The History of Decaf Coffee

The nature of coffee beans fascinated Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who is known as the greatest German literary figure of the modern era. In 1819, Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge was enlisted by Goethe to do research on coffee beans. The amateur botanist, Goethe, was surprised by these beans which became the reason for an energy boost at any time.

Runge discovered caffeine in the coffee beans which became famous as it contains a high amount of nitrogen. This is one discovery that astounded everyone, and they were all far from discovering decaf coffee yet.

Modern Decaf Methods

In modern days, 12% of people enjoy decaf coffee. As there are many different methods to prepare caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee also has different preparation methods that come with different flavors.

Extracting caffeine from coffee is a lengthy and complicated method as it possesses a lot of natural chemicals. There are many methods that are developed to safely remove the caffeine content from the coffee while retaining the original aroma and flavor of the coffee.

CO2 Method

The CO2 method uses the compound that is required to make soda fizzy to extract the caffeine from coffee. Green coffee beans soaked in water are put into an extractor that soaks up the caffeine and leaves all the full-bodied goodness of the coffee.

Water Process

In 1930, the Swiss Water Process was first developed, but the costs were so high that it took too long to make it commercially available. In 1988, this process became commercial with only one Swiss Water Process in the world, and is still the only one.

There is another process known as Mountain Water Process which follows similar steps. This process takes place in Mexico. The green coffee beans are soaked in a vat of water to extract the green coffee which is then filtered through activated charcoal. A new batch of green coffee is then added to this filtered liquid. Since the liquid is swamped with the extract and charcoal, the new beans become caffeine-free.

Sugar Cane Process

The sugar Cane ethyl acetate process is one popular method as it saves the flavor of the coffee to the fullest. Ethyl acetate is the natural compound present in wine, beer, fruits, and vegetables.

The sugar Cane method is done by fermenting the molasses of sugarcane. The method is known as the natural process which produces a fully rich cup of coffee with mild acidity.

FAQs:

Does decaf coffee taste different?

When the coffee beans are processed through the sugarcane method, the flavor and sweetness of the specialty decaf coffee are retained. There is no difference you observe in taste and richness while drinking decaf coffee vs regular coffee.

What is the point of decaf coffee?

Decaf coffee benefits are more as compared to caffeinated coffee. Decaf coffees taste mellower as you are using lightly roasted beans. A cup of decaf coffee reduces the risk of incurring diabetes and helps in the weight loss journey.

Decaf coffee vs regular

A decaf coffee cup contains just 2 mg of caffeine. The process of decaffeination removes almost 97% of the caffeine from the coffee beans. A cup of regular coffee contains 95 mg of caffeine. However, the absence of caffeine intake in the coffee can affect the mood of strong coffee lovers.

Is it better to drink decaffeinated coffee?

Your type of coffee consumption is totally dependent on how your body reacts to caffeine. For most adults, it is observed that up to 400mg of caffeine a day is completely safe. But if you feel uncomfortable or get jitters after drinking coffee, or if your doctor asks you to avoid it, then it is advised for you to use decaf coffee. Many decaf coffee brands are not actually decaffeinated. Make sure to pick the right brand with certified organic coffee.

What are the side effects of decaf coffee?

If you are drinking decaf coffee in the limit, it does not affect your health. However, if you start taking higher doses of it, you will get headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue. It can also cause liver and lung cancer in animals.

Do I need to change my grind settings for a decaf coffee?

No, you do not have to change the grind settings. If you are grinding whole beans every time you brew, pick whichever settings you want to pick according to your preferences of drinking coffee.