Decaffeinated Green Coffee (Swiss Water, CO2 & Sugarcane EA)

Swiss Water, CO2 & sugarcane ethyl acetate decaf, unroasted

Decaffeinated green coffee is ordinary green coffee sent through a decaffeination plant before roasting, and the method is what buyers contract on, because it decides the label claim, the organic eligibility and the cup. Water processes, Swiss Water in Canada and Mountain Water at Descamex in Mexico, use only water and carbon filtration to draw out the caffeine and can carry organic certification. Supercritical CO2 decaffeination, run in Europe, uses pressurised carbon dioxide as the solvent and is prized for keeping the flavour. The sugarcane process, run at Descafecol in Manizales, Colombia, uses ethyl acetate made by fermenting sugarcane molasses and suits the specialty trade's washed Colombian lots. Synthetic ethyl acetate and methylene chloride (dichloromethane) are the lower-cost solvent routes; in the EU both are permitted extraction solvents under Directive 2009/32/EC, with dichloromethane residue capped at 2 mg/kg in roasted coffee, and solvents are not allowed for certified organic decaf. Trade is concentrated where the plants are: UN Comtrade shows USD 1.0 billion of decaffeinated non-roasted coffee (HS 0901.12) exported in 2024, with Germany at 71.7%, Canada 14.2%, Mexico 5.3% and Colombia 4.6%. Industry reporting in 2025 described capacity at the Colombian sugarcane plant as tight, with some volume rerouted to Mexico and Germany.

Buy decaf green by method first and origin second: Swiss Water or Mountain Water for organic and chemical-free label claims, CO2 for flavour retention in a premium range, sugarcane EA for specialty Colombian decaf, and solvent decaf for price-led commercial and soluble lines. Then specify the base coffee exactly as you would for regular green, origin, grade, screen and cup, because decaffeination does not improve a coffee. Specify the residual caffeine your destination requires; in the EU, decaffeinated coffee extracts must not exceed 0.3% caffeine by weight of dry matter under Directive 1999/4/EC. Decaf is paler, more porous and roasts faster than regular green, so roasters should adjust profiles. Lots move with the decaffeination plant's certificate stating the method and residual caffeine, a certificate of analysis including solvent residues where a solvent was used, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, and organic or kosher certificates as required. Decaffeinated coffee under HS 0901 is in scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation from 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators and 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators, and the plot geolocation has to follow the coffee through the plant. Price is the green coffee, referenced to the ICE arabica "KC" or ICE London robusta contract, plus the decaffeination charge, yield loss and freight to and from the plant. CBIL brokers decaffeinated green coffee against method, base coffee, residual caffeine and residue analysis, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.