San Diego's Frequent Coffee Earns Record-Breaking Decaf Score

Specialty coffee brand's Red Bourbon Wilton Benítez Decaf receives highest-ever rating from Coffee Review.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:51pm

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An extremely blurred and out-of-focus photograph featuring a single, indistinct coffee cup or brewing equipment, captured in a soft, warm, and hazy visual style that evokes the mood and atmosphere of the specialty coffee experience.A dreamy, abstracted glimpse into the world of specialty coffee, where even decaf can be an exhilarating experience.San Diego Today

San Diego-based specialty coffee brand Frequent Coffee has earned a 94-point rating from Coffee Review for its Red Bourbon Wilton Benítez Decaf, the highest score ever awarded to a decaffeinated coffee in the publication's history. The coffee, produced by Wilton Benítez at La Macarena farm in Cauca, Colombia, underwent a highly controlled double-anaerobic fermentation and sugarcane ethyl acetate decaffeination process, resulting in a decaf that is praised for its bright citrus, floral character, and balanced structure.

Why it matters

This milestone recognition from Coffee Review, one of the most authoritative voices in specialty coffee, is being felt across the entire industry and signals a broader shift toward higher-quality, more expressive reduced-caffeine coffees that challenge assumptions about what decaf can be.

The details

The Red Bourbon lot was produced by Wilton Benítez at La Macarena farm in Cauca, Colombia, a region known for exceptional, expressive coffees. The coffee underwent a highly controlled double-anaerobic fermentation with yeast inoculation, followed by sugarcane ethyl acetate decaffeination, a method prized for preserving the coffee's natural clarity and structure. Once roasted by the Frequent Coffee team in San Diego, the coffee's bright citrus and floral character, as well as its balanced structure, were highlighted in Coffee Review's tasting notes.

  • Frequent Coffee earned the 94-point rating from Coffee Review in April 2026.

The players

Frequent Coffee

A specialty coffee brand based in San Diego, California.

Wilton Benítez

The producer of the Red Bourbon lot at La Macarena farm in Cauca, Colombia.

Coffee Review

One of the most authoritative voices in the specialty coffee industry, known for its coffee ratings and reviews.

Mark Gano

The co-founder and Head Roaster of Frequent Coffee.

Kenneth Davids

The reviewer from Coffee Review who described the Red Bourbon Wilton Benítez Decaf as a 'soaringly complex, exhilaratingly citrusy decaf cup'.

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What they’re saying

“For a long time, decaf has been treated as an afterthought. This shows what's possible when the same level of care is applied at every stage, from farming and processing to roasting. We've always believed decaf can be super fun and complex, and this moment is a reflection of that.”

— Mark Gano, Co-founder and Head Roaster, Frequent Coffee

“a 'soaringly complex, exhilaratingly citrusy decaf cup'”

— Kenneth Davids, Reviewer, Coffee Review

What’s next

The Red Bourbon Wilton Benítez Decaf is available now directly through Frequent Coffee. Whether you're a longtime decaf drinker or someone who's never given it a serious shot, this is a pretty compelling reason to try.

The takeaway

This recognition from Coffee Review highlights the growing appreciation for high-quality, expressive decaf coffees that challenge industry assumptions. Frequent Coffee's achievement shows that with the same level of care and attention applied to every stage of production, decaf can be just as complex and enjoyable as its caffeinated counterparts.