Love coffee but not the caffeine jitters? We get it. Sometimes, you just want that coffee taste without the turbo boost. 

That’s where decaf comes in – but like most things about coffee, not all decaf is created equal. While some methods rely on chemicals to remove the caffeine, there’s a cleaner, more natural way: the Mountain Water Process (MWP). No weird science, or harsh chemicals, just pure mountain magic. It is similar to another loved, natural process called the Swiss Water Process (SWP).  

So, what is the Mountain Water Process?

The coffee beans go on a spa retreat in the mountains, soaking in pristine glacier water from Mexico’s tallest peak, Pico de Orizaba. No artificial nonsense – just water gently coaxing out the caffeine while keeping all that coffee flavor intact. 

1. Soak & Chill – Green coffee beans take a long, relaxing bath in crystal-clear mountain water, loosening up that caffeine without losing their best qualities.
2. Caffeine Filtered – The now-caffeinated water passes through a special filter that says, “Caffeine, you’re not on the guest list.” Flavor molecules, however, get VIP treatment and stay in the mix.
3. Flavor Reunion – The beans reabsorb their own flavor-rich water, ensuring they taste like coffee, not cardboard.
4. Dry, Roast, Enjoy – Once dried, these beans are ready for roasting—giving you a full-bodied coffee experience with zero regrets.

And fun fact – that signature “cracking” sound you hear when roasting beans isn’t present in a decaf roasting session, because on a cellular level, the bean is different. Pretty cool, right? 

Science and magic aside, this process allows your decaf to still have full flavor without the caffeine. And its better for the planet, which if you know anything about Fathom Coffee x Roastery, you know that is important to us. 

Decaf gets a bad rap sometimes, and we don’t really know why because we love it just as much! Grab a jar for yourself, we are constantly roasting our best roasts as Fathom decaf varieties because life is too bad for short – or even caffeinated – coffee!