January 8 is Swiss Water® Decaf Day and if you’re not asking how your decaf’s been decaffeinated, today might be a good time to start.
On founding Decaf Haus I was confronted with the attitude that decaf was not safe. It’s not an altogether unfair criticism. Decaf’s past is murky with the only means of removing caffeine was via a chemical process.
Funnily enough, drinkers we’re not wanting health risks in their cup of coffee and so, thankfully, an industry responded.
What we’re left with however, is complicated range of decaffeination processes the decaf drinker is left to navigate themselves.
Check out one of my earliest blog posts Safe Sips: Decaf Method Explained for a rundown of the three main processes: solvent, water or Co2.
What we do know is that decaf drinkers not only want an experience that tastes like real coffee without the caffeine, but one that doesn’t come at the cost of their health.
And this has everything to do how (quality) beans are processed.
In the decaf world, Swiss Water® Process is the industry leader and synonymous with quality and safety. They’re a Canadian company (not Swiss!) but it’s from them that many of our Aussie roasters buy their quality decaffeinated green beans from (using their trademarked version of the water process).
Swiss Water knows decaf drinkers aren’t less concerned about taste, traceability, fair trade, and sustainability than their caffeinated counterparts and so only source quality beans that have these hallmarks of specialty coffee.
What this means for you, as a decaf drinker, is when you see the Swiss Water seal on a pack from your favourite roaster, you can trust that you’re getting the very best cup of decaf free of chemicals, ethically sourced.
So next time you’re at your café ask your barista (or check the packaging if buying beans) on how it was decaffeinated. If it’s not stated, chances are it’s not good news, and worth considering seeking out a safer, tastier product elsewhere OR convincing your café to get in a better decaf.
Cheers to asking what’s in your next cup and spreading the #swisswater word.