Supercritical CO2 decaffeination

Also CO2 process, carbon dioxide decaf, supercritical fluid extraction

Supercritical carbon dioxide decaffeination uses CO2 under high pressure, where it behaves between a gas and a liquid, to dissolve caffeine selectively out of moistened green beans. The caffeine is then separated from the CO2, which is recycled. The method reaches 97 to 99 percent caffeine removal and leaves no organic solvent residue, but its pressure vessels and energy demand confine it to a few large industrial plants.

Fermentation
not applicable
Drying
not published
Water use
Medium
Origins listing it
0

Step by step

Compare every method
  1. 01Steam or wet green beans
  2. 02Expose beans to carbon dioxide above its critical point (high pressure) which selectively dissolves caffeine
  3. 03Pass the CO2 through water or activated carbon to drop the caffeine, then recycle it
  4. 04Dry the beans

Cup tendencies

selective for caffeine so flavour precursors are largely retained

Risk

High-pressure equipment and energy cost limit it to large plants

Where it is used

Common in, per the method's sources

GermanyUnited States

Origins and regions that list it

No origin record lists it yet.

Other decaffeination methods