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