Why do people prefer decaf coffee? They may not feel like waking up unexpectedly at night or cannot consume caffeinated beverages like regular coffee or tea.
Decaf coffee is also famous for those sensitive to caffeine or with health conditions requiring them to limit their daily caffeine intake.
Luckily, you can roast your decaf coffee beans at home. But how do you go about it? Can it be that complex? Don’t worry, although it’s a bit different than roasting regular coffee beans, you can definitely make a rich and delicious decaf coffee drink.
Let’s explore this article to learn how to roast decaf coffee beans. But before that, we should first learn about decaf coffee and whether it’s healthier than regular coffee.
Table of Contents
What Is Decaf Coffee?
Decaf coffee is a type of coffee that is processed by reducing or even eliminating the caffeine content in it. Usually, this process will reduce as much as 97-99% of the caffeine contained in the coffee grains.
Although low in caffeine, this coffee can still provide a mild stimulant effect caused by other compounds contained in coffee grains.
When compared to regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee is undoubtedly a healthier option for people who want to avoid anxiety or sleep disorders.
Well, does it taste stronger than regular coffee? It depends on the quality of the beans and the processing method.
Also read: Can You Drink Decaf Coffee While Pregnant?
The Difference in Roasting Decaf And Non-Decaf Coffee
What are the differentiating factors between the decaf and non-decaf coffee roasting process? You can produce delicious decaf coffee drinks by understanding the differences between the two!
1. Coffee Bean Color
Decaf coffee beans are darker on the outside, even before the roasting process. This is due to the caffeine removal process, which discolors the beans and contains more water.
2. Roasting Process
When roasting decaf coffee, you must be more careful as it is susceptible to extreme temperature changes. The resulting beverage tends to be more bitter when the roasting time is too long, even at too high a temperature.
3. Roasting Time
Why shouldn’t we roast decaf coffee beans for too long? This is because they cook faster. To avoid over-roasting, you should adjust the roasting time accordingly.
The Health Benefits of Decaffeinated Coffee
Apart from their unique taste, decaf coffee beans also bring several meaningful health benefits, including reducing the risk of various diseases.
1. Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
According to several local studies, decaf coffee effectively reduces the risk of heart disease! This is because decaf coffee is high in antioxidants that fight free radicals and reduce inflammation.
2. Lowers the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Secondly, consuming decaffeinated coffee regularly can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Apart from fighting free radicals, the antioxidant content can also improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
3. Reduces Cancer Risk
Finally, decaf coffee contains polyphenol compounds that are anti-cancer in nature. With this content, this coffee can fight potential cancer cells and even prevent the growth of tumors.
How is Decaffeinated Coffee Made?
How is decaf coffee made? There are several methods that you can apply to remove the caffeine content of coffee. With this, you can get a more natural coffee flavor.
Also read: From Trees to Your Cup: 3 Types of Coffee Processing Methods.
1. Direct Solvent
In the first method, soak the coffee beans in special chemical solvents, such as methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. Both of these solvents can effectively remove the caffeine in coffee. The beans are then dried to allow the remaining solvent to evaporate slowly.
2. Indirect Solvent
If you want to apply this method, soak the coffee beans in hot water. The water mixed with caffeine will be separated and then combined with the solvent above to remove the caffeine altogether.
After successfully removing the caffeine, the water will be poured back into the coffee beans to reabsorb the lost flavor compounds.
3. The Swiss Water Processing
If you want a chemical-free process, perhaps The Swiss Water Processing method can be a fixed choice. Here, you soak the coffee beans in hot water. The caffeine in it will then be extracted with a carbon filter. This water will be poured back into the coffee beans to preserve the original flavor.
4. Carbon Dioxide Method
This method is unique because it utilizes the pressure of carbon dioxide compounds to remove caffeine from coffee beans. First, soak the coffee beans in water and steam them to open the pores.
Next, liquid carbon dioxide is pumped into the coffee beans. In this process, try to do it with high pressure and temperature so that it can completely absorb the caffeine and some of the water in it.
Finally, the pressure is released so that the CO2 turns into a gas that will separate the caffeine. Remember to dry and roast the caffeine-free coffee beans.
Also read: Knowing the Differences between Americano and Long Black Coffee
What You Need to Know When Roasting Decaf Coffee
Before knowing how to roast decaf coffee beans, there are a few things you need to consider. This will ensure that your roasted coffee produces optimal quality coffee.
- Roasting Temperature: You should roast your coffee at a lower temperature. This is because the beans burn more efficiently and even taste more bitter if the roasting temperature tends to be high.
- Roasting Time: Next, adjust the time to roast the coffee. It is best to avoid roasting it for a long time.
- Close Supervision: Lastly, you need to monitor this process closely. Keep an eye on changes in temperature and roasting time to avoid the risk of over-roasting.
A Few Steps on How to Roast Decaf Coffee Beans
How to roast decaf coffee? Now that we’ve gotten to know the information above, it’s time to understand the steps of roasting decaf coffee beans correctly:
1. Charge Temperature & Drying Phase
First of all, the charge temperature on the roasting machine must be set. Generally, the ideal temperature is 150-170°C, but this also varies according to the type of coffee beans and the equipment you use.
Then, put the beans in the roaster drum to be dried immediately for 4-6 minutes. With this drying process, the moisture content in the coffee beans will decrease, making it perfect for producing a consistent finish.
2. Maillard Phase
Next, the coffee beans will change color and bring out the distinctive aroma of freshly roasted coffee. In this stage, try to keep the temperature of the machine stable to produce coffee that tastes balanced and not bitter.
3. First & Second Crack
After the Maillard process is successfully passed, the coffee beans will experience the first crack. This process occurs due to increased internal pressure in the bean and causes a clear flavor and aroma to emerge.
Do you prefer decaf coffee with its mild flavor? If so, stop roasting until this first crack or light roast stage. On the other hand, if you like bold and intense coffee, continue until the second crack stage.
4. Development Phase
This phase determines the final result of the coffee. If left too long, your coffee will taste flat or bitter. Conversely, a too short process can prevent the coffee from being raw and undercooked. If we draw from the coffee roasting process, this phase lasts only 1-2 minutes, with a final temperature of 195-205°C.
5. Final Quality Control
Finally, the final quality of the roasted coffee beans will be controlled. Cool the beans as soon as possible to prevent the roasting process from continuing. Also, check the maturity, flavor profile, acidity, and aroma. If it falls short of your expectations, take note of the roasting parameters and adjust them in the next roast.
Good Decaf Coffee Also Depends on The Quality of The Coffee Beans Used!
That’s a little discussion on how to roast decaf coffee beans. As it turns out, roasting decaf coffee also has some determining factors, such as the time and temperature you use.
Your next task is to choose quality coffee beans to give you the best decaf coffee results. Well, as a suggestion, you could get high-quality green coffee beans like the ones available at FnB Coffee!
We offer a wide selection of premium coffee beans from Indonesia. With the perfect flavor and aroma, you will have a different coffee experience than usual. Head to the FnB Coffee website, choose our best-selling beans, and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee daily!
