Water Process Decafs: Swiss Water or Mountain Water. Which is better? | Mavericks Coffee

Water Process Decafs: Swiss Water or Mountain Water. Which is better. | Mavericks Coffee

A water process decaf coffee is the best way to get a chemical free cup of coffee, but which tastes better Swiss water process or Mountain water process? Learn more about the differences between the two types of water process decaf coffee.

Types of decaffeination processes?

When selecting a decaffeinated coffee, there are a few choices as consumers that you most know about. Decaf coffees can be divided into two categories, chemical processed and water processed decaffeinated.

1. Chemicals Decafs

2. Water Processed Decafs: Swiss Water Process and Mountain Water decaf process

Chemical Processed Decaffeinated

The most common process for decaffeinating coffee in the United States involves the use of a chemical, Methyl Chloride (CH3Cl) also known as the chloromethane. Methyl Chloride (MC) is a gas that is colorless, flammable, and is toxic. Don't take my word for it, look it up. Here is article for more about (MC) here.

Methyl Chloride Decaf

The MC decaffeination process involves soaking the green coffee beans in hot water to extract the caffeine, which also removes the water soluble components (the flavor). The beans are then removed from the water and the MC is added to bond with the caffeine. The MC and the caffeine are skimmed off and the green coffee beans are returned to the water to reabsorb the water soluble components that were previously extracted. This process is about 94% effective.

By the inherent nature of processing, MC decafs will never be organic. Plus, it has a residual processed flavor, which means the great taste of high quality coffee would not be used in a method that would taint the coffee beans brilliance. That is why traditionally decaf coffee was always so bad. It has poor quality coffee beans with a lingering processed taste. The base green coffees usually scores low in the 70s (that's bad). Now, enter stage right the water based decafs.

Water Processed Decaffeinated

Unlike Methyl Chloride decafs, water based decaffeination processes do not use any chemical solvents. These methods are 100% chemical free, more natural, and completely water based. Since the Swiss Water process and Mountain Water decaf process are solvent free processes, both conventional and organic green coffee beans can be used.

Since these water decaffeination process methods do not have a residual taste from chemical solvents, high quality coffee bean can be used, which scores in the 80's (that's good) and above.

Swiss Water Process Decafs: Background

The most popular of the water based decafs in production today is Swiss Water decaffeinated processed coffee. This is the name that most people think about when considering decafs. It water was developed as a process in Switzerland nearly 100 years ago, dating back to 1933. Commercial introduction wasn't until 1980.

Swiss Water Decaf Process

Swiss water is a water processing decaffeination method. In this water process, the green coffee beans are pre soaked in water to expand the bean making it more permeable. Then a solution called Green Coffee Extract in introduced to the beans. This solution draws off the caffeine and other water soluble components (flavor components).

The Green Coffee Extract (CGA) solution then goes through a carbon filter separating away the caffeine molecules and the CGA is reintroduced back to the coffee. This helps the beans maintain their original flavor. The beans are then dried to 8-11% and are ready for use. Drying is important for any coffee, if the beans are to dry they age quickly, loose flavor, and certainly will not roast correctly. To wet and the beans mold.

While not completely caffeine free, Swiss process coffees achieve about 99% caffeine extracted. Leaving residual caffeine at less then 1%.

Mountain Water Decaf background

While not as popular as the Swiss process method, Mountain Water process become available in 1981. A Mountain water decaf method also uses a 100% water based decaffeination process. Located in Vera Cruz, Mexico, Descemex produces among the best processed decafs in the world. Uses "pure water" from Pico de Orizaba, Mexico. Pico de Orizaba is reportedly the highest mountain in Mexico.

How Mountain Water Decaf is Processed.

To remove the caffeine from the green coffee beans, coffee beans are received for processing, sampled, and lab tested. A water soluble solution is developed based upon the analytical profile of the coffee beans. The coffee beans are prepared for processing. Preparation involves a process of the coffee beans being soaked in water to start absorption. The immersed coffee beans expand, and softening of the coffee bean shell and cellulose structure occurs, making the coffee membrane more permeable in order to allow for caffeine molecules and the water soluble compounds (flavor components) to be removed.

The caffeine is separated from the water soluble solution and delivered back to the coffee beans via a stream immersion. This way the beans maintain their original flavor and it is not lost to the extraction process. When the processing is complete, the beans go through a series of cylindrical, vibratory, and vertical dryers to bring the dried coffee to a stable moisture content. Optimal moisture content for green coffee beans is between 8-11%. The coffee beans leave the plant with 99.94% of the caffeine extracted. While not completely caffeine free, residual caffeine comes in around 0.06%. That is effective as it gets.

Swiss Water decaf vs Mountain Water Decaf

You can see Swiss Water process and Mountain Water process each have a unique water based method for removing the caffeine without the chemicals and doing so while still retaining the original flavor components of the green coffee beans. This is because it minimizes and in some cases eliminates any residual process flavors on the beans. It's chemical free.

Both process virtually eliminate caffeine from the coffee bean. Although Mountain Water process appears be slighter better. Let's keep in mind we are only taking about a difference in near trace amounts.

In Roasting

From a roasters perspective, I have roasted both green coffee beans over the years. I much prefer to use the Mountain Water, I find it easier to roast especially for longer durations, and as a low acid coffee roaster, I can remove more acid with longer roasts. However, other roasters may disagree.

In Drinking and Taste

I have also had my share and then some, cupping each batch after they were roasted. The swiss water process coffee is quite good. However, more times than not, when roast a batch of Mountain Water I can't tell the difference between Mountain Water process decaf and regular coffee.

Swiss Water or Mountain Water The Winner:

Both are very good, while I prefer Mountain Water decaf, I can't really say anything bad about the Swiss Water. However, I will say this, if you transition away from any of these Methyl Chloride decafs to either A Swiss water decaf or a Mountain water decaf, you will be the winner.

One last thing. If your using decaf to avoid caffeine or to mitigate or a sensitivity to caffeine, remember even these decafs as great as they are, they still have a lot of acid in them that can cause issues too. In my near 20 years in the coffee business, I have found that if caffeine is a bother to you, acid may also be as well.

In my opinion the ultimate safe play, is Mountain Water decaf, 100% organic, slow roasted, low acid coffee.

Give Mavericks a try. Here is free shipping coupon: decafship22

-Ryan