HIGHLAND VILLAGE RESERVE Whole Bean Coffee, Sumatra Decaf, Light Roast, 32 Ounce Bag | USDA Organic, Fair Trade, 100% Arabica Coffee Beans

Every now and then we go decaf, particularly for when I do a cold brew. But hot, this coffee is simply excellent. Love the aroma, love the taste. If you notice the $28 price tag, keep in mind that this is a giant two-pound bag of whole coffee beans. So the price is on par with many other gourmet coffees, you're just getting twice what you normally see as one-pound bags at the store. Now, on to the packaging.We love this coffee, but unfortunately we couldn't keep it in the bag after it arrived in mail. I use a sharp pocket knife to cut through the top of packages when they arrive, not particularly deep. It just so happened that the bag was on top of some brown paper, and totally up against the top of the box. So as soon as I did a minor slice to the tape on the box, I could smell coffee. As amazing as it smelled, I was mildly annoyed that I basically had cut a slit through the entire length of the bag. Everything had to go into a very large airtight glass jar that we keep. Not really worth taking a star away for, but they need to work on how they package this, so similar accidents don't happen. Point is, be cautious when opening the box.

Before reviewing this item, I had to check on the process the company uses to decaffeinate the beans. They got back to me quickly, stating it is not Swiss water processed, which is pretty much the only truly healthy way to go. Others asked about what method IS used, and the questions were removed. This concerns me in that it shows the company does not want to make their process public knowledge. When that is the case, all I can do is toss this and walk away.

We dronk decaf every night, and I was looking forward to this giant bag of beans. Sadly, this roast is way too light for us. Not enough flavor. I am mixing it with other beans to get more oomph in flavor.

This 100% Arabica whole bean, organic- and Fair Trade-certified coffee makes a good and inoffensive cup. The beans smell fresh and the brew is not bitter due to the lighter roast but the taste is not as exciting as the description implies. The bag is only about 2/3 full but it contains a full 2 lb. of coffee by weight.Highland Village Reserve is a brand from the international company Massimo Zanetti Beverage, which sells coffee under dozens of proprietary and private label brands including American brands Chock full o'Nuts, Hill Bros., and Chase & Sanborn as well as supplying food service providers including Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme.The value is questionable as the beans have a premium price but no detailed information about the roasting date or origin of the beans (estate or even region) is provided and the company apparently also refuses to provide basic information such as the decaffeination process used. It did respond to a question above that it is NOT the Swiss Water process as one would expect at this price point but if that process were used, it would most likely be stated on the label, anyway.

I am very impressed by this Sumatra decaf coffee!! It tastes wonderful black and this is from someone who usually pours in sugar and cream. It has a lovely smooth taste that isn't bitter or burned tasting. It does not have the bitterness I get in dark roasts and does not upset my digestion the way some dark roasts will. That it is decaf is a definite plus to me as an after dinner coffee.The founder of the (now bought out by Starbucks) famous "Coffee Connection" in Cambridge MA said (I paraphrase) "you can hide a plethora of bad beans in a dark roast, but a light roast requires excellent beans." This coffee is consistent with his point of view. Coffee Connection has been gone over a decade and I'm still remembering them most fondly and their focus on medium and mainly light roast coffee. This Sumatra lives up to that ideal for me and that is high praise from me.I like that this coffee is "fair trade" making sure the producers are getting a fair cut of the profits.It's rare I find a coffee I like black, but this lovely decaf gives me a full and rich flavor and isn't bitter or burned tasting. I feel like I can really taste the coffee with the nuance preserved in the light roast of this coffee. It's decaf so I can enjoy it as an after dinner indulgence without the risk of staying up all night. This excellent light roast is full of excellent beans. You can't hide bad beans in a light roast. I think it should be obvious I'm giving this whole bean coffee 5 stars. I am really liking this surprisingly tasty coffee.

Decaf coffee often suffers from a lack of deep flavor. While this Sumatra decaf is not as flavorful as caffeinated Sumatra beans, it's quite tasty. It has a very smooth, even flavor that works very well when taken black. There's only a bit of a sourish aftertaste, a trait common for a decaf.It works fine as a pour over, but really shines in a French Press with an extra coarse grind and a slightly longer than normal brew. It gets the most flavor out of the bean but still retains the smooth, even taste. This also works well if you want to make a half-caf blend by mixing 50% of these decaf beans with 50% caffeinated beans. The smoothness of the Sumatra blends well with pretty much any medium or dark roasted full-caf bean.

Waiting on answer to question about how this is decaf processed. Solvent (benzene or methylene chloride), or liquid CO2 process, seems its not (french) water decaf based on existing question that was answered).

This is quite good for decaf coffee – it’s decaf so starts with a lower bar. We made it in our Bialetti espresso maker last night & it was a pleasant after-dinner cup with some heated, frothed milk. It had dark chocolate notes, low acidity & was flavorful. I only drink caffeinated coffee before noon so I like to have a good option for evening – this decaffeinated bean makes a good cup.