CoffeeNate #28 :: How is Decaf Coffee Made?

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Decaffeinated coffee, something that I rarely punish myself with, but there are those who are unfortunately subjected to this sub-par beverage.  Many people

Diagram from SwissWater.com showing their process

cannot properly process caffeine and it effects their heart rate negatively.  Admittedly, I haven’t tried very many decaf coffees, but those that I have tried have left me feeling unsatisfied and used.   In addition to the less than desirable flavor, most decaffeinated coffee is processed using harsh chemical solvents.  BUT, if you are one of the unfortunate ones who must endure the decaf version of coffee, take heart.  There is better decaf out there, but you have to search for it.  There is a mystic about the decaffeination of coffee.  Just how do they remove the caff from the bean?

The most popular method of decaffeinating coffee is a synthetic chemical process where the beans are steamed for 30 minutes to draw the caffeine to the surface of the green coffee bean.  Once this has occurred, the beans are washed with a chemical solvent of either Methyl Chloride or Ethyl Acetate.  MMmm delicious!  These two are used in paint strippers, nail polish remover and glue, not exactly appetizing.  After this process the beans are again steamed to ‘remove’ the residual solvent.  I’m not sure if they can guarantee that all of the chemical has been removed, and I don’t think I would tend to believe them if they did.

The healthiest method of decaffeinating coffee is called the Swiss Water Method.  This method involves no synthetic chemicals, and uses only fresh water.  You can check out the pdf (provided by SwissWater.com) to the right that explains the process in detail.  The Swiss Water method involves soaking the green coffee beans in water for ten hours.  The caffeine and the flavor solids from the beans are diffused into the water.  This initial batch of beans are discarded.  Then the caffeine is filtered from the remaining liquid, leaving behind the flavor component of the coffee.  A fresh batch of beans are soaked in this solution, and since the liquid is saturated with the coffee flavor solids, only the caffeine diffuses into the solution.  It’s quite simple, and ingenious!  There is only one place in the world that uses this method, and it is located in British Columbia, Canada.  Green coffee is shipped to them, treated with their patented process, and then distributed to roasters throughout the world.  A complete list of companies that use their service can be found at their website.

After doing some research, I’ve found a decaf coffee that has received very high scores for taste, and is treated with the Swiss Water Method.  You will find this coffee at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  It is the National Wildlife Blend Decaf.  This blend is Fair Trade, certified organic, and certified by the National Wildlife Federation.  As an added benefit, this coffee sells for only $8.49 and you can get $1 off per bag by joining their Café Express program, where they ship coffee to you on YOUR schedule.  It’s like an auto ship program, but you have complete control and you can either stop all future shipments, or put them on indefinite hold.  I use this program and find that it saves me money, and I get to try new coffees at a discount when my pantry runs dry.

Here’s something I just discovered, the Coffee Beanery sells only Swiss Water Processed decaff for all of their decaffeinated coffees!  Buy today and get this great discount as well… Enjoy Free Shipping on All Orders with code: CBValentine

If you still have questions about anything that I’ve covered, let me know and I’ll gladly get some answers for you!  Just click “Ask CoffeeNate” above, or click ‘Contact’ at the top of any page

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