Methylene chloride
Methylene chloride is a colorless, volatile chemical solvent used in the decaffeination process for green coffee beans. It is a common solvent in the coffee industry, effectively removing caffeine while minimally impacting the coffee’s flavor. The amount of methylene chloride used in this process is extremely small—less than 1 part per million (PPM)—and it completely evaporates during roasting, ensuring that it poses no health risk.
In the specialty coffee industry, quality is the top priority. As a result, the use of this solvent in decaffeination is carefully regulated to ensure that it does not compromise the flavor integrity of the coffee.
