| People sometimes wonder how coffee beans are | | | | derived or not. For these folks, there is the |
| decaffeinated - is there a naturally | | | | Swiss water method of decaffeination, in |
| caffeine-less variety of bean grown, or is | | | | which the beans are soaked in hot water, and |
| decaffeinated coffee somehow chemically | | | | then the water is run through filters (such |
| stripped of its caffeine? In some cases, the | | | | as activated carbon or charcoal) to strip |
| answer is "neither." There have been a | | | | away the caffeine. The water is then returned |
| variety of decaffeination techniques used | | | | to the beans before the beans are dried, |
| over the years, some of which made use of | | | | returning some but not all of the flavor and |
| natural or chemical solvents which left very | | | | aroma to the beans. This method is considered |
| few or no residues in the beans themselves. | | | | more environmentally friendly, and many decaf |
| Since some of these chemical solvents were | | | | drinkers refuse to purchase beans processed |
| later determined to be carcinogenic, there | | | | any other way. However, given the flavor |
| are only a handful of decaffeination methods | | | | reduction, it isn't ideal for many coffee |
| in use today. | | | | lovers. |
| | | | |
| The most obvious option is water | | | | The last, and some would argue the best, of |
| decaffeination - however, water alone cannot | | | | these three choices involves the use of |
| be used because it absorbs too many of the | | | | compressed liquid carbon dioxide instead of |
| substances in coffee which provide its rich | | | | water as a solvent - the liquid CO2 is pumped |
| flavor and aroma. Because of this, in most | | | | into the beans after a light water soak, and |
| cases a chemical solvent such as ethyl | | | | then it is drained off of the beans. Because |
| acetate (found in small quantities in fruit) | | | | of its molecular characteristics, CO2 is able |
| or methylene chloride is used to strip the | | | | to absorb the caffeine while leaving behind |
| caffeine out of the water, and the water is | | | | the flavor components in the coffee. This |
| then brought back to the beans and dried, | | | | method is generally considered the most |
| returning the flavor-enhancing compounds to | | | | environmentally friendly, and provides the |
| the 96-98% decaffeinated beans. These | | | | most flavorful decaffeinated coffee with |
| processes are guaranteed to leave no more | | | | absolutely zero residual chemicals remaining |
| than the legal limit of solvent (typically | | | | in the final product. |
| under 10 parts per million) and are certified | | | | |
| by the US Food and Drug Administration to be | | | | So whether you are interested in lowering |
| safe for human consumption. | | | | your caffeine intake or you just want a |
| | | | late-night cup of coffee without the caffeine |
| Some health-conscious coffee drinkers cringe | | | | rush, now you can make a decision as to which |
| at the idea of any chemical solvent being | | | | type of bean processing you'd prefer as an |
| used in their coffee, whether it is naturally | | | | informed consumer and coffee connoisseur! |