WTH is decaf?!?
With the launch of our new decafs, I found myself thinking.. wait a second. How the heck is decaf even made?! Have you ever wondered how decaf coffee is made?...
With the launch of our new decafs, I found myself thinking.. wait a second. How the heck is decaf even made?!
Have you ever wondered how decaf coffee is made? Is it magic or some kind of wizardry? Well, not quite – but it is an interesting process that involves science and a little bit of caffeine wizardry.
Step 1: (very important) Choosing the Right Beans
The first step in getting a beautiful decaf coffee is selecting the right beans. The beans are typically sourced from different regions and countries just like regular coffee, but for our two tasty selections (Unbuzzed + After Hours) we went with Colombians!
Step 2: Soaking the Beans
The next step is to soak the beans in water to extract the caffeine. There are a few different methods for doing this, but the most common method is the "Swiss Water" process. In this process, the beans are soaked in hot water, which extracts the caffeine along with the flavor compounds. The water is then passed through a carbon filter, which traps the caffeine molecules.
For our AFTER HOURS blend, a unique decaffeination process was used. The caffeine is extracted using sugar cane and water, retaining flavour attributes and sweetness.
Step 3: Resting and Drying the Beans
After the beans have been soaked and the caffeine has been removed, they are washed and dried. This can take a few days, and during this time the beans will lose some of their moisture and weight. This process is important to ensure that the beans retain their flavor and aroma, despite having their caffeine content reduced.
Step 4: Roasting the Beans
The final step is to roast the beans, just like regular coffee beans. However, because decaf coffee beans are more fragile than regular coffee beans, they are often roasted at a lower temperature and for a longer period of time to ensure that they don't burn or become damaged.
And Voila! There you have it – the caffeine has been extracted, and you're left with delicious decaf coffee that you can enjoy anytime of day or night without worrying about staying awake until the wee hours of the morning.
So next time you sip on a decaf coffee, you'll know that it's not magic that makes it caffeine-free – just a little bit of science and caffeine wizardry!