A DEEPER LOOK AT DECAF

Lately we’ve been asked a lot about our Decaf and PM coffee and whether or not they are made using the water or chemical process. So we thought we’d break down decafs real quickly to let you know, and explain how the process works. If you want to stop reading here, we’ll state quickly, we only use Water Processed Decafs, which are the only ones that can carry an organic certification, which all of our coffees hold. 

But if you want to know a little more, read on:

There are two primary ways the decaffeination processes is used to remove caffeine from coffee: solvent-based (chemical method) and water-based (natural) processes. Here is a breakdown of how they work:

Chemical/Solvent-based Process: This method uses a solvent to dissolve the caffeine in the coffee beans. The most common solvent used is methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. The process involves soaking the beans in the solvent, which binds to the caffeine molecules. Then, the solvent is removed, taking the caffeine with it. The beans are steamed or washed to remove any remaining solvent traces. While effective, there is a valid concern about potential chemical residues left in the beans. And for this reason, beans that have undergone this process can NOT be certified organic. 

Water-based Process: There are a few variations of water-based processes, but they all involve using water to extract the caffeine from the beans. These generally fall under the Swiss Water Process or Mountain Water Process, trade marked for their nuance and proprietary differences, but essentially the same. In this method, green (unroasted) coffee beans are soaked in hot water to extract caffeine and coffee flavor compounds. The water is then passed through a charcoal filter to remove the caffeine but retain the flavor compounds. The resulting solution, called “flavor-charged water,” is used to decaffeinate a new batch of beans. This way, only caffeine is removed, leaving the flavor intact. 

We only source decafs that are certified organic and had the caffeine removed via one of the water based processes. We take pride in finding high quality decaf and roasting it with the same attention we roast all our coffees. While many companies choose to treat their decafs as an afterthought, we approach them with the same attention we approach all our coffees. We only select good beans. We roast them with the attention they need to highlight their best flavors. And the result shows. Our decafs drink like any other delicious coffee minus one detail… there is no caffeine. 

So if you are looking to reduce your caffeine intake, give them a try. We think you will be pleasantly surprised. 

We offer two fully decaffeinated coffees, PM is a blend, and DECAF MEXICO which is a single origin decaf. Both are rich, creamy, and very easy to drink. 

And we have 1/2 Caf, a blend of our Decaf PM and regular Colombia. If you like a little caffeine without the full kick, this is a great option.