Review: Homestead Coffee Roasters’ Steady Eddy

(2018) Do you have a moment to talk about decaffeinated coffee? Wait. Come back. Like you I was put off by the removal of the key molecular structure in coffee. I love the jazzed feeling I get; it’s why I religiously brew a heavy afternoon dosage. That afternoon serving was the hand-sling for the second half of my day. Or so I thought.

We have all been there: we reach for the pot of warm coffee that smells delicious. Unknowingly we pour the dark stuff into our favorite mug and let the steam rise along with anticipation. The eagerness is part of the brewing process. But in decaffeinated world, the first sip is one of many disconnects in an experience. The last time I tried decaf coffee I had to pour it down the sink on flavor alone. It tasted altered.

On a recent brewing of morning coffee - a copious amount for one person I might add - I tried to break down the ratios of coffee enjoyment. The obvious first trait of coffee is the explosive productivity that follows shortly after. No doubt this is the caffeine and its effects. The other aspect was the warmth of coffee. On brisk fall rides or afternoon winter stopovers, a cup does wonders for warmth. So which attribute did I prefer most?

I can tell when I have made too strong of a cup when anxiety sets in when I should be winding down. Having too strong of a pot in the morning led to the restructuring of the afternoon dosage. I stopped having a brew at the mid-day because the morning jolt was still in sway. I must have overloaded myself because there were numerous days when I struggled to fall asleep. I had to eliminate the second helping of coffee.

Or did I? Dare I venture into the realm of decaffeinated coffee? My alternatives were simple. I could,migrate to iced coffee or nitro coffee. Few places do iced coffee correctly. The omission of coffee ice cubes deters me from ordering iced coffee from establishments. Both nitro and iced coffee are more potent, too, so there’s that. I could return to drinking cola but after breaking the habit of a decade-long addiction, I ruled that out. I missed my afternoon comfort blanket. 

Recently the Missus made a request prior to my Homestead Coffee Roasters run. She asked for decaf. After the expected gasp complete with defense hands, I breathed a small sigh of relief. Maybe this was the answer to my problem. When setting foot in the coffee room at Homestead General Store I lacked the knowledge of locating their decaffeinated Steady Eddy offering. Perhaps, I thought, they stored it in the back, where shame goes. I found a box of it simply enough, right next to the entrance. 

Bringing the coffee home was another experience. I brewed a pot after work, not wanting another caffeine insomnia. The hot stuff went into the mug and moments later I sipped. For a roast that is described as ‘dense and smoky’ I was mostly curious leading into the first helping. I was afraid of it tasting altered like my last experience. Instead I found enjoyment. After two sips I offered it to the Missus. She did not give the mug back. She agreed it was delicious. Could it be I have solved the mid-day jolt? Is the warmth of coffee more important than the jet-like explosion? 

After a few days of brewing up Homestead Coffee Roasters’ decaffeinated Steady Eddy, I have enjoyed a slightly altered version of the red-eye I used to whip up. Do you have a moment to talk about decaf coffee? Perhaps it’s 2am and you’re still awake because you overestimated how much of a jolt you needed for your day. The nice aspect about Steady Eddy is the ability to drink it and convince you there still is caffeine in the mug. What is actually in the coffee is a lot of flavor. Having a little comfort helps too.

Homestead Coffee Roasters is located at the bottom of Bridgeton Hill Road in Upper Black Eddy, PA. Don’t be surprised to see the bike racks full out back. It’s a destination stop for many group rides and cycling outings.