How Decaffeinated Coffee is Made
Direct Process
There are several different processes that companies use to decaffeinate coffee beans. First of all coffee beans are decaffeinated when they are still green, before they are roasted. The most common process is called the direct process. In the direct process they use chemicals like methylene chloride and ethyl acetate. These chemicals are also used in paint stripper, nail polish remover, and glue. The first step of the direct process is to steam the green coffee beans for 30 minutes to bring the caffeine to the surface of the bean, and then the coffee beans are rinsed with these chemicals. If you are looking for decaffeinated coffee, I would suggest that you buy coffee beans that have not been decaffeinated by this process because of the chemicals used. At the end of the chemical wash process the beans are steamed for 10 hours to remove any remaining chemicals solvents.
CO2 Method
Another method that is used is the CO2 method. The beans are immersed into a CO2 solution that is under such immense pressure that the CO2 gas has turned into a liquid. The CO2 acts as
a solvent and washes away any of the caffeine at the surface of the bean. After this initial process is complete the pressure is released and the CO2 turns back into a gas form and evaporates and leaves behind the beans.
Swiss Water Process
The best process is the Swiss Water Process. In this process the beans are soaked for 10 hours in a green coffee extract. Coffee beans are soaked for a long time to remove the flavor and the caffeine. After about 10 hours when all the flavor and the caffeine have dissolved in the water the beans are removed and what is left is a concentrate of flavor and caffeine. The caffeine is then filtered out of this solution only leaving the flavor solids. With the next batch of beans that is soaked in this green coffee extract solution, only the caffeine dissolves in the water because of the high concentration levels of soluble flavor components that are already present in the solution. This method removes 99.9% of the caffeine present in the green coffee bean. This is the best and most natural method for decaffeinating coffee. Posh Portage Fresh Roast Coffee only roasts decaffeinated coffee using the Swiss Water Process.
I don’t suggest that you try and emulate these processes at home since the cost and amount of time it would take would not be efficient.
This is a video explaining and promoting the Swiss Water Process.
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Hey there David,
just wanted to say that this is a good post as I know people aren’t aware as to how Decaf coffee is made. it is great that you have an illustration of the Swiss Water Process as well as a video on the subject.
I also like how you make the point as – suggestion – the old – Don’t try this at home comment good job great post
Urzay G.