Low-Tox Organic Decaf Coffee: Swiss Water Method to Decaffeinate Beans

DECAFFEINATING WITH CHEMICALS

During standard Decaffeination, conventional coffee beans are soaked in methylene chloride (a solvent found in paint thinner and degreaser) or ethylene acetate (a solvent found in paints, coatings, and adhesives) to decaffeinate coffee. The worst part about this is that it's a chemical driven process, but to pile on the issue, flavor compounds can also be dissolved when caffeine is stripped via this method.

THE DIRECT CONTACT METHOD

Coffee beans are steamed during the Direct Contact Method then repeatedly rinsed with chemical solvents like methylene chloride or ethyl acetate to extract caffeine. The solvents bind to the caffeine molecules and remove them from the beans leaving the flavor compounds intact. This approach may seem slightly better since the flavor is left behind, but doesn't that make you curious about what else is left behind given the repeated application of harsh chemicals.

IS YOUR BRAND USING SOLVENTS?

* As of this post date, Starbucks, Green Mountain, Eight O' Clock, and Folgers are a few of the brands that still use solvent-based decaffeination methods to extract caffeine from their coffee beans. Some of these brands use solvent-free methods on select decaf options while still using solvents on others. A few of the brands use an undisclosed proprietary combination of solvent-based and chemical-free methods. Terminology gets muddy, so if you prefer coffee that is decaffeinated via a chemical-free method, look for brands that explicitly use Swiss Water, CO2, or Mountain Water Methods.

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Organic & Solvent-Free Decaf

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Fabula Uses the Swiss Water Method to Decaffeinate Beans: Low-Tox Organic Decaf Coffee

WHAT IS THE SWISS WATER METHOD?

The Swiss Water Method is a gentle approach to decaffeination which uses Green Coffee Extract (GCE), a water solution saturated with soluble coffee compounds, to extract caffeine from batches of caffeinated coffee beans.

The Swiss Water Method

DECAFFEINATING WITHOUT CHEMICALS

Let's look a little closer at the solvent-free process of the Swiss Water Method.

Creating the Green Coffee Extract (GCE):

• A batch of green coffee beans is soaked in pure, hot water. The beans saturate the water with all of their soluble solids and no caffeine. Considered sacrificial beans, they are removed and what remains is the GCE. This batch of beans will not be packaged for sale.

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Extracting the caffeine:

• Rich in flavor and aromatic compounds, the GCE is ready for a new batch of green coffee beans which will soak for over 8 hours. As the GCE continually circulates around the new beans, it gently removes the caffeine from the beans via osmosis.

• Once the caffeine moves from the beans into the GCE, the caffeinated GCE is passed through specialized activated carbon filters which remove the caffeine molecules (not the sugars and oils) from the GCE making it ready to soak a new batch of beans. The GCE will be used to decaffeinate subsequent batches of beans.

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Completing the process:

• The batches of decaffeinated beans are dried and bagged... ready for brewing.

--> No chemicals are used to extract caffeine from the beans, only water, temperature, and time. The whipped cream on top... the Swiss Water Method ensures that the original flavor and aroma compounds remain in the coffee after decaffeinating.

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Low-Tox Decaf Coffee Swap

Organic & Low-Acid

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Orders placed via Collaboration Links attribute commissions at no expense to you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases via Amazon links.

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Fabula Organic Decaf Coffee

Decaffeinated by the Swiss Water Method

FABULA ORGANIC DECAF COFFEE

Use Wyld20 for 20% off all orders

or

Fabula Coffee on Amazon

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Synthetic Pesticides & Fertilizers

USDA ORGANIC MATTERS

In addition to understanding how to avoid chemicals from the decaffeination process, selecting coffee brands with the USDA Organic label will give you an advantage in avoiding synthetic pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides), fertilizers, and GMOs. USDA Organic coffee is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, furthermore the use of these chemicals is prohibited. However, trace residues from the environment may still be present in the coffee. Although 100% purity is not guaranteed, USDA Organic coffee is the best lox-tox choice.

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Molds & Mycotoxins

USDA ORGANIC DOES NOT MATTER

The USDA Organic certification does not guarantee that coffee is mold-free or mycotoxin-free. Beyond choosing a coffee brand that is certified USDA Organic, be sure the brand undergoes third-party testing for these contaminants.

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Fabula = High-Quality Coffee

--> Fabula Coffee is recommended as a low-tox swap in this post because, not only does Fabula use the Swiss Water Method to decaffeinate coffee beans, but it also satisfies both parameters of being USDA Certified Organic and third-party tested for 350+ contaminants.

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Fabula Organic Decaf Coffee Selections:

USDA Organic, Mold-free, Mycotoxin-free, Non-GMO, Low-Acid, Vegan

MEDIUM ROAST ORGANIC DECAF

Profile: Nutty, Rich, Dark Chocolate

• 12oz Resealable Bag

• Whole Bean or Ground

• Medium Sweetness

• Full-Bodied

• Low Acidity

• Freshly Roasted to Order

DARK ROAST ORGANIC DECAF

Profile: Nutty, Sweet Spices, Shortbread Cookie, Chocolate

• 12oz Resealable Bag

• Whole Bean or Ground

• Low-Medium Sweetness

• Full-Bodied

• Lower Acidity vs Medium Roast

• Freshly Roasted to Order

ORGANIC DECAF K-CUPS (PODS)

Plastic-free decaf coffee pods, Keurig compatible

• 12g Pods vs 8g Standard K-Cups

• Medium Roast & Dark Roast

• Smoother Extraction

• Richer Coffee Taste

• Green Technology

• Airtight & Fresh

• No Microplastics

• 100% Compostable

• Eco-Friendly

ORGANIC HALF-CAFF

Profile: Nutty, Rich, Dark Chocolate

• 12oz Resealable Bag

• Whole Bean or Ground

• Caffeine Level:

  • Between Decaf and Low

• Medium Sweetness

• Medium-Bodied

• Low Acidity

• Freshly Roasted to Order

ORGANIC DECAF INSTANT COFFEE

Profile: Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Baking Spices

• 3.1oz Resealable Bag

• Dissolves in Hot or Cold Water

• Medium Sweetness

• Medium-Bodied

• No Bitter Taste

• Low Acidity

• Freshly Roasted to Order

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Fabula Organic Decaf Coffee

• USDA Certified Organic

• 100% Arabica Beans

• Low-Acid

• Mold-free & Mycotoxin-free

• Single-Origin

• Decaf Medium & Dark Roasts

• Decaf Coffee K-Cups (Pods)

• Ground Bean & Whole Bean

• Half-Caff Option

• Non-GMO/Vegan

• Lab Tested 350+ Contaminants

• Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

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The decaffeination process isn't the only means by which coffee is introduced to chemicals. My Toxins in Coffee post is brewing and will be served up soon. In the meantime, drip... rather, drop in to my Organic Pumpkin Spice Coffee by Fabula post for more insight into Fabula's deliciously low-tox organic coffee.