Does Your Decaf Coffee Contain Methylene Chloride?

Are you a decaf coffee lover? If so, it's time to switch to Terran Coffee. Our coffee is not just delicious; it's also environmentally friendly and ethically sourced. We take pride in roasting our gourmet coffee beans to order, guaranteeing you the freshest cup of coffee possible. What sets us apart is our commitment to your health and the environment, making you feel special and valued.

 Our flavored beans are a testament to our dedication to your health and satisfaction. We use only natural oils to achieve the required sophistication for Terran Coffee. But that's not all. We understand that not everyone can tolerate caffeine. That's why we offer impeccable quality with our decaf coffees, ensuring you can enjoy your cup of joe without any health concerns. This reassures you that you're making a healthy choice with Terran Coffee.

Some companies like major chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts use a method for making their decaf coffee called the “European Method.” The European Method is a technique used to decaffeinate coffee beans. Here’s how it works:

1. Steaming the Beans: The process begins by steaming the coffee beans. This opens up their pores, which makes the caffeine inside them more accessible.
2. Soaking in a Solvent: Next, the beans are soaked in a solvent, often methylene chloride. This solvent has a particular affinity for caffeine, and it binds to the caffeine molecules and extracts them from the beans.
3. Removing the Solvent: After the beans have been soaked, they are then heated to evaporate the solvent, which also takes the bound caffeine with it.
4. Re-steaming the Beans: Finally, the beans are steamed again to remove any remaining solvent.

The result is coffee beans that retain their original flavor but have had their caffeine content significantly reduced. This method is popular because it’s efficient and effective, removing up to 97% of the caffeine while preserving the beans’ flavor.

However, it’s worth noting that there has been some controversy over the use of chemical solvents in the decaffeination process due to potential health concerns. Despite this, the method is widely considered safe and is commonly used in the coffee industry. We believe in empowering you with this knowledge, so you can make an informed choice about your coffee.

According to a Google search, “Methylene chloride can cause a number of health issues, including:

• Short-term: Mental confusion, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, and headache
• Long-term: Eye and respiratory tract irritation, adverse effects on the heart, central nervous system, and liver, and skin or eye irritation
• Other: Drowsiness, dizziness, numbness and tingling limbs, and loss of consciousness 

• Methylene chloride is considered a potential occupational carcinogen by OSHA. The EPA has also identified risks for adverse human health effects, including neurotoxicity, liver effects, and cancer from inhalation and dermal exposures to methylene chloride. 
• Methylene chloride can be absorbed through the skin, or through contact with the skin, or by inhalation. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level. 
• Methylene chloride can also form carbon monoxide in the body, which can increase angina (chest pains) and can cause other heart symptoms. 
• To reduce exposure, you can look for the product's material safety data sheet (MSDS) to identify ingredients. For example, you can make sure the product used to remove paint or a coating does not contain methylene chloride. Companies have commonly substituted methylene chloride with another toxic chemical: N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP).”

Terran Coffee Uses the Swiss Water Method for Our Decaf

Art Terran Coffee, we embrace simplicity. Naturally, we love the simplicity of making our decaf, embracing a natural technique known as the Swiss Water Process. This process is a unique, 100% chemical-free method of decaffeinating coffee. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how it works:

1. Soaking: The process begins with soaking green coffee beans in pure, hot water. This step dissolves the caffeine and other flavor elements in the beans.
2. Separation: The water, now containing caffeine and other dissolved solids, is separated from the beans and passed through a special filter. This filter is designed to capture larger caffeine molecules, while allowing smaller oil and flavor molecules to pass through.
3. Caffeine Removal: The result is a caffeine-free green coffee extract (GCE), which still retains the original flavors of the coffee. The caffeine-laden water is then discarded.
4. Flavor Restoration: The decaffeinated beans are then reintroduced to the GCE. Because the GCE is saturated with flavor compounds, it doesn’t dissolve any more flavor from the beans, but it does draw out the caffeine. This step is repeated until the beans are 99.9% caffeine-free.
5. Drying: Finally, the decaffeinated beans are dried and ready for roasting.

The Swiss Water Process is praised for its ability to decaffeinate coffee without the use of chemical solvents, and for preserving the original flavors of the coffee as much as possible. It’s a preferred method for those like Terran Coffee seeking a natural approach to decaffeination.

When you’re ready for a delectable decaf coffee, we suggest you try Terran Coffee’s Peru Decaf Single-Origin. It is a high-quality arabica coffee grown by small-scale farmers in the diverse and mountainous regions of the Andes. Peru coffee has a light body, medium acidity, and deep color, with flavor notes ranging from citrus to chocolate, depending on the microclimate and processing method.

Peru Coffee is also known for being the world's leading producer of certified fair trade and organic coffee, which means that the farmers are paid fairly and practice sustainable farming methods. Peru coffee is a delicious and ethical choice for coffee lovers who appreciate Peru's rich and varied culture and landscape.

 Our Peru Decaf Single-Origin beans are thoroughly washed and dried in the sun before being decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process. We don’t believe coffee should be exposed to chemicals like methylene chloride. Terran Coffee Peru Decaf Single-Origin coffee will elevate your coffee experience, as will all of our other gourmet fresh-roasted beans.

Terran Coffee, “Human Coffee for Humans.”