More decaf without solvents
Lifeboost says it only uses the Swiss Water Process for decaf. Whole bean, medium roast, low acid.
Ground coffee with mushroom extracts. Four Sigmatic says the beans are Swiss Water decaf.
Nespresso Original capsules. Artizan lists this Honduras lot as Swiss Water Process. Not for Vertuo.
K-Cups for Keurig. Lifeboost says all of its decaf is Swiss Water.
What each process means
- Swiss Water. Water, heat and time remove the caffeine. No solvent. The name is a trademark, so brands should say it by name.
- Mountain Water. Also water only. It is done in Mexico.
- CO2. Pressurized carbon dioxide pulls out the caffeine. No chemical solvent is used.
- Ethyl acetate. Often called sugarcane decaf. It is a solvent made from sugarcane. It is not methylene chloride.
- Methylene chloride. A chemical solvent used on the green beans. The caffeine is rinsed out with it.
Decaf brands and the process they state
39 products from 34 brands. 19 say Swiss Water, 3 Mountain Water, 4 CO2 and 6 ethyl acetate. Each row links to the page where the brand, a store or an article says so. A brand can use different processes for different products, so check the bag you are buying.
Jump to: Swiss Water · Mountain Water · CO2 · Ethyl acetate (sugarcane) · Water process, type not named · Methylene chloride
Swiss Water
| Brand and product | Where it says so |
|---|---|
| Artizan Coffee Organic Honduras Decaf, Nespresso Original capsules | Brand page |
| Black Rifle Coffee Just Decaf | Brand page |
| Café Don Pablo Colombian Swiss Water Decaf | Brand page |
| Coffee Bean Direct Organic SWP Decaf City Roast Mexican | Brand page |
| Counter Culture Slow Motion decaf | Brand page |
| Danger Coffee Decaf (help center, all decaf) | Brand page |
| Dekáf Coffee Roasters Entire Dekáf line | Brand page |
| Four Sigmatic Calm Decaf Ground Coffee with mushrooms | Brand page |
| Jim's Organic Coffee Together Decaf | Brand page |
| Kauai Coffee Swiss Water Decaf (Estate Reserve) | Brand page |
| Kicking Horse Decaf (organic, whole bean) | Brand page |
| Lifeboost Decaf (organic); All decaf (help center) | Brand page |
| Onyx Coffee Lab Circadian (decaf) | Brand page |
| Starbucks Komodo Dragon Blend decaf; VIA Instant Decaf Italian Roast | Press article |
| Stumptown Trapper Creek Decaf | Brand page |
| Tim Hortons Decaf Medium Roast K-Cup pods (12 ct) | Store listing |
| Verena Street Rocking Chair Decaf | Brand page |
| Verve Vancouver Decaf Craft Instant Coffee | Brand page |
| Volcanica Coffee Low Acid Decaf Coffee | Brand page |
Mountain Water
| Brand and product | Where it says so |
|---|---|
| Cafe Altura Organic Decaf Regular Medium Roast ground | Store listing |
| Ethical Bean Decaf Dark Roast | Brand page |
| Larry's Coffee Magic City Decaf (organic) | Brand page |
CO2
| Brand and product | Where it says so |
|---|---|
| Coffee Bean Direct CO2 Decaf Colombian | Brand page |
| Lavazza Decaf Intenso | Brand page |
| Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Decaf 3.53 oz | Store listing |
| Peet's Coffee Decaffeinato Ristretto Espresso Capsules | Brand page |
Ethyl acetate (sugarcane)
| Brand and product | Where it says so |
|---|---|
| Cameron's Coffee Decaf line | Brand page |
| Ceremony Coffee Roasters Decaf Colombia Cauca | Brand page |
| Coffee Bros. Colombian Decaf (Decaf De Caña) | Brand page |
| Devoción Decaf (Colombia) | Brand page |
| Dunn Brothers Coffee Decaf Colombian Supremo (dark roast) | Brand page |
| Sey Coffee Huila Decaffeinated (sold green, wholesale) | Brand page |
Water process, type not named
| Brand and product | Where it says so |
|---|---|
| Intelligentsia Decaf Black Cat Espresso | Brand page |
| Kirkland Signature (Costco) Organic Colombian Decaf Whole Bean 2 lb; Organic House Decaf K-Cup Pods 120 ct | Brand page |
| Peet's Coffee All bagged decaf and K-Cup/coffee pods | Brand page |
Methylene chloride
| Brand and product | Where it says so |
|---|---|
| Don Francisco's (F. Gaviña) Decaf line (brand FAQ) | Brand page |
We list a process only when we read it on a page for that product. Brands that do not say, or whose pages disagree, are not listed.
Questions people ask
Does Swiss Water decaf use chemicals?
No. The Swiss Water Process uses water, heat and time to remove caffeine, with no solvent.
Is sugarcane decaf the same as Swiss Water?
No. Sugarcane decaf uses ethyl acetate, which is a solvent made from sugarcane. It is not methylene chloride, but it is not a water-only process either.
Which Nespresso decaf pods name their process?
Nespresso’s UK site says it uses water or CO2 depending on the blend. We did not find a process named on its US pages. Artizan Coffee names Swiss Water on its Nespresso Original pods; see the pick above.
Can one brand use more than one process?
Yes. Counter Culture, for one, says Swiss Water “unless otherwise noted.” Check the bag or the product page for the coffee you are buying.
More decaf and gentle coffee
- The best decaf Nespresso pods, with price per pod.
- The best low acid coffee, and who publishes an acid number.
How we picked
Each pick says its process on the brand’s own page, and each links to an Amazon listing for the same product. Prices come from Amazon at the time shown. Brands don’t pay us to be listed. How we check.