The Carbon Dioxide Method, also known as the Supercritical CO2 Method, is another all-natural method of decaffeination. It was first developed in 1967 by Kurt Zosel, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research. Zosel worked with supercritical C02. What's Supercritical C02? It's what happens when C02 is heated to at least 86°F…

The Ethyl-Acetate Process is a version of the Direct-Solvent Process that uses Ethyl-Acetate as its solvent. Ethyl-Acetate, while it may sound scary, is an all-natural chemical that is found in places including fermented sugarcane and ripe fruit. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as the Sugarcane Process. Sugarcane is common in many Latin…

This Swiss Water Process is one of the most acclaimed methods of decaffeination in use today. Contrary to its name, it is produced in Canada, not Switzerland. It does, however, involve plenty of water. The process was first developed in the 1930s. It was invented in Switzerland, giving the process its name. For decades, this process remained…

The Indirect Solvent Method was another invention of decaf godfather Ludwig Roselius. He invented the method in 1941, just two years before his death. This method involves steeping green coffee beans in hot water. While soaking, caffeine is drawn out of the raw coffee beans. Think of this caffeine as the starch that leaches out…

The Direct Solvent Method is the oldest decaffeination method in existence. It was invented by a colorful, and complicated, figure named Ludwig Roselius. Roselius was the son of a coffee merchant, and blamed his father’s early death on his heavy caffeine consumption. He set out to find a way to decaffeinate coffee. You can read…

Well, What is Decaf Coffee Anyways? Decaf coffee, short for decaffeinated coffee, is a kind of coffee that is (mostly) caffeine free. It's created by removing most of the caffeine from coffee beans, while ideally preserving the taste and flavor.  Decaf coffee exists in many shapes and forms, and there are multiple ways to decaffeinate…