Coffee culture

What is Decaf Coffee? What are the Decaf Coffee Processing Methods? How is Decaf Coffee?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style) FrontStreet Coffee briefly explains what decaf coffee is and what decaf coffee processing methods exist. How is decaf coffee made? Decaf coffee is coffee with over 90% of its caffeine content removed, known as decaffeinated coffee, in short, decaf coffee. European process decaf
Decaffeinated coffee beans

Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information. Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

FrontStreet Coffee: What is Decaffeinated Coffee and What are the Processing Methods?

How is decaffeinated coffee made? Decaffeinated coffee is coffee that has had more than 90% of its caffeine content removed, known as "low-caffeine coffee," or simply "decaf coffee" for short.

European Method Decaffeinated Coffee

This method involves soaking coffee beans in boiling water for several hours, which extracts both caffeine and many flavor compounds from the beans. The beans are then removed, and dichloromethane or ethyl acetate is added to the water. These chemical molecules break down the caffeine, which is then evaporated through heating. Finally, this remaining water (containing flavor and aroma, but no caffeine) is chemically reintroduced to the coffee beans.

Note: This processing method is not common in China but is more popular in Europe.

Swiss Water Process

This is a common processing method for decaffeinated coffee in China. Coffee beans are soaked in warm water, allowing caffeine to dissolve into the water. Activated carbon is then used to filter out the caffeine, and the remaining solution is returned to the beans. This method is healthier as it uses no chemical solvents, but the coffee loses a significant amount of flavor during the filtration and decaffeination process.

Carbon Dioxide High-Pressure Method

This is the most common type of decaffeinated coffee. After soaking the coffee beans in water, they are placed in stainless steel containers. High pressure is used to turn carbon dioxide into a liquid, which then extracts the caffeine. This decaffeinated carbon dioxide is then returned to room temperature, where the liquid evaporates into gas, and through chemical processes, these components are returned to the coffee beans.

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