Manhattan - El Vergel Decaf

It's a fine decaf, but not a standout

Fruity and sweet! No decaf / chemical taste at all. Will definitely reorder :)

I bought the El Vergel Decaf (espresso roast) from Manhattan Coffee Roasters expecting a light, sweet, fruit-forward profile based on reviews. In my experience, it drinks much more developed than described.
The dominant notes were hazelnut and prune, but without the sweetness to support them. Instead, the cup showed immediate tannic astringency and a lingering woody finish. I tested multiple grind settings, ratios (including ristretto), baskets, and even lower-temperature AeroPress brews. While tighter, shorter shots reduced the harshness, the core dry, phenolic character remained.
Drinkable at best when concentrated, but far from the bright, lightly roasted decaf I was hoping for. I got fantastic results and fruitiness with the Manhattan Decaf Elixir in all brewing methods.

Enjoyed it with milk, although I'd often reach for some sweetener as it can get a bit sour. I personally found it a bit 'flat', but still good and fruity overall. A solid pick if you want a no-caff option.

The description of this coffee says it is for filter only, but I used the whole bag strictly for espressos and it still made a great impression on me. Really well put together in terms of notes and degree of roast. I will buy again.

A juicy fruit forward cup but still balanced and comfortable.

Fruity decaf lovers rejoice! This was a really good decaf. Roasted really well - nice and light - and didn't have that invasive roasty flavour that a lot of other roasters' decafs have. Also doesn't break the bank, which is great.

The anaerobic fermentation definitely added a fruity punch.

First fruity, vibrant decaf I have ever tasted. I've pulled more espresso than v60's but both tasted great!

Nice! Would re-order

Absolutely unreal decaf. Wonderfully sweet, I brewed it quite thin and it really came alive.

fruity and jammy. great for an evening cup of warm filter.

This coffee surprised me. I was expecting the processing flavor to be front and center. It's there, but it's fairly mild. Great value decaf from one of my favorite roasters!

The best decaf I have had to date. It actually has fruity notes instead of the more common chocolate type notes that I like less. Will buy more bags once it comes back into stock. Highly recommend.

Has to grind quite a bit coarser to get an even extraction but the jammy notes covered up that decaf taste fairly well. I preferred an immersion brew to get more body, though. V60 was a bit on the sour side.

Don't often pick decaf, but this one is great!

This is a very good decaf. Will be buying again!