Every day, 62% of Americans drink a cup of coffee. For some, it is part of their daily routine; for others, they are fully entrenched in coffee culture and all it has to offer. Yet, whatever the reason you enjoy drinking coffee, there will inevitably be times when you want the coffee experience without the kick of caffeine. These non-caffeinated coffee drinkers make up about 10% of the coffee-drinking population in the United States. 3 Methods for Removing Caffeine First of all, decaf coffee does have a small amount of caffeine. The USDA stipulates that decaf coffee should not exceed .10% caffeine. The average cup of coffee has 85-180 grams of caffeine. The decaffeination process removes about 97% of the caffeine from coffee beans, which means a cup of decaf coffee contains between 2 and 5 grams of caffeine. Carbon Dioxide to Remove Caffeine With this method, Caffeine is extracted by using highly compressed carbon dioxide. Coffee beans are soaked in water then placed in a sealed stainless-steel extractor. These vessels operate between 250 and 300 times the atmospheric pressure. Liquid carbon dioxide is then blasted into the extractor. At this intense pressure, carbon dioxide becomes a supercritical liquid. A supercritical liquid has properties in between a liquid and a solid. In this case, the supercritical carbon dioxide has a viscosity similar to that of a gas but a density similar to a liquid. The caffeine molecules are drawn away from the coffee beans to bond with the carbon dioxide. After the pre-moistened coffee beans have been circulated, the caffeine-heavy carbon dioxide molecules are filtered out of the extraction chamber to be cleaned with either water or activated charcoal. Once the caffeine molecules have been removed from the carbon dioxide, the caffeine is in a separate chamber, and the carbon dioxide molecules can go back to work. Then, carbon dioxide is recirculated back into the extraction chamber to continue drawing caffeine from the coffee beans. Direct Solvent Method This method to make decaf coffee involves using methylene chloride, coffee oil, or ethyl acetate to extract and dissolve caffeine from the coffee beans. Coffee beans are soaked or steamed in a rotating chamber for 30 minutes to open their pores. They are then washed for several hours using either methylene chloride, coffee oil, or ethyl acetate. Both organic compounds, methylene chloride and ethyl acetate, were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in the extraction of caffeine from coffee and tea. Once the caffeine has been removed from the coffee beans, the solvents are saturated in caffeine. The caffeine is effectively dissolved into the solvents. The coffee beans are then rinsed and steamed a second time to remove any remaining solvent through evaporation. The remaining caffeine is separated and is now in powder form. Finally, the coffee beans are vacuum dried. Swiss Water Decaffeination Processing Most methods for creating decaf coffee involve using chemical solvents. In the proprietary Swiss method, water is the solvent used for extracting caffeine from green coffee beans. Green Coffee Extract is created by soaking coffee beans in pure, fresh water. The coffee beans are then rehydrated to reach optimal hydration levels and remove any dirt from the coffee beans. Finally, the coffee beans are circulated among the Green Coffee Extract for between 8 and 10 hours. This process boasts the lowest level of caffeine, as they circulate the coffee beans until only .1% of caffeine is remaining. The caffeine is removed through a proprietary filtration system, and then the Green Coffee Extract is sent to a regeneration furnace to burn off the remaining caffeine so that the extract can be reused. 4 Benefits of Drinking Decaf Coffee The reasons people choose to drink decaf coffee vary; for most, it is because they enjoy the taste and process of drinking coffee but can no longer handle the caffeine. However, there are several benefits that come from choosing decaf coffee beans so that you can improve your life without having to sacrifice your favorite part of your day. Decaf coffee benefits include: Reduced Heartburn Symptoms Antioxidants Decreased Anxiety Improved Sleep Decaf Coffee Relieves Heartburn A common complaint about coffee is that it causes heartburn and acid reflux in some people. Decaf coffee is still acidic but has significantly less acidity than caffeinated coffee. If you still need a kick of caffeine without heartburn, try making a cup of coffee that is half caffeinated, commonly referred to as "half-caff." Antioxidants in Decaf Coffee Caffeinated coffee and decaf coffee both contain comparable amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants play an essential role in protecting your cells against free radicals and potentially preventing heart disease and cancer. Drinking decaf coffee offers similar health benefits to drinking caffeinated coffee. The average cup of decaf coffee contains 2.4% of the recommended daily dose of magnesium, 2.5% of B3, and 4.8% of potassium. Decaf Coffee Helps You Relax Some caffeine drinkers express an increase in jitters or anxiety when consuming too much caffeine. Decaf is the perfect solution for this. By substituting one or more of your daily cups of coffee for decaf or by drinking half-caff coffee, you can decrease your jittery reaction. Caffeine activates your fight or flight response. And in some cases, this leads to being ultra-productive and focused. But for others, drinking any caffeine or consuming too much can shift their response from fight to flight. Decreasing your caffeine intake while still enjoying the smooth and satisfying flavor of coffee can be achieved with drinking decaf coffee. Improve Your Sleep with Decaf Coffee The effects of caffeine can stay in your system between 4 and 6 hours. Depending on when you plan on going to sleep, substituting all or some of your coffee intake to a decaf coffee variation can aid in relaxation and the ability to have a deeper sleep. Studies show that better sleep leads to improved health. Consistent sleep deprivation is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes. Whether you are sensitive to caffeine, want to decrease your caffeine intake for health reasons, or want to consume the amazing flavor of your favorite coffee ‘round the clock, decaf coffee is a fantastic option. Decaf coffee beans come in light, medium, and dark roast but are most commonly brewed as a medium-roast coffee. Almost every flavor profile from coconut to southern pecan to French vanilla to chocolate hazelnut is available in decaffeinated versions.
