How is coffee decaffeinated, and is the
process safe?
Caffeine is removed
from unroasted coffee beans, either by water or solvent. In the
water method, the beans are soaked to bring the caffeine to the
surface: the caffeine is then filtered out, removing about 97% of
it.
In the solvent method, the beans are soaked
in chemicals until most of the caffeine has been leached out. The
beans are then washed before drying and roasting. Many people are
concerned about solvent residues, but there is no legal requirement
for manufacturers to state which method has been used.
