Understanding the Swiss Water® Process

Understanding the Swiss Water® Process

We take a lot of pride in being a decaf-only coffee brand focused solely on naturally processed decaf. We vet and partner with roasters who care about the beans they select, the farmers they buy from, and the process their beans are put through to be decaffeinated.

By choosing this process, we put quality over quantity.

Sure, we could choose a cheaper process that involves harmful chemicals that would increase our profits, but we stand behind something that people love - great coffee - and the most natural process out there - Swiss Water® Process.

We care about what you put in your body and want to give you the most natural and genuine coffee drinking experience without caffeine.

Solvent-Based Decaffeination Processes

Nearly all of the decaf coffee you'll find on the market is produced using a solvent-based process. It utilizes chemicals like Ethyl (found in ripening fruit and alcohol) or Methylene chloride solvents applied directly or indirectly to green coffee beans to dissolve the naturally occurring caffeine. Some of these same compounds, though, can be found in nail polish remover and paint stripper. Not exactly the chemical cocktail you want when sipping your morning brew. 

The good thing is that the FDA has examined this method and found minimal to no risk to the consumer based on the amounts of chemicals used. That being said, many disagree with this process due to what it does to the flavor of the coffee when you dissolve the caffeine.

Using these chemicals can leave the coffee with an undesirable taste - some describe it at overly bitter, sour, acidic, and even watered down. You don't have to be a coffee connoisseur to desire a coffee-drinking experience that's identical to regular coffee, but with decaf. They want to decrease their caffeine intake but do so without losing so much from the flavor - and in turn, the very essence of the beans.

If you're mindful and conscious about what goes into your body, desire a non-toxic diet, or simply want to enjoy full-flavor decaf, then we'd suggest steering clear of decaf that's been processed this way. 

Swiss Water® Process (SWP) - The Better Way

The Swiss Water® Process is one of the only 100% natural, chemical-free coffee decaffeination methods in the world. SWP utilizes water to gently remove the caffeine from the beans without disrupting their flavor.  

Truth be told, there are other new and growing processes out there like the Mountain Water Process, Sugar Cane Process, and more that are still considered natural in comparison to the solvent-based method but we still encourage you to do your research in what's best for you to ensure your coffee experience is flavorful and natural. 

Let's break down the journey of a coffee bean through the Swiss Water® Process. 

Step 1: Green Coffee Extract

SWP begins with green coffee beans. It utilizes pure water with all the soluble solids of coffee. This helps maintain all the flavors that are found in traditional coffee minus the caffeine.

Step 2: Soak and Clean

The green coffee is rehydrated to the ideal moisture level that is best to remove caffeine. As this step suggests, it is also used to remove dirt and debris from the beans. This step is crucial to preparing the beans for caffeine extraction.

Step 3: Remove the Caffeine

The green coffee mixture from Step 1 is used for 8 to 10 hours during this step. The caffeine is removed from this mixture through a carbon filter which helps to naturally remove the caffeine from the green coffee without disturbing its flavor. The goal of this process is to get the caffeine level down to under 0.1%.

Step 4: Green Coffee Extract Refresher

The green coffee extract from Step 1 must be refreshed for the caffeine removal process to be effective. Having the GCE refreshed is a way to control the quality during the extraction process and ensure the GCE is always working at maximum efficiency to extract the most caffeine possible without altering flavor.

Step 5: Journey to the Roaster

The final step in the process is to dry and bag the beans. This is only done after 99.9% of the caffeine has been removed from the green coffee beans. Once the beans have been decaffeinated, they can be dried and shipped to the end-user.

Why Does The Decaffeination Process Matter?

Since the decaffeination process ultimately delivers coffee to your cup, it's essential to conduct this process as responsibly as possible.

We want you to enjoy all the flavors that real coffee offers without sacrificing quality or safety. SWP helps us deliver on that promise which is why we choose this method over others.  

SWP is one of the only natural decaffeination processes in the market.

When you buy SWP decaffeinated coffee solely, you can feel confident knowing it's 100% chemical-free and done with water.

We want our coffee enthusiasts to feel confident drinking a cup of our decaf coffee, knowing it will taste identical to its caffeinated counterpart.

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