What about Swiss Water Decaf?
Jan 30, 2015
Last week we had the opportunity to tour the Swiss Water Decaf plant where our Crescent Beach Decaf (organic peru) gets decaffeinated in Burnaby. The SWISS WATER Process is a taste-driven, 100% chemical free, decaffeination process that delivers to today's consumer expectations. Using water from the coast mountains of British Columbia and proprietary caffeine-specific carbon re-generation technology, SWISS WATER Process leaves the beans 99.9% caffeine free while maintaining the unique origin flavour, body and aroma characteristics.
Our tour began in their cool boardroom with this animated video overview of the science behind their decaffeination process:
One surprising thing we learned was that they do not extract the caffeine in a manner that allows them to salvage it for resale. The caffeine is extracted using carbon material that once concentrated, undergoes extreme temperatures in order to re-generate the carbon, resulting in the caffeine being disintegrated. It is the chemical method of extraction, which isn't a practice at Swiss Water Decaf that does allow for the resale of caffeine. Interesting.
We were then given a plant tour by Kurt, we managed to snap a pic of the green coffee awaiting decaffeination but no photography was permitted in the decaffeination area itself. The above video is a great animation of the goings on in the plant.
We were required to wear lab coats & hair nets perhaps so we felt like chemists, nerdy ones ;)
We completed our tour with some time in the coffee lab tasting the difference between the coffees prior to decaffeination and after decaffeination, the team at Swiss Water Decaf have made great progress in the closing the gap in differentials in taste. The ultimate goal, which they feel they've reached (we agree) is that there would be no difference in the quality of taste. Great tasting coffee without the caffeine!
1 comment
I ordered some coffee and merchandise from lone tree Coffee a couple days ago, and Rochelle personally delivered it to our house yesterday. We had a pleasant chat about the history of their roastery, and then I ungraciously ended our conversation (I just couldn’t wait anymore) so that I could try the Crescent Beach Decaf. Wowee! Was that as great as they claim it to be. I’m no coffee connoisseur , so I can’t tell you about acidity, nor aftertaste, nor notes of chocolate or molasses (or whatever coffee professionals proclaim…), I can just say this is the best tasting cup of decaf I’ve ever had (and I’ve had quite a few, experimenting with many to find the best alternative to the full horse-powered stuff, which I can’t really have anymore…). I hope you guys keep producing this blend – it’s fantastic. Thanks a lot, and thank, Rochelle, for the personal attention to my order.