I happened to be looking at my coffee bag one day and noticed a small K in a circle and wondered what it meant.  After some research I found it was a kosher symbol. I decided to do some more research on this topic and learned very surprising things!

What decaf coffees are kosher?  This varies greatly as even though a coffee may be certified kosher not all agencies certify to the same standards.  If buying as a gift you should check with the person to see what organizations they recognize and accept. Some kosher certifiers have different interpretations of what’s kosher and what is not.  

What decafs are kosher?

This is a very open ended question!  I did not understand how complex of an issue this was until I researched this topic.  As there are over 1400 kosher certifying agencies the answer is very unclear at times.  However the symbols for any kosher agency will be shown on the bag and this will let you know that it was deemed satisfactory by a Rabbi.  

 That said there could be reasons why even bearing a symbol you may decide to not accept a product as kosher.  One example I found references was the complexity of some processes makes it difficult for a Rabbi to watch everything or understand the full process.  As well the strict rules of Kosher can often be negated by simply using equipment that was used to process a non Kosher item. For example some additives are not Kosher and those would negate Kosher certification like some coffee flavorings!

In addition to the general Kosher rules special rules also apply for Passover.  AS I am not an expert on Jewish Passover laws I will not try to comment on the specifics of these.  However the Kosher certify agencies try to make it easy by having special symbols to indicate a product is Kosher for Passover.  I could only find one coffee that was kosher for Passover on my stores shelf and that is Gevalia House Blend Decaf.  This is a great decaf coffee so it’s a perfect to serve regardless of any holidays!  

Why it’s so confusing

 Why is figuring out what’s kosher on coffee so confusing?  The biggest reason is the sheer number of Kosher certifying agencies and the differences in their processes.  Once source I consulted brought up some great points on the matter.

 First some Rabbis will accept leniencies that another might not.  As with many things in life not everyone looks at things the same.  This is true in sports as it is in Kosher decaf! Again I wont try to dive into the differences in these agencies but the fact that there are over 1400 of them tells me not many people agree on the some of the finer points!  

 Next the Rabbi supervising might be a great theologian but not aware of all the intricacies of a modern food making process.  That is probably especially true in decaffeination of coffee. There are a large number of methods and process in decaffeination each with its own chemicals and nuances.  One specific issue with decaf coffee being kosher is the decaffeination process itself. One method used is using ethyl acetate which is a grain based product which would not be Kosher for Passover.

Once flavorings are added this complicates the matter even more as many flavors are not Kosher.  Finally sometime the Rabbi is not present and underhanded things go on. Sad but true. I couldn’t find any specific examples of this but I’m sure it happens.  

 If you are not sure about a certain symbol the best advice I found is to go ask your Rabbi or community about their knowledge of the organization and practices.  If they fit into your communities standards that’s the best resource you can probably get.

Coffee Packaging Kosher Concerns

What are some other Kosher concerns with decaf coffee?  I did not appreciate all the nuances of Kosher until I did more research trying to find Kosher decafs.  Some really surprising facts are listed below.

• Styrofoam cups are not kosher due to zinc stearate present
• Utensils that are washed with non kosher dishes are obviously not kosher!
• A kosher symbol will be on a box of k cups but not necessarily on each cup.  If your not sure check the box itself for a certified symbol.
• Dairy and non dairy creamers may not be kosher due to containing stabilizers that are non kosher.  
• Getting fancy coffee may not be kosher because of using the milk frother wand being used on non kosher drinks.
• Instant coffee may not be kosher for Passover due to the addition of maltodextrin for body and sweetness.  But seriously if you’re reading this website i hope you don’t drink instant decaf do you?
• Your office Keurig is probably not kosher nor the coffee pot or even the fancy automated coffee machine.  This is again due to the many additives or flavorings in different decafs. In the case of automated coffee machines it may be due to the machine using a single dispensing line for all drinks including non kosher drinks.
• Getting fancy coffee may not be kosher because of using the milk frother wand being used on non kosher drinks.

Final thoughts

I think the best approach if your not sure about a specific coffee is to check the package.  Much like the Swiss Water Process, having a kosher symbol is value added to the consumer so it will be on the bag if its Kosher.  If you can’t find one chances are it’s not Kosher and you need to find another brand. However even bearing a symbol you should consider whether its a symbol you know and trust!

Related Questions:

Is my coffee machine Kosher?

Maybe!  If you are using the office Keurig, chances are no, unless you work in a Jewish oriented business.  Some coffees have additives or flavorings are non kosher. As well many plastics are not considered Kosher as they contain non kosher ingredients that have been found to leach into the product!

What coffee brands are Kosher?

According to the Star K website Peets Coffee, Publix Supermarkets, Restaurant Depot, Kroger Company,  Costco, Allegro, Gillies, Aldi, or Trader Joes all are kosher. The best method to verify Kosher status is to check the package for any Kosher symbols such as OK, Star-K or circle U.  For more info visit the Star K website and click Coffee

Is Starbucks Decaf House Blend Kosher?

No.  There are no Kosher markings on the bag.  As the Kosher symbols are value added to a product, they would very likely be on the bag to enhance marketing of the coffee.