Decaffeinated coffee... what is it?
- Posted on
- By Atelier Kaféin
Coffee without caffeine? How is that possible? Where does decaffeinated coffee come from? How is it decaffeinated? Today, we answer all these questions about famous decaffeinated coffee in this very article!
What is decaffeinated coffee?
Decaffeinated coffee is coffee that has been processed to remove a large portion of the caffeine naturally present in the beans. Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, and other beverages; it can affect the central nervous system and increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Decaffeinated coffee still contains a small amount of residual caffeine, but the caffeine content is generally significantly lower than that of regular coffee. For this reason, it is often chosen by people who are sensitive to caffeine or simply wish to limit their caffeine intake.
How is it decaffeinated?
There are several methods for decaffeinating coffee, but here are the three most common ones:
The solvent-based method: Coffee beans are soaked in water, and a solvent is then used to extract the caffeine. The most commonly used solvent is methylene chloride (or dichloromethane), which is considered safe for human consumption because it evaporates easily. The coffee beans are then rinsed with water to remove any solvent residue.
The water-based method: This uses water to extract caffeine from the coffee beans. The beans are soaked in hot water, and the water is then filtered through activated charcoal to remove the caffeine. The water-and-caffeine mixture is then used to process a new batch of coffee beans, ensuring that aromas and flavors are preserved.
The CO2-based method: This uses carbon dioxide to extract caffeine from the coffee beans. The beans are placed in a high-pressure chamber filled with liquid CO2. The CO2 dissolves the caffeine and is then filtered to remove it. The coffee beans are subsequently dried and roasted.
After processing, the decaffeinated coffee beans are dried and roasted just like regular coffee. The amount of caffeine remaining in the decaffeinated coffee depends on the decaffeination method used and can vary from product to product.