Coffee is an iconic drink, revered for its ability to rejuvenate body and mind alike. Decaffeinated coffee offers flavor and antioxidant benefits without caffeine consumption, making this option suitable for those seeking enjoyment without caffeine jitters. Decaf coffee accounts for 15-20% of coffee sales; however, not all decaf brands use equal decaffeination methods – some even employ chemical solvents such as Methylene Chloride found in paint strippers! These chemicals leave behind an unseen residue on beans, leading to health concerns such as respiratory illnesses. Furthermore, producing and disposing of such toxic chemicals raises sustainability issues. Still, there are coffee brands which use only organic and natural methods to remove caffeine from their beans. One such technique is the Swiss Water Process which employs water alone in its extraction of caffeine molecules from green coffee beans. our Clean Label Project tool makes it easy to see if your decaf coffee uses chemical solvents by providing an audit trail of ingredients used. Look for brands listed as solvent-free, chemical-free, “Swiss water,” or certified organic to ensure you’re enjoying a sustainable and chemical-free cup of decaf.

Since 1905*, chemists had been searching for ways to extract caffeine from green coffee beans prior to roasting them. One of the first commercially successful decaffeination processes used strong chemical solvents similar to paint strippers – something you might see used today as part of decaffeination procedures!

Early methods for decaffeinating coffee were among the least sustainable; these involved harsh chemicals which left a permanent residue on coffee beans that altered both their flavor and nutritional value. Today, however, most methods are much more eco-friendly.

While no decaf coffee can ever be 100% caffeine free, our organic decaf coffee that has been processed using the Swiss Water Process provides delicious cups that are both healthy and environmentally-friendly.

*Peet’s Coffee & Tea takes pride in using the Swiss Water method of decaffeination; however, not all our decaf coffee is Swiss Water processed. We partner with several expert decaffeination companies who use other water and chemical combinations along with Swiss Water as part of their decaf process. You may also encounter Ethyl Acetate (“EA”) processed decafs from other sources – this alternative method removes caffeine using sugar cane sugar ethanol mixed with acetic acid from sugar cane to remove caffeine using both chemicals; examples include Sightglass Coffee’s Hunky Dory Decaf and Counter Culture’s Slow Motion Decafs from Sightglass Coffee and Counter Culture respectively.

No matter which decaffeination method is employed, the end result will always be delicious coffee to help get through your day. We hope you’ll enjoy it!