Most people drink coffee for the energy, and that comes from caffeine. Still, plenty of coffee lovers want the taste without the jolt, at least not every day or not after lunch. That is where dark roast decaf coffee comes in. There are light and medium roast decafs too, but this article sticks to darker roasts so you can find the one that suits you.

Updated September 2026: product availability, specs and prices re-checked.

1. Kicking Horse Decaf

Kicking Horse Decaf is one of the best-known dark roast decafs. The company says a decaf should be “deep, dark and delicious” like the rest of its blends. The beans are organic Arabica from Central and South America, and the caffeine is removed with the Swiss Water process, which uses water instead of chemical solvents.

Kicking Horse lists the aroma as deep chocolate with a nutty complexity, and the tasting notes as roasted hazelnuts with a chocolaty body and a long finish. It recommends it for French press, drip, pour over and espresso.

Pros of Kicking Horse Coffee

• Organic beans, Swiss Water decaffeinated
• Chocolate and hazelnut flavor
• Sold in 10 oz and 2.2 lb bags

Cons of Kicking Horse Coffee

• Whole bean only, so you need a grinder

2. Café Bustelo Decaf Espresso Style Coffee

The Kirkland Signature dark roast decaf from the original list could not be confirmed as a current product, so we’ve replaced it with another widely sold ground decaf: Café Bustelo Ground Decaf Espresso Coffee.

Café Bustelo is known for its bold, Latin-style espresso coffee, and the decaf version is meant to taste the same without the caffeine. It is sold ground in a 10 oz canister, and Café Bustelo pairs it with recipes such as cafecito and café con leche. There is also a decaf instant version.

Pros of Café Bustelo Decaf

• Bold, espresso-style flavor
• Pre-ground and ready to brew
• Also sold as decaf instant coffee

Cons of Café Bustelo Decaf

• Only one size, a 10 oz canister

3. No Fun Jo Decaf

Jo Coffee’s No Fun Jo Decaf is a medium-dark roast of 100% Arabica beans. It is USDA certified organic and Fair Trade certified, and it is decaffeinated with the Swiss Water process. Jo’s cupping notes list sweet blueberry and milk chocolate.

It is a little lighter than the other coffees here, which may suit you if pure dark roasts taste too bitter. It comes ground, as whole beans, and as K-Cup compatible pods and Nespresso-compatible capsules. Jo notes that its Swiss Water decaf is processed in Canada and now carries import tariffs, which has pushed prices up.

Pros of Jo Coffee

• USDA organic and Fair Trade certified
• Swiss Water process, no chemicals
• Ground, whole bean and pod formats

Cons of Jo Coffee

• Medium-dark rather than truly dark

4. Peet’s Decaf French Roast

Peet’s Decaf French Roast is for people who like the bold taste and smoky overtones of French roast but want to skip the caffeine. Peet’s is known for dark roasting, and its decaf range is wide. It also includes Decaf Major Dickason’s Blend, Decaf House Blend and Decaf Sumatra.

You can order it as whole beans or ground for drip, press pot or espresso.

Pros of Peet’s Coffee

• Very dark, smoky flavor
• Whole bean or several grind options
• Several other dark decafs from the same brand

Cons of Peet’s Coffee

• No organic certification listed

5. Equal Exchange Organic French Roast Decaf

Equal Exchange Organic French Roast Decaf comes from Equal Exchange, a co-op known for its fair trade coffee. Equal Exchange says this decaf has all the richness of a dark roast without harsh bitterness, with notes of molasses and bittersweet chocolate.

There is no added flavoring. It is sold as 10 oz bags of drip-grind coffee (in six-packs on the co-op’s site) and as 5 lb bags of whole beans.

Pros of Equal Exchange

• Organic, with no added flavoring
• Molasses and dark chocolate notes
• Large 5 lb whole-bean bag for heavy drinkers

Cons of Equal Exchange

• The online store sells it in multi-packs or large bags

6. Coffee Bean Direct CO2 Decaf Espresso

Coffee Bean Direct CO2 Decaf Espresso is made from Arabica beans with an Italian-style dark roast. What sets it apart is the decaf method: carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of the more common Swiss Water process. The company says the CO2 method helps keep the coffee’s original flavor and aroma.

Coffee Bean Direct describes the result as a full-bodied espresso with a moderate crema and a bittersweet chocolate finish. You can buy it as whole beans or ground for French press, drip, espresso and other methods, in 1 lb and larger bags.

Pros of Coffee Bean Direct

• CO2 decaffeination
• Made for espresso but works in other brewers
• Whole bean or many grind options

Cons of Coffee Bean Direct

• About $24 per pound on the brand’s site (September 2026), more than supermarket decafs

7. Mayorga Organics Decaf Cubano Roast

The Allegro organic decaf French roast from our original list is no longer sold through its own site, which now redirects to Whole Foods. A good organic replacement is Mayorga Decaf Cubano Roast.

Mayorga describes it as a full-bodied dark roast, slow-roasted in a Latin style to recreate the character of Cuban coffee. The organic beans come from Peru, Honduras and Nicaragua, and it is decaffeinated with the Swiss Water process. The company lists hints of vanilla and a sweet, syrupy smokiness.

It comes in 2 lb bags, as whole beans or ground coarse, medium or fine.

Pros of Mayorga Decaf Cubano

• Organic and Swiss Water decaffeinated
• Sweet, smoky dark roast
• Whole bean or three grind sizes

Cons of Mayorga Decaf Cubano

• Only sold in a large 2 lb bag

8. San Diego Coffee Organic Decaf French Roast

San Diego Coffee Organic Decaf French Roast is a dark roast of organic coffee beans, certified by the USDA and CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). It is decaffeinated with the Swiss Water process to 99.9% caffeine-free.

The company roasts in small batches and describes the coffee as rich and full-bodied. You can buy it ground or as whole beans, in 16 oz or 5 lb bags.

Pros of San Diego Dark Roast Coffee

• USDA and CCOF certified organic
• Swiss Water process
• Small-batch roasting

Cons of San Diego Dark Roast Coffee

• The 5 lb bag is a big commitment

9. Starbucks Decaf Caffè Verona Ground Coffee

This is the dark roast decaf from one of the biggest names in coffee. Starbucks Decaf Caffè Verona is the decaf version of the company’s Caffè Verona dark roast, and Starbucks says it keeps the same notes of dark cocoa and caramelized sugar.

It comes pre-ground, so it’s easy to brew in any drip machine. If you use pods, Starbucks also sells a Decaf Espresso Roast for Nespresso Original machines.

Pros of Starbucks Decaf Ground Coffee

• Made of 100% Arabica beans
• Easy to prepare
• Dark cocoa flavor

Cons of Starbucks Decaf Ground Coffee

• Ground only

10. The Bean Coffee Company Organic Decaf French Roast

Last but not least, here is The Bean Coffee Company Organic Decaf French Roast. It is a 100% Arabica French roast, certified USDA organic (by CCOF), and it is roasted to order in small batches in Oceanside, California.

The company describes it as bold, full-bodied and smoky with a smooth finish. The Swiss Water process takes it to 99.9% caffeine-free. It is sold ground or as whole beans in 1 lb and 5 lb bags.

Pros of The Bean Dark Roast Decaf Coffee

• Rich, bold, smoky taste
• Organic and Swiss Water decaffeinated
• Roasted to order

Cons of The Bean Dark Roast Decaf Coffee

• No added flavors, so it’s plain coffee only, which some people will prefer

What to Look For

• Decaf method: Swiss Water and CO2 methods remove caffeine without chemical solvents. Many brands list the method on the bag.
• Roast level: “French roast” and “espresso” usually mean the darkest, smokiest profiles.
• Whole bean or ground: whole beans stay fresh longer, and ground coffee is quicker.

Related reading

• Best French Vanilla Coffee Options for Morning People

Conclusion

These are some of the best dark roast decaf coffees you can buy right now. A dark roast gets a lot of its flavor from the roast itself, which is one reason a good dark decaf can taste close to regular coffee. If you want a good cup in the evening without the caffeine, try a bag or two from this list and see which one you like best.

Featured image: unsplash.com