The fact that decaf coffee has a lot less caffeine than normal coffee is one of its main advantages. However, decaffeinated does not equate to caffeine-free. The two aren't interchangeable. While being caffeine-free indicates that there is no caffeine present at all, once caffeine is present in coffee, it cannot be totally eliminated.
It is possible to extract around 95% of the caffeine from the beans in decaf coffee. That's a very typical estimate for a good batch of decaf coffee, depending on the technique. Decaf coffee is an excellent alternative for those who adore coffee but wish to avoid the negative effects of caffeine. This makes it excellent for late-night talk or replacing your morning coffee with something more relaxing.
What Is Decaf Coffee?
Another misconception about decaf coffee to dispel is that it contains no caffeine. It is almost impossible to completely remove the caffeine from unroasted beans, no matter which decaffeination technique is employed. Decaf coffee is coffee that has had the majority of its caffeine removed.
While decaf in the US must have 97% of its caffeine removed, decaf in Europe is only allowed to have 0.1% of caffeine. This implies that the maximum amount of caffeine that may be found in a 100g sample of green coffee beans is 0.1g.
Does Decaf Coffee Taste Different?
Some claim that the flavour of decaf is different. During the decaffeination process, some aromatic components could be co-extracted alongside the caffeine, depending on how the beans are processed.
Coffee's bitterness is partially attributed to caffeine; therefore, removing the caffeine also reduces the bitterness.
Is Decaf Really Decaf?
There's still some caffeine in decaf coffee, even if the majority of it has been eliminated. Depending on the brand, each cup of decaffeinated coffee may have 2–7 mg of caffeine. In comparison, the average cup of coffee has 90–140 mg of caffeine.
That is a very small amount. For drinks where you want the flavour of coffee without the extra caffeine boost, use decaf coffee in place of regular coffee or espresso. Test it, for instance, in beverages like Espresso Martini or Coffee Punch.
Three Ways To Make Decaf Coffee
Chemical Solvent Method
Soaking the coffee beans in solvents such as methylene chloride or ethyl acetate is the standard procedure. In case you were unaware, methylene chloride has the potential to be employed as a paint remover. The solvent-containing combination is used and recycled. It isn't limited to brewing a single pot of coffee. This allows the beans themselves to hold onto their taste.
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Method
Since the 1970s, this method of decaffeination has been employed. The CO2 that is used is different from what plants use. It is very compressed, supercritical carbon dioxide. Although it is not completely harmful, it is ecologically beneficial.
The unroasted coffee beans, also known as green coffee beans, are soaked in supercritical carbon dioxide for around ten hours in order to carry out this operation. The supercritical carbon dioxide process is excellent for eliminating caffeine from decaf coffee. A 95% to 99% eradication rate is the most you could hope for.
Swiss Water Method
This technique just uses water to get rid of the caffeine in decaf coffee. Just water—no chemicals or solvents. It takes longer as a result and costs more money. Hot water and green coffee beans are used in this process. The green coffee beans can release their solids and caffeine thanks to the water. After that, the mixture is strained or filtered, and the first batch of beans is thrown away.
The first batch of coffee beans is washed and filtered using the same combination. Caffeine may then be filtered out while the beans maintain their taste. The price of decaf coffee produced with the Swiss Water Method is usually higher. Given that the superior quality of this specific decaf coffee is one of its perks, it could be worthwhile.