What Is The Swiss Water Process?
Great tasting decaf coffee without the use of chemicals!
The "Swiss Water Process" is a patented decaffeination method that uses only water to remove 99.9% of caffeine from coffee beans. In this process, green coffee beans are soaked in a special water solution called "Green Coffee Extract," which draws out the caffeine while preserving most of the coffee’s flavor compounds. This chemical-free technique relies on diffusion to eliminate caffeine, without the use of any added chemicals resulting in a healthier cup of decaf without sacrificing great coffee flavor!
What else should I know?
- Chemical-Free Decaffeination: The Swiss Water Process eliminates 99.9% of caffeine using only water, without the involvement of chemicals.
- Caffeine Extraction: Green coffee beans are immersed in a unique Green Coffee Extract (GCE), which allows caffeine to seep out while preserving the coffee's flavor.
- Comparison to Other Methods: In contrast to chemical methods such as methylene chloride (MC) and ethyl acetate (EA), the Swiss Water Process remains completely chemical-free.
- Safety of Chemical Methods: Although there are ongoing discussions about the safety of chemical methods, Swiss Water decaf bypasses these issues entirely.
- Flavor Preservation: The Swiss Water Process retains the original flavor of coffee more effectively than other decaffeination methods, maintaining rich flavor profiles.
- Water Reuse: 85% of the water utilized in the decaffeination process is recycled as clean supply water.
- Caffeine Disposal: The caffeine that is extracted is collected and can be repurposed.
- Roasting Characteristics: Beans processed through the Swiss Water method are lighter and may exhibit different roasting characteristics due to structural changes.
- Storage: While decaf beans generally have a shorter shelf life, the Swiss Water method helps enhance their freshness.
