You might be confused as to why I am drinking decaf to start off with, but I’m actually a beginner with a highly addictive personality. If I let myself loose on full-strength caffeine with the amount of hot drinks I consume while staring at a screen, I’d be vibrating by 2:00 PM.
So, decaf is my safe haven. It lets me feed the habit of constantly brewing a mug without turning me into a jittery mess.
Lately, I've been testing two major UK supermarket staples to see which one rules the afternoon desk setup: M&S Decaf Gold and Waitrose Gold Roast.
To be completely transparent with you: I am a novice. To my untrained palate, 90% of the time, coffee just tastes like coffee (I promise this isn't ragebait). I've put these two side-by-side to see if a regular person can actually tell them apart. Here is the breakdown.
"Packaging looks very elegant but it is M&S and it costs and arm and a leg"
"A close up shot of the goodness that will end up at the bottom of my mug"
Round 1: The Design & Vibe
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M&S Decaf Gold: It comes in a sleek jar with a gold lid and a sharp metallic label. It looks modern, clean, and feels a bit more "premium supermarket chic."
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Waitrose Gold Roast: It features a chunky, vibrant blue lid and a warm beige, earthy label. It looks incredibly classic, cosy, and right at home on a kitchen shelf.
Round 2: The Taste (From a Total Beginner)
M&S Decaf Gold The label specifies this is made from 100% Arabica freeze-dried beans, which is supposed to mean higher quality. When I brewed it up, I noticed it has a very clean finish. It doesn’t leave a bitter, burnt aftertaste lagging behind in your mouth. If you like your coffee black or with just a tiny splash of milk, this one feels lighter and easier to chug consecutively.
Waitrose Gold Roast Waitrose promises a "smooth, rounded & well-balanced" profile. In non-expert terms, "rounded" seems to mean it feels a bit heavier on the tongue. It has a deeper roasted flavour. It’s a slightly bolder cup of coffee, making it the absolute perfect candidate if you like a generous pour of milk or a spoonful of sugar, as the coffee flavour doesn't get completely lost.
The Verdict: Which One Feeds the Habit Better?
If they both just taste like "standard coffee" to you, pick based on how you drink it:
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Go for the M&S Gold if you want a clean, smooth, easy-drinking black coffee that slides under the radar.
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Go for the Waitrose Gold Roast if you love a richer, milkier comforting mug that smells amazing the second the water hits the granules.
For me? The jury is still out, mostly because I’m currently on my fourth mug of the day trying to extract a phantom caffeine buzz out of trace percentages.
Are you team M&S or team Waitrose? Let me know in the comments if my novice taste buds got this completely wrong!