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The World Cup has reached the business end, and if you're in the UK, there's a small problem hiding in the fixture list. These matches are being played across North America, which means kick-off times land squarely in the part of the evening where a strong coffee is a genuinely risky decision.
This weekend is a perfect example. Three quarter-finals, three very different bedtimes. So we've put together a simple brew guide — matching each match to the right cup, so you can enjoy the football without staring at the ceiling until sunrise.
Friday Night: The Civilised One
Spain vs Belgium — 8pm kick-off
An 8pm start is the gentlest the tournament will offer you all weekend. The match should wrap up around 10pm, which leaves comfortable room for a proper cup without consequences. This is the one evening where you can reach for the full-strength stuff and get away with it.
Our Brazil Cerrado is ideal here — smooth, balanced and easy-drinking, the sort of cup that sees you comfortably through ninety minutes and extra time if it comes to it. A fitting choice, too, given Brazil is the largest coffee producer on earth. Consider it a nod to the tournament, even if the Seleção themselves have already headed home.
Saturday Night: The Big One
Norway vs England — 10pm kick-off
Here's where it gets interesting. England in a quarter-final, kicking off at 10pm, which means the final whistle won't blow until well past midnight — and if it goes to extra time and penalties, you could be up until nearly 1am with your heart rate doing things it shouldn't.
This is decaf's moment to shine. A 10pm match is precisely the scenario decaf was invented for: all the ritual and warmth of a proper cup, none of the 2am regret. Our Mexico Chiapas decaf is our pick for the England game — smooth, sweet, and gentle enough that you can have a second cup during the nervy bits without paying for it tomorrow.
There's a nice bit of symmetry here, too. England knocked out Mexico in the previous round, so brewing a Mexican coffee for the quarter-final feels like a gracious tip of the hat to a worthy opponent. And if you were wondering how a decaf can still taste of something, it's all down to the Mountain Water Process — a chemical-free method that strips the caffeine while leaving the flavour firmly intact.
Sunday, Technically: The Brutal One
Argentina vs Switzerland — 2am kick-off
If you're planning to watch this one, we admire your commitment. A 2am kick-off means you'll be settling in as most of the country is fast asleep, and finishing somewhere around 4am. There is no version of this evening where caffeine is a sensible idea.
If you're staying up regardless, keep it firmly decaf and keep the lights low. And honestly? There's no shame in recording it, brewing something lovely on Sunday morning, and watching it back over breakfast with a clear head and a full-strength cup. The result is the same either way, and you'll enjoy it a great deal more when you're conscious.
The Simple Rule
If you take one thing from this, let it be this: the later the kick-off, the more you'll thank yourself for reaching for decaf. Caffeine hangs around in your system for hours after that last sip, so a late-night coffee doesn't just delay your bedtime — it flattens the quality of the sleep you do get.
Good decaf means you never have to choose between watching the football and waking up feeling human. That's the whole point of keeping a bag in the cupboard.
Stock the Cupboard for the Weekend
With three matches and three very different finishing times ahead, it's worth having both ends of the spectrum ready to go:
- Brazil Cerrado — for the early evening games where a proper cup does no harm.
- Mexico Chiapas Decaf — the hero of the late kick-offs, and our pick for the England match.
Order by 2pm and there's a good chance it's with you before the weekend's football even begins. Browse the full range in our specialty coffee collection and get your cupboard match-ready.
Whatever the results, we hope you enjoy the football — and the sleep afterwards. Come on England 🏴
