Decaffeinated Coffee - How'd They Do That?

Decaffeinated Coffee - how do they do that? For some coffee connoisseurs, decaf is a necessity. For some, medical reasons demand that they do not consume caffeine. We've been hearing about just such a requirement from David Letterman on his Late Show in the recent weeks after his heart surgery. For Dave, decaffeinated coffee is now a lifestyle. So how and when did decaf come about?

The merchant Ludwig Roselius (1874-1943), invented decaffeinated coffee. He found that caffeine can be removed from coffee by treating the green beans with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. Then the beans are roasted as usual, after the solvents are removed.

One method is referred to as the direct contact method. The unroasted beans are put in a rotating drum and steamed for a half an hour before being repeatedly rinsed for ten hours with methylene chloride. The solvent is then rinsed from the beans and a second steaming takes place to evaporate any remaining methylene chloride.

In the 1980's nonchemical methods of decaffeination became more common. Gloria Jean's Coffee advertises that they use the Swiss Water® Process to decaffeinate their blends. "We've found a way to offer 100% flavor that's over 99% caffeine free. We start by using only the finest arabica beans. Then we use the patented SWISS WATER® process, an exclusive water decaffeinating technique that maintains the distinctive flavor of our premium beans, 100% naturally. Without chemicals. And without any compromise on the rich-full-bodied taste you've come to expect from our regular coffees."

The Swiss Water® process begins as the beans are circulated in water that is saturated with coffee flavor, also known as flavor-charged water. "The flavor-charged water prevents the flavor components from dissolving during decaffeination and preserves the coffee's original flavor. Activated carbon filters remove caffeine from the flavor-charged water that is used again to decaffeinate the next batch of beans." They monitor caffeine levels to ensure compliance with industry standard guidelines.

Different coffee beans contain varying levels of caffeine. An arabica coffee has approximately half the caffeine content of a robusta coffee. The average five-ounce cup of coffee will contain 70 to 155 milligrams of caffeine. Usually, anything less than 600 milligrams a day is not considered harmful to a healthy adult.

To find out more about decaffeinating processes, read the information at Worldwidemart.com. If you'd like to find out more about the Swiss Water® Process, check their website, too.

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic