Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in more than 60 different plant species all over the world. The coffee bush is one of them. Caffeine consumption and its effects in both animals and humans has been a topic of study for more than a century and likely will remain so for the future.

There are many different ways to extract caffeine from the green coffee beans before the roasting process. The first successful commercial decaffeination was invented in 1903 by the German coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius (1874-1943) and his assistant Karl Wimmer, a pharmacist by trade. The Roselius process, as it became known, required the use of benzene or methylene chloride as a solvent.

This is how, for many years, the brand of decaffeinated coffee marketed under the label “Sanka” was sold in France and the United States. The process, nowadays, is completely different. Although not the first to take caffeine out of coffee beans, something done by others previously, Roselius became a leading figure in promoting the process and marketing decaffeinated coffee as a new product.

Roselius filed for a patent in 1906. The Roselius process that was patented included the use of steam and chemical solvents initially. Roselius found out that caffeine can be removed from coffee by treating the green beans with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. After the solvents are removed, then the beans are roasted as usual. For years, Roselius and his scientists continued experimenting with ways to improve decaffeination.

In 1906, in Bremen, Germany, Roselius founded his company and called it Kaffee Handelsgesellschaft AG (Kafeee HAG, Coffee Hag). In the 1970’s, the company Roselius founded, patented a process developed by the Max Planck Institute that utilizes carbon dioxide as a way to eliminate caffeine from coffee beans. This carbon dioxide process continues to be one of the most common methods in use today.

Do you know the interesting and somewhat legendary story behind the Roselius “invention” of decaffeinated coffee?

• A shipment of spoiled coffee beans led Roselius and his assistant to experiment with “ruined” coffee beans in an attempt to get some use out of what was considered a loss.
• Roselius had acquired a shipment of coffee beans from Latin America to be delivered by cargo ship to his warehouse.
• The ship ran into some very rough waters at sea and the cargo hull took in salt water.
• The coffee beans in the flooded portion of the ship became sea salt water soaked.
• Roselius was a very savvy and determined businessman who would take every effort to get a return even out of what looked like a “real lemon.”
• Roselius’ researchers took the “ruined” coffee beans and analyzed them very carefully.
• They conducted taste trials to evaluate the effect of salt water on the coffee beans.
• To their surprise, they realized that the sea water had extracted much of the caffeine without affecting the taste.
• They confirmed that the coffee had an added taste of saltiness but, otherwise, the flavor was good and appealing to the palate.
• This, of course, was great news to Roselius who saw an opportunity to market a new “type” of coffee to consumers in Europe and North America. What looked like an initial loss turned into the makings of an empire.

Decaffeinated coffee is a very important part of the coffee trade and a beverage of choice for many consumers. Due to medical reasons or personal preference, decaffeinated coffee is something coffee lovers and connoisseurs consume regularly and in varying quantities. Top grade decaffeinated Arabica specialty coffees are part of a gourmet coffee’s choice list. They include single origin varietals from coffee growing regions such as Sumatra Estate, Costa Rican SHB, and Colombian Supremo. In fact, the list of available decaffeinated coffees is extensive so start drinking your cup now!

May I suggest you try a delicious decaffeinated Mocha-Java Blend?