Swiss Water Process decaf
The Swiss Water® Process is a water-based decaffeination method that uses green coffee extract, controlled conditions and filtration to remove caffeine from green coffee.
How the process works
- Preparation and hydration: green coffee is cleaned and hydrated.
- Caffeine migration: the coffee is exposed to Green Coffee Extract (GCE), a water-based solution containing soluble coffee compounds. Diffusion allows caffeine to migrate from the beans.
- Selective filtration: the caffeine-containing extract is passed through carbon filters that selectively remove caffeine.
- Drying: the decaffeinated beans are dried and prepared for roasting.
Swiss Water describes its process as using water, temperature, time and Green Coffee Extract, with carbon filtration used to remove caffeine from the extract. The company says its process targets caffeine while retaining other soluble coffee components.
Is Swiss Water completely caffeine-free?
No decaffeinated coffee should be described casually as absolutely caffeine-free. Decaffeinated coffee normally contains a small residual amount of caffeine. For example, Starbucks UK's current nutrition guide lists measurable caffeine for its decaf espresso beverages.
Swiss Water versus other decaffeination methods
| Approach | Main mechanism | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Water | Water + Green Coffee Extract + diffusion + carbon filtration | No added chemical solvent is used in the Swiss Water process. |
| Ethyl acetate (EA) | Solvent extraction using ethyl acetate | May be marketed as “sugarcane process” when the ethyl acetate is derived from sugarcane. |
| Methylene chloride | Solvent extraction | Another established decaffeination route; regulations and permitted uses vary by jurisdiction. |
Does decaf roast differently?
Yes, the physical and moisture characteristics of decaffeinated green coffee can differ from caffeinated green coffee. Swiss Water's current roaster education specifically addresses how decaf behaves differently during roasting.
Brewing Swiss Water decaf
Swiss Water's current brewing guidance suggests that decaf may sometimes benefit from a little more coffee, a slightly finer grind, or both, because its composition differs from regular coffee. These are starting adjustments rather than universal rules.