Frequently Asked Questions

Kind Kick is speciality coffee that happens to be very low in caffeine. We did not want to make just another decaf on the shelf. We choose single origin beans that still taste bright and balanced after decaffeination, then roast them in small batches so they taste like proper coffee, not a compromise. All our coffee is decaffeinated using the Swiss Water® Process, which uses only water, temperature and time to remove caffeine while keeping flavour compounds in the beans.

Decaf coffee is coffee that has had most of its caffeine removed from the green beans before roasting. In the United Kingdom and across Europe there are strict limits on how much caffeine can remain for coffee to be sold as decaf. The taste still comes from the origin and the roast, not from the caffeine itself.

The Swiss Water® Process is a decaffeination method that uses only water, temperature and time to remove caffeine from green coffee beans. No decaffeination solvents such as methylene chloride or ethyl acetate are added. The process is designed to remove caffeine while keeping as much of the natural flavour as possible and it consistently removes at least ninety nine percent of the caffeine from each batch. We use coffee decaffeinated with the Swiss Water® Process because it is audited, traceable and fits our flavour first approach.

Coffee is made of natural chemical compounds, so no coffee is literally free of chemicals. What we can say is that Kind Kick coffee is decaffeinated using the Swiss Water® Process, which does not add any solvent chemicals to the beans. Only water, temperature and time touch the beans during decaffeination.

Speciality coffee is high quality coffee that scores highly on the Specialty Coffee Association scale and meets strict standards on defects and processing. It is usually traceable to specific farms or regions and is roasted to bring out flavour rather than to hide flaws. Supermarket coffee can be very useful for everyday drinking, but it is often blended and roasted mainly for consistency and price. Kind Kick uses speciality grade single origin beans that are chosen and roasted with flavour first in mind, even after decaffeination.

Our beans are roasted in the United Kingdom by a partner roaster who creates a profile bespoke to Kind Kick. The coffee is then packed in small batches to stay fresh before it makes its way to you.

Our coffee is decaffeinated using the Swiss Water® Process, which removes at least ninety nine percent of the caffeine from the green beans. A typical cup of regular coffee can contain roughly 70 to 140 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the beans and brew method. A cup of decaf coffee is usually in the range of a few milligrams. Exact figures vary by batch and brew strength, but the idea is simple. All of the flavour, only a fraction of the caffeine.

Large studies suggest that both regular and decaf coffee can fit into a balanced diet for most people. Decaf keeps many of the natural coffee compounds while greatly reducing caffeine. If caffeine gives you poor sleep, palpitations or jitters, swapping some regular cups for decaf can feel more comfortable. If you have a specific health condition or have been advised to change your caffeine intake, speak to a health professional before you make big changes.

Current United Kingdom guidance is that pregnant people should limit total caffeine from all sources to no more than 200 milligrams per day. One mug of regular filter coffee can use most of that allowance in one go. Decaffeinated coffee such as Kind Kick contains only a small amount of caffeine per cup, so it usually counts only a little toward that limit and can give you more room for tea, chocolate or other foods that contain caffeine. For breastfeeding, expert bodies advise similar limits. Every pregnancy and every baby is different, so always follow the advice of your midwife, general practitioner or health visitor.

Guidance for most healthy adults suggests that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, spread through the day, is a safe upper limit. That total includes coffee, tea, energy drinks, cola, chocolate and any supplements that contain caffeine. Some people feel better with less than this, especially if they are sensitive to caffeine, have trouble sleeping or notice palpitations.

United Kingdom guidance for pregnancy suggests a limit of no more than two hundred milligrams of caffeine per day from all sources. That is roughly the caffeine in two mugs of instant coffee or one mug of strong filter coffee. Remember that tea, cola, energy drinks and chocolate also contain caffeine and add to your total. Decaf coffee can help you stay within the limit while still enjoying the taste and ritual of coffee.

Caffeine reaches its peak level in your blood roughly 30to 60 minutes after you drink it. It then takes several hours for your body to break it down. For many people the half life of caffeine is around 3 to 5 hours. For some it can be longer. That means a strong coffee in the afternoon can still leave caffeine in your system at bedtime, especially if you are sensitive to it.

Decaf still contains a small amount of caffeine, so very sensitive people may notice an effect. The amount is much lower than in regular coffee though. For most people decaf is much less likely to disturb sleep, especially if you avoid large amounts right before bed. If you know you are highly sensitive to caffeine or have sleep problems, it is worth experimenting and checking in with a health professional if you are unsure.

Research suggests that a significant dose of caffeine can reduce total sleep time and increase night time wakefulness even when taken around 6 hours before bed. How strongly you react will depend on your body and how much caffeine you have. Many sleep experts suggest keeping caffeinated drinks to the morning or early afternoon and switching to decaf or caffeine free options later in the day.

If sleep is a priority, a simple rule is to enjoy caffeinated coffee earlier in the day and to leave a gap of at least 6 to 8 hours between your last strong caffeinated drink and bedtime. Decaf coffee such as Kind Kick contains much less caffeine, so many people feel comfortable drinking it later in the afternoon or evening without disturbing their sleep.

Caffeine can make some people feel anxious, restless or shaky and can bring on palpitations in others. For most healthy hearts moderate caffeine is fine, but if you notice that regular coffee makes your symptoms worse it can help to cut down or switch to decaf. Because decaf contains only a small amount of caffeine, many people find it a gentler choice. Decaf is not a treatment for anxiety or heart conditions, so if you have ongoing symptoms it is important to speak to a health professional.

Caffeine can cause a short term rise in blood pressure and may trigger feelings of jitteriness, nervousness or palpitations in some people. For most people who are otherwise healthy, moderate intake within the usual daily limits is considered safe. If you live with a heart condition, raised blood pressure or an anxiety disorder, your specialist may recommend a lower limit or suggest that you avoid caffeine. Always follow their advice.

The simplest way is to cut down gradually rather than stopping in one step. You can start by switching one regular coffee a day to decaf, moving your strongest coffee earlier in the day and choosing smaller or weaker caffeinated drinks. Swapping some coffees for caffeine free options such as herbal tea, hot water with lemon or warm milk can also help. Many people find that gradual changes reduce or avoid withdrawal headaches, tiredness and irritability.

Options many people enjoy include decaf coffee such as Kind Kick, herbal infusions like chamomile, peppermint or rooibos, grain or chicory based coffee style drinks and warm milk or plant based drinks with spices. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have allergies or a medical condition, check labels and speak to a health professional if you are unsure which drinks are right for you.

Common reasons include wanting to enjoy coffee later in the day without disturbing sleep, noticing that regular coffee increases anxiety or palpitations, staying within caffeine limits in pregnancy and simply wanting a calmer, lower caffeine lifestyle while keeping the taste and ritual of coffee. Kind Kick exists for exactly these moments. Flavour first, caffeine turned right down.

Yes, it can. Decaf used to be treated as an afterthought, which is why many people remember thin or flat cups. Speciality decaf today starts with better beans and better processes. We choose single origin coffees that keep their character after decaffeination and roast them with care, so you get a rich, balanced cup rather than a compromise.

With good beans and careful roasting, the difference is now much smaller than it used to be. Our aim is that you simply taste delicious coffee and only later remember that it was decaf.

As a simple starting point, cafetiere works best with a coarse grind, similar to coarse sea salt. Pour over usually prefers a medium grind, like sand. Moka pot often suits a medium fine grind, between pour over and espresso. Espresso needs a fine grind, close to table salt or a little finer. If your coffee tastes weak, try a slightly finer grind. If it tastes harsh or bitter, try a little coarser.

Arabica and Robusta are the two main coffee species used for drinking. Arabica is known for smoother and more complex flavours, higher natural sweetness and more acidity. It usually has less caffeine than Robusta. Robusta tastes stronger and more bitter, often with earthy or nutty notes, and has roughly double the caffeine content. Speciality decaf, including Kind Kick, almost always uses high quality Arabica beans.

Coffee ages fastest when it meets air, heat, light and moisture. To keep it tasting at its best, keep beans in a sealed bag or airtight container, store them in a cool, dry, dark place away from sunlight and grind just before brewing if you can. For longer storage you can freeze whole beans in a well sealed bag and take out only what you need, then return the rest to the freezer. The same rules apply to ground coffee, although whole beans stay fresh for longer.

United Kingdom orders usually arrive within two to four working days. Shipping costs and delivery options are shown at checkout. If we ever expect a delay, we will let you know before you complete your order.

Yes. You can set up a subscription so your coffee arrives regularly without you having to remember to reorder. You can change, pause or cancel your subscription at any time in your account with no fee.

For now we only deliver within the United Kingdom. We would love to expand to Europe and beyond in the future and will update our site when that happens.