Colombia Viejo Caldas EA Decaf

• ROAST: Medium/Dark
• FLAVOR: Dark Chocolate, Caramel, Roasted Almond, Dried Fruit, Orange
• BODY: Light
• ACIDITY: Medium
• PROCESS: EA Decaffeination
  

This fruity, nutty, chocolaty decaf was sourced from smallholders across Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda, which collectively was known as El Viejo Caldas. This lot was decaffeinated in Colombia using ethyl acetate - an organic compound derived from plants - to remove 97% of the caffeine from coffee beans. 

Ethyl Acetate is readily available in Colombia, and its application to the coffee industry was a game-changer. In this direct solvent-based process, low-pressure steam opens the pores of the coffee beans. Then the beans are soaked in a solution of water and ethyl acetate. The solvent binds to the salts of chlorogenic acids and allows the removal of caffeine. After flushing the beans with ethyl acetate repeatedly, up to 97% of the caffeine is extracted. Because ethyl acetate comes from sugarcane and is an organic compound that can effectively remove caffeine, the coffee’s flavor attributes are not extracted. Learn more about decaf coffee beans here.