DECAF Swiss Water Colombia Supremo 17/18
How to obtain Swiss Water® Decaffeinated Coffee:
Caffeine is removed from the coffee while it is still green. There are different methods that involve the use of chemicals such as ethyl acetate or methylene chloride, while the Swiss Water process exclusively requires water, time, and temperature.
In simple terms, the Swiss Water process relies on solubility and osmosis to remove caffeine from green coffee. Coffee beans are immersed in hot water for a certain period, allowing the caffeine to detach. However, caffeine is not the only water-soluble substance present in coffee—sugars and other flavor and aroma components can also dissolve in water.
The Swiss Water process is the only one that manages to preserve the nearly intact aromatic profile after processing. After soaking, the water is passed through a carbon filter (Swiss Water patent), and since caffeine is a large molecule, it remains trapped in the filter while sugars, oils, and other flavor-contributing components pass through and remain in the water to create what they call GCE (Green Coffee Extract). This water with green coffee extract is then used to immerse the coffee beans again, which will absorb all the molecules except for caffeine.
The result is a remarkable decaffeinated coffee that is rich in flavor and free from chemical solvents.
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Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of many plant species, including coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa seeds. Caffeine is a natural alkaloid, an organic compound containing at least one nitrogen atom, and it has physiological effects on humans and other living organisms. It serves as a natural stimulant in humans, but in nature, it acts as a defense mechanism against insects and animals.
It is important to consider that, on average, a cup of coffee obtained through espresso extraction contains around 40 mg of caffeine, while if the cup were obtained through methods like drip brewing, pour-over, or French press, it could reach up to 200 mg.
A decaffeinated coffee, whether through chemical or natural methods like in this case, may still contain minimal traces of caffeine, ranging from 2 to 4 mg per cup.