What does the Methylene Chloride Process entail?
This process involves submerging the green coffee beans under continuously running hot water. The water becomes filled with caffeine molecules; it is then drained and blended with methylene chloride. Methylene chloride binds easily with caffeine molecules. The caffeine-chemical complex boils and vaporizes at 114°F, so removing the caffeine and the binding solvent requires only heating the water. After heating, the water is again passed over the coffee beans and the process is repeated until decaffeination is complete. This process is known as an indirect method, since the methylene chloride never comes in direct contact with the coffee beans. Methylene chloride is a known carcinogen and highly toxic; simply handling it can be deadly. Nevertheless, the chances of getting methylene chloride poisoning from coffee are so small as to be nonexistent. This is because the chemical boils at such low temperatures that it is easy to remove it from the green coffee. Furthermore, coffee is roasted
