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A ristretto is the least forgiving format a capsule machine offers, because a thin coffee has nowhere to hide in 25ml. That L'Or chose it for a decaf is the most useful thing to know about this box.
How the caffeine comes out, and what stays
The caffeine is taken out of the green beans before they are roasted, and L'Or states the method on the current pack. Because roasting comes afterwards, a decaf can be taken just as dark as a caffeinated coffee, which is why this one carries an intensity of 9. That number is L'Or's own measure of roast depth and perceived strength; it is not a caffeine rating, and reading it as one is the classic capsule-box mistake.
Decaffeinated does not mean caffeine free. Every decaffeinated coffee keeps a small residual amount, so the word on the box means reduced rather than none. If you need to avoid caffeine altogether, check the pack for the figure rather than assuming there is none, or choose a herbal tea.
L'Or's tasting notes in a 25ml cup
L'Or's own tasting notes list toasted almond, sweet marzipan and woody aromas, with citrus highlights, a creamy texture and a hint of spice. In a shot this short those notes arrive together rather than one after another, carried by a thick, syrupy body and a bitterness that lands with the body and then clears.
Side by side with a caffeinated capsule, the decaf gives up a little of the most delicate aroma at the very top of the cup, and that is the only real gap; most drinkers find it narrower than they feared. A short pull keeps the rest intact: stretch a decaf into a long cup and whatever it lost becomes obvious, but at about 25ml it drinks like a proper after-dinner coffee.
Ten capsules for the evening
A box of ten suits an occasional after-dinner cup rather than a daily habit. If it becomes a nightly habit, we also stock a twenty capsule carton of L'Or Ristretto Decaf. For daytime, the caffeinated Ristretto at intensity 11 is the nearest equivalent in our range, and Supremo at 10 is a touch gentler.
The capsules are aluminium, sold as compatible with Nespresso Original machines, and they will not work in a Vertuo, which reads a barcode on its own capsules. Warm a small cup with a run of hot water before brewing, because 25ml of coffee loses its heat quickly. When the box is done, L'Or takes part in Podback, the UK pod recycling scheme.
The packs we stock
- L'Or Espresso Ristretto Decaf, Intensity 9, Aluminium Coffee, 10 Capsules 52g (barcode 8711000397466)
What to eat with it
- Border Lemon Drizzle Melts Organic Biscuits, 150g: Lemon picks up the citrus highlights in L'Or's tasting notes and keeps the end of a meal light.
- McVitie's Digestives Dark Chocolate Biscuits, 433g: Dark chocolate sits well with the spice and woody notes, and a digestive is sturdy enough for a quick dip.
- Lotus Biscoff Snack Pack, 248g: A crisp caramel biscuit beside a short decaf makes a small, tidy finish to dinner.
Elsewhere in the L'Or range
- L'Or Artiste Vigoroso Intensity 8 Instant Coffee, 95g
- L'Or Classique Instant Coffee, 150g
- L'Or Espresso Colombia Intensity 8, Aluminium Coffee, 10 Capsules
- L'Or Espresso Destinations Santorini 10 x Intensity Coffee, 52g
- L'Or Espresso Lungo Profondo Intensity 8 Coffee, 40 Pods 208g
- L'Or Espresso Ristretto Coffee Pods, 10 Pods 52g
The full range is on the L'Or brand page.
FAQ
Does decaf espresso have caffeine? A little. Decaffeinated coffee keeps a small residual amount, so it is not the same as caffeine free.
Why does a decaf carry intensity 9? Intensity is L'Or's scale for roast depth and perceived strength. The caffeine comes out before roasting, so a decaf can still be roasted dark.
What does L'Or Ristretto Decaf taste like? L'Or describes toasted almond, marzipan, woody aromas, citrus highlights, a creamy texture and a little spice, all in a thick, short shot.
Can I run it as a lungo? It will brew, but a decaf shows its gaps in a long cup. Keep it to the ristretto setting, about 25ml.
Curator's note: This is the capsule to put on after a proper dinner. Small warm cup, no milk, and let the marzipan and citrus come through. Lee, teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.
In short: L'Or Espresso Ristretto Decaf: Why Decaf Suits a Short Shot
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | L'Or |
| Packs we stock | Intensity 9, Aluminium Coffee, 10 Capsules 52g |
| Category | Decaffeinated Coffee |
| Caffeine | decaffeinated |
| Caffeine | Decaffeinated, not caffeine free |
| Occasion | After dinner |
| Best with | A lemon biscuit |
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- Caffeine in Tea
- Tea vs Coffee
- Tea for Coffee Drinkers: Where to Start
- Chai vs Coffee
- Decaf Tea
- Chai Without the Caffeine
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