There are four methods to decaffeinate coffee: two solvent methods using methylene chloride or ethyl acetate, the Swiss water method, and the CO2 method. Only the Swiss water method, which uses hot water and activated charcoal filters to remove caffeine while retaining flavor compounds, is certified organic. The indirect solvent method involves soaking beans in hot water, treating the caffeine-rich water with solvent, and then reintroducing the beans to absorb remaining flavors.

2. http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1951/how-is-organic-coffee-
decaffeinated/
There are four ways to decaffeinate
coffee. Only one of them is certified
organic. Here are the details.

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decaffeinated/
Decaffeination Using Solvents

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decaffeinated/
There are two methods for
removing caffeine that use solvents.

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decaffeinated/
The direct solvent method soaks
coffee beans in the solvent and the
indirect solvent method beans are
soaked in water and the caffeine
rich water is treated with a solvent.

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decaffeinated/
The two commonly used solvents
are methylene chloride and ethyl
acetate.

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decaffeinated/
Both of these are very volatile
chemicals so that whatever minute
quantities persist in the final
decaffeinated bean they are
removed with roasting and then
brewing.

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decaffeinated/
Indirect Solvent Method

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decaffeinated/
Coffee beans are soaked in hot
water (just under the boiling point)
for several hours.

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decaffeinated/
This removes caffeine as well as
other chemicals that give coffee its
flavor and aroma.

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decaffeinated/
Water is drawn off to another
container and the solvent is added.

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decaffeinated/
The solvent binds to the caffeine.

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decaffeinated/
Then the mixture is heated and the
volatile solvent and caffeine
evaporate.

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decaffeinated/
Then the beans are added to the
remaining mixture to reabsorb the
remaining chemicals restoring part
of the flavor of the coffee.

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decaffeinated/
Direct Solvent Method

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decaffeinated/
In this case the beans are briefly
steamed, about half an hour.

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decaffeinated/
Then they are rinsed with the
solvent repeatedly for about 10
hours.

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decaffeinated/
The solvent is drained off and the
beans are steamed one more time
to remove remaining solvent.

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decaffeinated/
Non-Solvent Methods

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decaffeinated/
Swiss Water Method

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decaffeinated/
Although this way to decaffeinate
coffee was discovered in the 1930’s
it took another half century to find a
way to make the process cost
effective.

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decaffeinated/
Despite the Swiss name the
company is based in Vancouver,
B.C.

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decaffeinated/
This is the process whose facility
has organic certification.

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decaffeinated/
Coffee beans are soaked in hot
water to remove caffeine. The water
passes through an large-pore
activated charcoal filter.

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decaffeinated/
The pore size is such that larger
caffeine molecules are trapped and
smaller molecules (oils,
antioxidants) pass through. The
remaining water contains flavor
elements but not caffeine.

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decaffeinated/
Then the first batch of beans is
discarded! New beans are then
soaked with the flavor rich but
caffeine free water.

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decaffeinated/
Osmosis takes caffeine out of the
beans to until its concentration is
the same in the bean and in the
water. But the flavor elements are
already equally concentrated in
bean and water so they are not
removed.

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decaffeinated/
The company tests their product to
guarantee that their coffee is
99.95% caffeine free. Decaf coffee
made with this process is always
labeled as Swiss Water decaf.

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decaffeinated/
CO2 Method

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decaffeinated/
This high tech approach to making
decaf coffee is relatively new.

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decaffeinated/
Coffee beans are placed in a very
strong stainless steel tank.

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decaffeinated/
Then liquid CO2 (carbon dioxide) is
introduced until the pressure in the
tank is 1,000 pounds per square
inch.

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decaffeinated/
Air pressure on the earth’s surface
at sea level is 14 pounds per
square inch so the coffee is
subjected to a lot of pressure.

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decaffeinated/
The carbon dioxide selectively
dissolves caffeine and leaves the
other constituents behind.

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decaffeinated/
The CO2 is drawn off and allowed
to return to a gas form releasing the
caffeine which allows the re-
liquefied CO2 to be used again and
again.

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decaffeinated/
This is an expensive process that is
most economical on a very large
scale.

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decaffeinated/
Thus it gets used for processing of
huge quantities of ordinary decaf
coffee for grocery stores.