Quick answer

Long Play Decaf is a strong choice if you want a decaf that still tastes like real coffee: sweet, textured, and aromatic rather than flat or papery. Its Colombian blend and Sugar Cane decaffeination process make it flexible for pour over, espresso, and daily drip. Buy it if you drink decaf regularly or want to serve one coffee that works for everyone at the table.

What Long Play Decaf actually is

Long Play Decaf is a blend of washed and natural coffees from high-elevation growing regions in Huila and Cauca, Colombia, including the Pink Bourbon variety. It is decaffeinated using the natural Sugar Cane process, which is designed to retain sweetness, texture, and aromatic complexity. Each order is roasted to order and ships within two business days, so you are not buying coffee that has been sitting in a warehouse.

How it tastes and why the decaf method matters

The Sugar Cane process is the reason this decaf does not taste like a compromise. Instead of stripping the coffee down to a hollow, woody cup, it preserves the sweetness and body that make Colombian coffee approachable. Expect a clean, satisfying finish with enough structure to work black, but enough sweetness to handle milk. If your past experience with decaf has been bitter or thin, this is the kind of coffee that changes that impression.

How to brew Long Play Decaf

Treat it like any specialty coffee, but pay attention to grind and time. For pour over, use a medium grind and a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio, then adjust finer if the cup tastes weak. For espresso, start with a fine grind and a 1:2 ratio in 25 to 30 seconds, then adjust. Because decaf can extract slightly faster, taste before you change the recipe. A timer helps you repeat the cups you like instead of guessing.

Grind, size, and storage decisions

Long Play Decaf is available in multiple sizes and grind options, so choose whole bean if you have a grinder and pre-ground only if you do not. Whole bean stays fresher longer, which matters more with decaf because the decaffeination process can make the coffee a little more fragile over time. Store it in an airtight container away from light and heat, and buy the size you will finish within a few weeks rather than the largest bag available.

Decision rules for buying Long Play Decaf

  • Choose Long Play Decaf if you drink decaf more than twice a week: A 12 oz or larger bag makes sense when decaf is part of your routine, because roasted-to-order coffee is best within a few weeks of the roast date. Buy the size you will finish in three to four weeks.
  • Choose whole bean if you own a grinder: Whole bean protects the aroma and lets you dial in grind for pour over or espresso. Pre-ground is convenient but loses flavor faster. If you do not have a grinder, buy pre-ground and use it within two weeks.
  • Choose a different decaf if you want a dark, smoky profile: Long Play Decaf is built around sweetness, texture, and a clean finish, not heavy roast flavor. If you prefer bold, charred notes, this will taste too bright. Match the coffee to the flavor you actually drink, not the label.
  • Choose Long Play Decaf for espresso only if you are willing to adjust: Decaf can extract faster, so start with a finer grind and a shorter shot, then taste. It works well as decaf espresso beans once dialed in. Change one variable at a time: grind first, then dose, then time.

Product facts

  • Long Play Decaf: Sourced from high-elevation growing regions in Huila and Cauca, this blend combines washed and natural coffees, including Pink Bourbon. Colombian high-elevation coffees and Pink Bourbon are associated with sweetness and clarity, which is exactly what you want in a decaf that should not taste flat.
  • Long Play Decaf: Decaffeinated using the natural Sugar Cane process, the coffee retains sweetness, texture, and aromatic complexity while delivering a clean, satisfying finish. This is the main reason to choose Long Play Decaf over a cheaper decaf: the cup keeps the body and aroma that decaffeination often removes.
  • Long Play Decaf: Each coffee is roasted to order and orders ship within two business days. Fresh roasting means you are brewing coffee closer to its peak, so you can judge the flavor fairly instead of blaming the beans for being stale.
  • Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper - White: The Hario V60 Ceramic Dripper delivers a precise pourover experience and can brew one to four cups at a time. If you want to taste Long Play Decaf at its best, a V60 gives you control over grind and pour, and the 1-4 cup range makes it practical for one person or a small group.

Who should buy Long Play Decaf

Best for

  • Decaf drinkers who want a sweet, textured cup that does not taste like an afterthought
  • Pour over and drip brewers who want a flexible everyday coffee
  • Espresso drinkers willing to dial in a decaf recipe
  • Households that want one coffee everyone can drink in the evening

Not for

  • Drinkers who want a heavy, dark-roasted, smoky decaf
  • Buyers who want the absolute cheapest decaf and do not care about origin or process
  • Anyone who will not adjust grind or time and expects decaf to behave exactly like regular coffee