Decaffeinated Coffee has had caffeine separated from the raw coffee bean. Caffeine is a natural component of coffee beans; therefore, it is difficult to completely remove the caffeine from the raw beans. Around the globe there are standards which are set to establish the amount of caffeine a coffee can have and still be considered a decaffeinated coffee. In the United States 97% of the original caffeine content of the bean must be removed to be sold as decaffeinated coffee.

 
Natural Decaffeination

The Swiss Water® Process - http://www.swisswater.com/

Raw beans are placed under pressurized heated water to eventually circulate through them. These beans absorb the water and swell up causing their pores to open allowing caffeine to wash free from beans. The removed material including the caffeine is run through activated carbon filters removing the caffeine indirectly from the bean. The remaining material excluding the caffeine is circulated back into the beans. These beans are then dried and bagged for shipment to the roaster.

Chemical Decaffeination

The Methylene Chloride Processes

  Direct Method - for example KVW or Coffein
Raw beans are placed in warming water to eventually circulate through them. These beans absorb the water and swell up causing their pores to open allowing the caffeine to be retrievable. A Methylene Chloride solution is circulated through the beans cleaning the caffeine out and virtually controlling the amount of caffeine removed. These beans are then dried and bagged for shipment to the roaster.

  Indirect Method
Raw beans are placed in water to the point of boiling to eventually circulate through them. These beans absorb the water and swell up causing their pores to open allowing caffeine to wash free from beans. The removed material including the caffeine is treated with a Methyline Chloride solution removing the caffeine indirectly from the bean. The treated material excluding the caffeine is circulated back into the beans. These beans are then dried and bagged for shipment to the roaster.