Healthy and flavorful, Orbital Coffee has redefined the decaf coffee experience. Unlike most decaf brands that count on harsh chemicals to strip the caffeine or low-quality leftover blends, Orbital offers a cleaner alternative by using the Swiss water process with sustainably sourced beans. I had the privilege of speaking with founders Maria Caceres and Nestor Ramirez to learn more about their innovative brand and how it all started.
Thank you so much for joining us. Before we start our readers would like to get to know you both a bit better. Tell us about yourself and your passion for coffee.
We’re a Colombian couple. Nes was born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey, and Mari was born and raised in Colombia. Our journey into specialty coffee began over a decade ago when we started consulting and developing marketing strategies for a Colombian specialty coffee exporter. What started as work quickly became a deep passion.We became captivated by the complexity and beauty of the coffee supply chain. From the incredible people hand-harvesting each bean to the sacred, fertile soils and diverse microclimates that bring them to life. Each altitude and region adds its own energy and flavor, creating a magical range of sensory experiences in every cup. We were also drawn to the science and engineering behind processing, fermentation, roasting, and brewing. Exploring the endless coffee varieties and their unique flavor profiles has only deepened our admiration for the craft. For us, a daily cup of coffee is more than a caffeinated ritual, it’s a moment of gratitude. It’s about experiencing the clean, complex flavors born from nature and careful harvesting. It’s a way to honor Mother Earth and appreciate the perfection of her crops. It’s also a reminder that humanity needs to slow down, reconnect with what’s real, and truly understand the “what” and “how” behind the goods we consume. That’s a feeling we believe is worth sharing with the world.
What inspired you to start your own business and your journey from the inception of the idea to now?
After working in the industry and building strong relationships with producers, we began sourcing our own green coffee beans. As we shared them with friends and family, more and more people began asking for decaf options whether it was due to health concerns, anxiety, or caffeine sensitivity. At the time, we were decaf skeptics ourselves. As coffee purists, we had always assumed that removing caffeine would compromise the flavor and ruin the experience.
But the requests kept coming, and with the help of our amazing collaborators in Colombia, we discovered decaf beans that completely changed our minds. We learned about clean, chemical-free decaffeination methods that preserve the integrity of the beans and their flavor. These decafs were vibrant and complex. Nothing like what we expected. That discovery sparked everything. We realized there was a real need for high-quality, great-tasting decaf, and we felt called to make it accessible. That’s what inspired us to start our own business and share this game-changing coffee with others who, like us, never thought they’d fall in love with decaf.
What sets Orbital from other coffee brands on the market? What is your mission behind the business and how do you deliver on it?
What sets Orbital apart is our radical focus on decaf and doing it right. While most decaf on the market is treated as an afterthought, we approach it with the same care, sourcing, and respect as top-tier specialty coffee. We exclusively work with single-origin, specialty-grade beans that are decaffeinated using clean, chemical-free methods like the Swiss Water Process or sugarcane EA. The result is decaf that’s full of flavor, complexity, and joy without the caffeine crash. Our mission is to redefine what decaf can be. We want to give coffee lovers the freedom to enjoy their favorite ritual at any time of day, without compromising on taste, quality, or sleep. We believe slowing down, being present, and taking care of your mind and body should never mean giving up the sacred coffee ritual. We bring this mission to life by curating a lineup of vibrant, delicious decaf coffees that are fully traceable, carefully roasted, and anything but boring. From the farmers we partner with to the energy we pour into every roast, everything we do is about making decaf feel exciting, elevated, and truly out of this world.
What is the significance behind the name of your brand?
We wanted a name that captured both the calm and the wonder that decaf coffee can bring. Orbital evokes a sense of movement, rhythm, and alignment that is in sync with something greater, whether it’s your body, the Earth, or the universe.
What are you most proud of accomplishing since founding Orbital?
We get excited every time we see proof that decaf can be just as flavorful and high-quality as any other specialty coffee. From converting lifelong decaf skeptics to building a loyal community of coffee lovers who care deeply about how their coffee makes them feel and where it’s sourced from, we have witnessed how powerful this shift can be. We’re also proud of the strong relationships we’ve built with collaborators across the industry and the intention we bring to curating each coffee we release. Every roast reflects transparency, quality, and care from farm to cup. Knowing we’re helping reshape the perception of decaf and creating space for slower, more mindful rituals is what fuels us every day.
As you look to the future, what are your ambitions for Orbital over the next few years?
As we look to the future, our ambition is to continue redefining what decaf can be and to make high-quality, chemical-free decaf more accessible to coffee lovers everywhere. We want Orbital to be the go-to brand for people who care about flavor, ritual, and how their coffee makes them feel day or night. Over the next few years, we plan to expand our product lineup with new origins, formats, and limited releases, while deepening our relationships with producers and collaborators. We also hope to grow our presence in retail and hospitality spaces, making it easier for people to choose a better decaf wherever they are. Ultimately, our goal is to create a global shift in how decaf is perceived, transforming it from an afterthought to a thoughtful, intentional choice that supports well-being without compromising on quality.
Elevate your morning coffee ritual and head to https://www.orbitalcoffee.com/.
