Is decaf somehow healthier than regular coffee? Or does the decaffeination process itself represent a health risk? On the other hand, many Americans are drinking tea because theyve heard how healthy it is. If they drink decaf tea, they may wonder, do they get the health benefits? Here are answers to these and other questions. Decaffeination removes nearly all the caffeine from the beans. It is carried out while the beans are still green, before they are roasted. Under European law decaffeinated coffee must contain 0.1%, or less, caffeine in roasted coffee beans, and up to 0.3%, or less, in soluble/instant coffee. Decaffeination takes place in food manufacturing facilities. The process involves: Swelling the green coffee beans with water or steam so the caffeine can be extracted Extracting the caffeine from the beans. This is done with water, a solvent or activated carbon. Drying the decaffeinated coffee beans back to their normal moisture level. Besides water, the solvents typically used during decaffeination are ethyl acetate,methylene chloride (Dichloromethane, or DCM) or supercritical CO2. Although manufacturing processes may slightly differ from one factory to another, generally where solvents are used, the water or the solvent is circulated around the water soaked beans and this causes the caffeine to be released. Then the mixture is drained from the extracting vessel and the process is repeated several times, until only a tiny amount of caffeine is left in the bean. All processes are carefully controlled so that any possible solvent residues remain below the strict limits fixed by law. How much caffeine does decaf contain? It must have at least 97 percent of the caffeine removed. That leaves about 5 milligrams, compared to the 100 to 150 milligrams in 6 ounces of brewed coffee. Tea starts with much less caffeine, so most decaf tea has even less caffeine than decaf coffee. Is one type of decaf preferable? Well YES and NO. If you prefer chemical free methods that are considered way safer then the CO2 or water extraction are safer. Over the years there have been worries about decaf processed with methylene chloride as studies had found that this chemical caused cancer when inhaled by lab animals (which is why it was banned in hair sprays). However, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the organic chemical compound method for decaffeination.:( Many companies use methylene chloride because its cheaper and decaf coffee can be mass produced. At Tariero Artisan roastery we use natural supercritical carbon dioxide extraction method to extract the caffeine and hence our coffees are free of chemicals like benzene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene (TCE). Does regular coffee pose any health risks? Caffeine actually has potential benefits. Besides boosting alertness, it has an analgesic effect, which is why it is added to some pain relievers. Several studies also suggest it helps prevent Parkinsons disease. A review of 18 studies, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, suggested that high intakes of regular and decaf coffee, along with tea, may reduce the risks of Type 2 diabetes. And theres evidence suggesting it may help against gallstones and dental cavities. What about decafdoes it pose any risks? Though decaf has been less studied than regular coffee, it too has been the focus of several health scares that have so far not panned out. Decaf can, however, have some of the same effects on the body as regular coffee. It too can cause heartburn or irritate stomach ulcers in susceptible people. And oddly enough, even without the caffeine, it too can stimulate the nervous system and briefly boost blood pressure in those unaccustomed to coffee, according to Swiss researchers. But coffee, decaf or regular, does not cause hypertension. Research on the horizon Researchers are now working on breeding coffee plants that will have up to 98 percent less caffeine. But making these plants commercially viable looks like it will take years. Shop Tariero DECAF: Natural, Chemical-free, Carbon-Dioxide Extraction of Caffeine. Robust smooth taste without the caffeine jitters This 100% Arabica decaf coffee is going to make some of our customers very very happy.
