The gentle process that removes caffeine without compromising flavour, aroma, or origin.
Decaf coffee should never mean giving up quality, intention, or precision. The Swiss Water® Process is a chemical-free, water-based decaffeination method that removes caffeine while preserving all the coffee’s natural compounds. This allows coffee lovers to enjoy specialty coffee at any time without compromise.
What Is the Swiss Water® Process?
The Swiss Water® Process is a 100 percent chemical-free method that uses water, time, temperature, and diffusion to remove caffeine. About 99.9 percent of caffeine is extracted while other compounds that contribute to the coffee’s structure and integrity remain intact. Unlike other methods that use chemicals or solvents, this process maintains the bean’s natural qualities and any certifications the coffee holds.
How the Swiss Water® Process Works
This process relies on water, time, and diffusion to remove caffeine without altering the bean’s structure.
- PREPARATION AND PRE-SOAK: Green coffee beans are cleaned, sorted, and pre-soaked in hot water to expand the beans and open pores for caffeine extraction.
- GREEN COFFEE EXTRACT (GCE): Beans are then immersed in GCE created from previous extraction cycles. This water solution already contains flavour compounds from prior beans but is caffeine-lean.
- CAFFEINE DIFFUSION: Caffeine migrates from the beans into the GCE due to the concentration imbalance. Flavour compounds remain in the beans because the GCE is already saturated with them.
- REMOVE & REPLACE GCE: Once the GCE is caffeine-saturated, it is removed and replaced with a fresh batch of caffeine-free GCE. This ensures repeated extraction until beans reach ~99.9% caffeine removal.
- CARBON FILTRATION & GCE RENEWAL: Caffeine-saturated GCE is passed through chemical-free carbon filters that trap caffeine while preserving flavour. The resulting caffeine-lean GCE is reused for the next batch.
- DRYING, POLISHING & PACKAGING: Fully decaffeinated beans are then dried, polished for cleanliness, and ready to be packaged for export, roasting and consumption.
The entire process takes approximately 8 to 10 hours, resulting in coffee that is 99.9% caffeine-free and true to origin.
Why Swiss Water® Decaf Matters
Swiss Water® decaf allows coffee lovers to enjoy specialty coffee without compromise. This water-based, chemical-free method maintains the quality and integrity of the beans, respects all certifications, and removes caffeine with precision. It gives the freedom to enjoy coffee anytime without sacrificing the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions: Swiss Water®
Q. What is Swiss Water® decaf?
A. 100 percent chemical-free, water-based method using Green Coffee Extract to remove caffeine while keeping all other compounds intact.
Q. Is Swiss Water® decaf safe?
A. Yes. No chemicals or solvents are used, and the process carefully removes caffeine while preserving the coffee’s natural qualities.
Q. How much caffeine is removed?
A. About 99.9% of caffeine is removed.
Q. Does Swiss Water® decaf taste like regular coffee?
A. Yes. The process preserves all natural compounds, so the coffee retains its original structure and integrity.
Q. Is Swiss Water® decaf sustainable?
A. Yes. The closed-loop Green Coffee Extract (GCE) system allows water and extraction compounds to be reused, minimizing waste and environmental impact.
Q. Does De Mello have Swiss Water® decaf?
A. Yes! Right here.
Looking for another water-based decaf method? Read about the Mountain Water Process.