In this process, Step 2 breaks down as follows: coffee beans are soaked in water, which extracts caffeine and other compounds In short, I guess I thought they were grown that way. for CO2 processed coffee bean direct espresso is the best. Ethyl acetate (CH3CO2C2H5) is hailed by some to be more “natural” than other chemicals and safer than methylene chloride since it exists in minute quantities in ripening fruits, such as apples and blackberries. For the last several years of “on and off” decaf drinking I have experienced headaches during those “on” times. Thank you very much and I just ordered 10 lbs of organic decaff , Good Luck to me ! It is lovingly maintained by Lorenzo Emden, web developer, Jazz lover, and home barista. Great article Lorenzo. I only drink organic swiss water decaf. Decaffeination is the removal of caffeine from coffee beans, cocoa, tea leaves, and other caffeine-containing materials. Well researched, well informed and very clear and organized. Now that I don’t drink it it’s hard to be around people that drink a lot of caffeine since they are so wired & tend to speak without thinking due to the caffeine. The “Roslius Process” involved steaming coffee beans with a brine solution (i.e., water, saturated with salt) and then using the organic chemical compound benzene as a solvent to extract the caffeine. I suggested they consider putting that on the pack because it would help their sales, and encourage people to consider decaff as an option, as I think there is a perception that decaff coffee is full of chemicals – regardless of what the USFDA say about safety. Have found it fairly consistent. The coffee beans are first immersed in hot water to extract their caffeine and flavorful components. It’s tea for me, l’m done….thank you. Thanks for posting. Any thoughts or info on this? For single cups, I recommend Mount Hagen Instant Decaf (Organic, Fairtrade, Freeze-dried). Unbeknownst to many coffee drinkers, coffee is always decaffeinated in an unroasted state. This process makes sure the compounds responsible for the flavor and taste development in the roasted coffee are left practically intact. Because this method leaves the carbohydrates and proteins intact, there is less change in taste as a result of decaffeination. These are some ballpark numbers because caffeine content is variable and dependent on plant species, grind, and other factors. 5lb ships free. I’ve long had trouble sleeping at night especially after the latte in the evening to unwind. Thanks Lorenzo, that’s a useful summary of decaffeination. “Has the person who first came up with the idea of tampering with God’s wonderful creation of the coffee bean ever been sufficiently punished?” Whatever the case may be, I just might live until I make it to my coffee supplier. A fter this, there is a pile of flavorless, decaffeinated coffee beans. It’s coffee from coffee beans that have had at least 97% of their caffeine removed. Another method, known as the Swiss Water Process, is based solely on water and carbon filtration. The three most commonly used processes are the solvent-based process, the Swiss water process, and the carbon dioxide process. The caffeine-laden solvent is then drained away and the beans are steamed again to remove any residual solvent. Hi Chris, On thesday a customer stopped in an said he was going to buy decaf for his wife. It acts selectively on the caffeine, i.e., it releases the alkaloid and nothing else. Under European law decaffeinated coffee must contain 0.1%, or less, caffeine in roasted coffee beans, and up to 0.3%, or less, in soluble/instant coffee. Coffees decaffeinated by this method are always labeled as “SWISS WATER” Decaf. Was it included on the hit list of toxic solvents because earlier methods of decaffeination allowed levels of dichloromethane to exceed safe levels? I was a barista for a local roaster and I’m hooked on small company coffees. Who Invented Decaffeinated Coffee? I will add my input to those who’ve already mentioned Kicking Horse Swiss Water Decaf, which is also organic and fair trade and is a dark roast that is very smooth (less acidic) and flavorful. Let’s start by stating a sad fact first: finding a good decaf coffee is the exception rather than the norm. Thanks for posting it. Caffeine occurs in coffee naturally, so any method of decaffeination (no matter how good it is) is considered by many aficionados unnatural. Hi, great article. This is a very interesting an informative article. It is carried out while the beans are still ‘green’, before they are roasted. What’s Wrong with Buying Pre-Ground Coffee? This solvent extracts caffeine by not affecting (or slightly) other components. Your information might help me do just that Decaffeination removes nearly all the caffeine from the beans. Their “Mocca-Java” coffee is SWP decaffeinated. The advantage of using these solvents for decaffeinating, is that they are generally more precisely targeted to caffeine and not other components that give coffee its distinct flavor. Finally, the scientifically named supercritical carbon dioxide method uses carbon dioxide (CO2) under high temperatures and pressure to act like both a gas and a liquid. I purchase it at Market Basket in Portsmouth, NH and have found it to be very flavorful. Hi Paula, unfortunately no. The water is then separated and transferred to another tank where the beans are washed for about 10 hours with either methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. Your brain wants more caffeine and it does help keep you alert for the short haul. The Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Method is the most recent method. Enjoyed the article though I try to avoid decafe. Best I’ve ever tried (and I’m sticking with it!) Decaffeinated products are commonly termed decaf. Swiss water method decaf. Let’s hear it in the comments! The first commercially successful decaffeination process was invented by the German coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius in 1903 and patented in 1906. Coffee is always decaffeinated in its green (unroasted) state. Usually my go to coffee brand in Keurig, drip coffee, or on the go at any store. To make decaf coffee, companies soak green coffee beans in hot water (70-100 degrees Celsius/160-210 degrees Fahrenheit) to soften them and draw out the water-soluble caffeine molecules. Hi Edmund, isn’t that protected by anti-dumping laws That’s why I go to small, locally owned coffee shops that have a vested interest in quality control. Vermont Coffee Company of Middlebury, VT uses organic coffee beans that use a CO2 or water process to remove caffeine. The coffee beans emerge with a negligible trace of the substance. Hello Suguru, unfortunately I don’t. The coffee is said to be ‘naturally decaffeinated’ when ethyl acetate derived from fruit or vegetables is used. This was so helpful and informative, especially the part about why decaf beans are more difficult to roast. The steps are repeated (8 to 12 times). . Finally I found the cheapest – Lidl coffee, has the best taste! Because this solvent occurs in nature you’ll often see coffee beans decaffeinated with this method labeled as “naturally” decaffeinated. I’ve struggled for a while with finding a decaf which a) tastes good and b) doesn’t leave me irritable in the same way that coffee does. Nespresso uses Swiss water process and carbon dioxide processing in their decaf grand crus pucks. It’s quite good! Since 70% of all coffee is decaffeinated with the help of solvents, I’ll start with solvent based processes. However, as a general guideline, the FDA likes to see anything labeled as decaffeinated coffee to have at least 97% of the caffeine removed. The various decaffeinating processes were explained well in this post—in terms that my under-stimulated brain could comprehend. It has a wonderful smooth mellow flavor. This method is almost exclusively used for decaffeination of organic coffee. Do you have any idea of why this is the case? And here’s where the magic happens. We like knowing we can drink it without worry. I think they sell to lots of companies who may or may not put the process name on the bags. This colorless liquid is highly volatile and vaporizes at 104 degrees F. Now if you take into consideration that coffee is roasted at a minimum of 400 degrees F for at least 15 minutes, and that proper brewing temperature is at about 200 degrees F, it seems unlikely that much if any methylene chloride would end up in your cup of Java. It’s amazing for instant coffee, it has that “German coffee” flavor profile which I love. in a liquid state at (relative to the supercritical process) low temperature and pressure. Try Peets coffee. Decaffeinated drinks contain typically 1–2% of the original caffeine content, and sometimes as much as 20%. The fresh batch of beans is then soaked in the GCS, leaving the flavor molecules in the beans, while the caffeine flows out into the water. Thank you for all the good information. I posted it on FB. The decaffeinated green coffee extract is then used to wash and filter the next batch of beans. Does anyone know of a good flavored decaf that uses SWP or CO2 process? Stone fruits. The best decaf I have found comes from a Berlin roaster named Alto Mayo and it’s exceptional. This reduces any health risk since the coffee is contacted only with 100% safe substances: the chemically inert, completely evaporating, carbon dioxide and pure water, allowing Mount Hagen to offer a high quality, 99.99% caffeine free instant decaf coffee…”. While some methods I will discuss may remove more caffeine than others, 97% is the threshold of caffeine removal. Go to his website (store.georgehowellcoffee.com) and search for decaf using the search bar in the footer. It is packaged in plastic bags in what appears to be a brown paper bag with green printing on it. Great article. I mean, hey, for the vast majority of the last 50 years, I have started my day with a big mug of black coffee and that propelled me through my day. Typically, if a process is not named for a decaffeinated coffee, it has been treated by either the direct or indirect solvent methods. Often, when you see the term “naturally decaffeinated” on the label, this is the process the coffee underwent. He’s got a fabulous reputation and sells his coffee online and in several locations in Boston. Hi Elizabeth, Stop and Shop has a coffee by Sun Coffee Roasters out of Connecticut that uses Swiss Water Process. Here in the UK I’ve been drinking Taylor’s decaff ground, because it states it’s water decaffeinated, but much preferred the taste (and price!) It doesn’t claim to be organic, but it does say it’s “natural.” After a bit of research, it looks like a bit of a scam. If you have any doubt, give them a call. is Joe Bean Coffee’s Columbia Azahar Decaf. The caffeine laden CO2 is then transferred to another container called the absorption chamber. Decaf coffee can contain … the cause is caffeine withdrawal, if you can maintain low caffeine intake long enough, the headaches will subside. I’m confused about which molecules are bigger, caffeine molecules or flavor molecules. I buy them green and home roast but most people buy them already roasted. Melissa Petruzzello is Assistant Editor of Plant and Environmental Science and covers a range of content from plants, algae, and fungi, to renewable energy and environmental engineering. In our traditional custom ,they used to heated the seeds within a container above the fire for a minute ,then they extract the envelope and grinding it to become such a powder for using as a coffee . Coffee decaffeinated using the environment-friendly Swiss Water Process undergoes regular caffeine level audits to ensure compliance to 99.9% caffeine-free. This chemical-free water decaffeination process was pioneered in Switzerland in 1933 and developed as a commercially viable method of decaffeination by Coffex S.A. in 1980. Thanks! Many thanks, Sheryl, I love Mount Hagen Organic Instant decaf coffee from Germany!!! What I’m confused about is… I was surprised at how good it was – It tasted just like a regular coffee, and wasn’t too dark, which I like (label says medium-dark). In the UK I am now drinking Lavazza Italian decaf ground coffee. cup of decaffeinated coffee, which originally might have been packed with 180 mg of caffeine, now only would contain 5.4 mg of caffeine. They have some SWP espresso coffee and possibly more. Note that the Swiss Water Company’s decaffeination facility is the only facility in the world certified organic by both OCIA and Aurora Certified Organic. Excellent decaf! I have high blood pressure and I should not drink full caffeine. Hi Elizabeth, The beans are then dried and shipped to their destination, and the green coffee extract is decaffeinated for further use. I really enjoyed reading your article. It was a very informative piece and tells me straight away that I only want to drink Swiss Water decaf from here on. It’s 99.9% caffeine free according to the manufacturer. Sometimes I try to drink it instead of caffeinated coffee so i don’t develop a headache when I go without. “The CO2 acts as the solvent to dissolve and draw the caffeine from the coffee beans, leaving the larger-molecule flavor components behind.”. Heellloooo…..Lorenzo and Thank You for a great write-up. Overall the type of roast you buy is going to have more of an impact on the taste than the decaf method. I then launched into a five minute lecture of the various types of decaf processes and how they impact flavor. Organic beans but with chemicals to decaffeinate it? The FDA currently allows methylene chloride to be used in some coffee decaffeination processes and brands are not required to disclose the decaffeination process on their label. But in terms of instant coffee, most I have tried have a horrid bitter aftertaste. This particular method of decaffeination is different from what we’ve so far seen in that it does not directly or indirectly add chemicals to extract the caffeine. Note that that is not a deal breaker, since I’ve come across some companies that say that their coffee uses the SWP, but don’t bother to inform us of this on their packaging. In this patented process, the natural carbon dioxide is used under subcritical conditions i.e. They also said that less than 5% of the ceffeine in caffeinated cola sodas is actually from the kola bean. Does eight o’clock coffee use the Swiss water process for its decaffeinated coffee? 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