How do Coffeebeans get decaffeinated?
In: Chemistry
There are various methods can be used for decaffeination. These methods take place prior to roasting and may use organic solvents such as methylene dichloride or ethyl acetate, supercritical CO2, or water to extract caffeine from the beans while leaving flavour precursors in as close to their original state as possible.
(Thank you Wikipedia.)
The entire concept of decaffeination process is that the caffeine is soluble in certain solvents whilst the rest of the coffe bean, not so much.
With water, they make a very strong brew which becomes super saturated with the flavor compounds but the caffeine is filtered out of. The succeeding batches of coffee boiled in the special brew release their caffeine but not the flavor compounds. Repeat until the brew is unusable.
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