your countertop, and this will save you from having to wrestle with your box of filters to just get a single one out each time.
Clip the 5% off coupon for a discount applied at checkout.
Promising review: “I ordered this for my #4 melitta filters. I’m so glad I did! It holds the filters upright and it is now simple to grab just one! I had been so tired of trying to pull out one filter and getting 6, then 6 more fell out of the box. Something so simple, but so irritating!” — iwiggy58
Planetary Design
A useful and sleek coffee canister
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A set of chic syrup dispenser bottles
If you’re a fan of using flavored syrups in your coffee, you can make sure they’re always readily on hand with this set of two syrup dispensers. These come in two sizes and three colors, and you can get a pair with or without a tray. You can also get them as a set of four. Each dispenser comes with a blank label, and the set also includes some designed labels with common syrup flavors.
Don’t forget to clip the 10% off coupon for a discount applied at checkout.
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Or a set of gourmet flavorings so you can sample a few different ones
Another option, if you want to try a bit of everything when it comes to coffee syrups, is a flavoring collection like this one that comes with five 50-milliliter bottles so you can flavor your coffee with caramel, amaretto, hazelnut, Irish cream or vanilla. The little glass bottles add a chic touch to any coffee cart or counter space, and these can let you sample flavors without committing to a huge amount.
Promising review: “After seeing last month’s bill for cafes, I knew something needed to be done. I ordered the tasting pack of coffee syrups to see which ones I preferred and they’ve been great. I love frothing a teaspoon or two with oatmilk and adding it on top of my cold brew. It’s easy to customize the level of sweetness and the flavors are perfect.” — Ellen Dubs
