Coffee culture

How to Make Decaf Coffee? How is Decaf Coffee Made? Decaf Coffee Processing Methods

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account cafe_style) Currently the manufacturing methods for low-caffeine coffee beans are as follows: 1. Direct contact method: Using chemical solvents such as methylene chloride and ethyl acetate to dissolve the caffeine contained in coffee beans Such as German EA (ethyl acetate

For more professional coffee knowledge and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat Official Account: cafe_style).

Current Manufacturing Methods for Low-Caffeine Coffee Beans:

1. Direct Contact Method: Using chemical solvents such as methylene chloride and ethyl acetate to dissolve the caffeine contained within coffee beans.

For example, the German EA (ethyl acetate) water process: Founded by Dr. Erich Scheele in 1931, holding numerous patents in the field of caffeine processing technology. Currently, caffeine is extracted through Coffein Compagnie's unique Water-EA treatment process, followed by polishing and cupping quality control procedures.

2. Swiss Water Process: Raw beans are soaked in water to dilute caffeine, the soaking water is then filtered through activated carbon to remove caffeine, and the filtered water is used to re-soak the beans. However, this method causes the coffee's original flavor to be completely lost, resulting in excessive charred and smoky notes.

3. Carbon Dioxide Extraction Method: Using liquid carbon dioxide to dissolve caffeine in coffee beans, but this method requires special manufacturing conditions under 200-300 times atmospheric pressure, making it extremely expensive. Coffee beans processed using this method are extremely rare in circulation.

4. Genetic Engineering: The University of Hawaii has researched methods to make coffee trees "forget" to produce caffeine, which is currently still in the experimental stage.

Understanding Low-Caffeine and Decaffeinated Coffee

Low-caffeine or decaffeinated coffee is processed after the raw coffee beans are harvested, where they are sent to "pharmaceutical factories" to have caffeine washed out. Don't doubt it - this is exactly how it works. Some pharmaceutical preparations require caffeine addition, and pharmaceutical factories use this as their caffeine source.

After the caffeine is washed out of the coffee beans at the pharmaceutical factory (using chemical methods, not regular washing processes), the beans undergo drying and roasting to become the low-caffeine or decaffeinated coffee you hold in your hands.

FrontStreet Coffee's Pour-Over Brewing Suggestions:

Little Fuji 3.5 V60 dripper, 90°C water temperature, 1:15 ratio, total duration of two minutes.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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