Hearthfield coffee guides
What Is Half Caff Coffee? A Simple Guide
Half caff blends regular coffee with decaf for less caffeine without giving up the ritual. Here is how it is made, how it compares and how to brew it.
Quick answer: half caff coffee is a blend of regular (caffeinated) coffee and decaffeinated coffee. It tastes and brews like ordinary coffee but has less caffeine than the same cup made with regular coffee alone. It sits between a regular coffee and a decaf.
What does "half caff" mean?
"Half caff" (also written half-caf or half caffeinated) describes a coffee made by combining caffeinated beans with decaf beans. The name suggests roughly half the caffeine of a regular cup, but the real amount depends on the blend, the beans and how you brew. That's why we treat it as a caffeine choice, not a lab-measured dose.
Hearthfield Half Caff Coffee is a smooth medium roast made with regular coffee and water-process decaf, roasted to order in the USA.
How half caff is made
There are two common ways to make it:
- Blended by the roaster. Regular and decaf beans are combined into one bag, so every scoop is already half caff. This is what you get from a bag like ours.
- Mixed at home. Some people combine their own regular and decaf coffee. This works, but it's harder to keep consistent from cup to cup.
The decaf part of the blend starts as regular green coffee. Most of its caffeine is removed before roasting. Ours uses a water-based process; to learn how water decaffeination works, read what is Swiss Water decaf?
Half caff vs. regular vs. decaf
| Regular | Half caff | Decaf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Coffee with its natural caffeine | Regular coffee blended with decaf | Coffee with most caffeine removed |
| Caffeine | Full | Less than regular | A small amount, not zero |
| Taste | Depends on roast and origin | Like your usual cup | Like coffee; depends on roast and origin |
| Good for | Your first cup | A second cup, an afternoon cup, cutting back | Evenings, or the ritual without the lift |
| Hearthfield coffee | Chocolate Hazelnut | Half Caff Coffee | Peru Swiss Water Decaf, Decaf Espresso |
For a deeper comparison, read half caff vs. decaf: what's the difference?
How much caffeine is in half caff?
Less than a regular cup of the same size and strength, but there's no single number. Cup size, how much coffee you use and the beans in the blend all change it. We don't publish a milligram figure for our Half Caff because we haven't lab-tested it, and an estimate presented as a fact wouldn't help you. For useful reference points from the FDA, see how much caffeine is in half caff coffee?
Does half caff taste different?
A good half caff should taste like a familiar cup of coffee. The roast and the beans shape the flavor much more than the caffeine level does. Ours is a smooth medium roast designed to be an easy, everyday cup.
Who is half caff for?
- People cutting back who don't want to give up their routine or their usual number of cups.
- Second-cup drinkers who want another coffee without another full-caffeine cup.
- Afternoon coffee lovers. See the best coffee for the afternoon.
- Households that share a pot where one person wants more caffeine and another wants less.
Half caff doesn't have to be an afternoon coffee. It can be your first cup, a weekend breakfast coffee or any cup in between.
How to brew half caff
Brew it exactly as you brew any coffee; you don't need a special machine. Choose the grind that matches your brewer:
- Standard for drip machines and pour-over.
- Coarse for French press and cold brew.
- Whole Bean if you grind at home.
A good starting point for drip or pour-over is 20 grams of coffee to 320 grams of water (1:16). See our coffee grind size guide for recipes for every brewer. Keep in mind that using more coffee for a stronger cup also adds caffeine.
Frequently asked questions
Is half caff exactly 50% caffeine?
Not necessarily. "Half caff" describes the blend style, not a measured result. The caffeine in your cup depends on the beans, the blend and your recipe.
Is half caff healthier than regular coffee?
It's simply a lower-caffeine option. If you need to limit caffeine for a health reason, ask your doctor what amount is right for you.
Can I drink half caff at night?
It still contains caffeine. If you're sensitive or it's close to bedtime, a decaf is the better choice.
Is half caff the same as decaf?
No. Half caff contains regular coffee, so it has noticeably more caffeine than decaf.
Try it
Choose a size and grind on the Half Caff Coffee page, or browse the Half Caff collection. Every bag is roasted to order and US shipping is included.