Not all decaf coffee is created equally.

If fact, most decaf coffees might be doing more harm to your health than good.

How is coffee decaffeinated, and why does it matter for your health?

The Traditional Decaf method 

Today, the most popular method of decaffeinating coffee is done with harmful chemical solvents, like methylene chloride and ethyl acetate, to extract the caffeine from the bean.

Unfortunately, this method also strips away the precious natural oils and antioxidants found in the coffee.

The result is a drier coffee bean with less flavor and far fewer health benefits.

The Traditional Decaf Method and its Effect on our Health

It isn’t just the flavor that’s impacted by this decaf method. By ingesting these chemicals, they can damage our bodies over time.

• Methylene chloride is commonly used as a paint remover and is known as a human carcinogen. It affects the central nervous system causing headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and in high amounts, can lead to unconsciousness and cancer.
• Ethyl acetate (the chemical used in nail polish remover) is less hazardous, but it has been known to be an irritant especially to those who are sensitive

Fortunately, there are better ways to enjoy a cup of caffeine free coffee.

The Mountain Water Process

One method of naturally decaffeinating coffee is the Mountain Water Process. 

Mountain Water Process is a unique chemical-free decaffeination process that uses pure glacier water from the mountain Pico de Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico.

Here is the process:

• To remove the caffeine, the green coffee beans are soaked in the pure mountain water.
• The water is removed from the beans and run through a special filter that captures caffeine molecules and allows them to be strained from the solution.
• The solution—now containing the flavor & antioxidant compounds but no caffeine—is then reintroduced to the green coffee beans, which reabsorb the soluble materials.

This process keeps the beans’ original elements of flavor, giving you delicious, aromatic, decaffeinated coffee.

Conclusion

The decaf process matters.

Most commercial coffees are decaffeinated with chemical solvents that can have negative effects on our health over time. 

When choosing a quality decaf coffee, look for one that has been decaffeinated with the Mountain Water Process, or a similar chemical-free method. 

Decaffeinated with Wellness in Mind

Here at Seek®, we've decaffeinated our coffee with wellness in mind. 

Here's what that looks like:

• Seek® Organic Decaf Coffee begins with Certified Organic, single-origin, & high-altitude grown beans in the mountains of Peru

• Our beans are 3rd party lab tested for mold, toxins, & pesticides (our latest testing results can be found on the product page)

• Decaffeinated with Mountain Water Process, making sure you keep the health benefits of coffee and avoid the traditional, harmful chemical solvents

• Finally, the decaffeinated beans are carefully roasted to maximize antioxidants and other beneficial health compounds naturally found in the coffee beans

The result?

An incredibly flavorful decaf coffee, with tasting notes of toasted hazelnut, dark cocoa, and dried fruits.