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A chemist explains the chemistry behind decafΒ coffee
For many people, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is the start of a great day. But caffeine can cause headaches and jitters in others. Thatβs why many people reach for a decaffeinated cup instead.
Iβm a chemistry professor who has taught lectures on why chemicals dissolve in some liquids but not in others. The processes of decaffeination offer great real-life examples of these chemistry concepts. Even the best decaffeination method, however, does not remove all of the caffeineβabout 7 milligrams of caffeine usually remain in an 8-ounce cup.
Producers decaffeinating their coffee want to remove the caffeine while retaining allβor at least mostβof the other chemical aroma and flavor compounds. Decaffeination has a rich history, and now almost all coffee producers use one of three common methods.