Decaf coffee has a dirty little secret, and it’s not the caffeine.
For years, “decaf” has been the butt of every coffee joke. Why bother?, people say. It doesn’t even taste like coffee. And honestly, they’ve had a point, because for decades, most decaf coffee has been processed in ways that would make any true coffee lover (and probably their liver) wince.
But here’s the good news: not all decaf is created equal. The trick is knowing which kind you’re actually drinking.
How Decaf Started, and Where It Went Wrong
The story of decaf begins in the early 1900s, when a shipment of green coffee beans accidentally got soaked in seawater. Someone realised the caffeine was gone but the flavour mostly stayed. And so began the quest to make “coffee without the buzz.”
But as demand grew, so did shortcuts. Coffee companies wanted faster, cheaper ways to strip caffeine, and chemistry provided the tools.
For decades, big commercial decaf was made using industrial solvents, the same stuff used in paint stripper, nail polish remover, and degreasing metal parts. Not exactly what you want in your morning cup.
The Chemical Truth About Decaf
Most decaf coffee on supermarket shelves still uses one of two methods:
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Methylene Chloride Process – A chemical solvent that binds to caffeine molecules to remove them. It’s highly effective…but also the same compound found in industrial degreasers.
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Ethyl Acetate (Synthetic) – Often advertised as “naturally derived,” but in reality, it’s usually lab-made using petrochemicals.
These methods are cheap, efficient, and technically “safe” when regulated, but they leave a sour taste (literally and ethically). Workers handling these chemicals face health risks, and the resulting coffee often tastes flat, papery, or hollow.
The Myth of ‘Naturally Decaffeinated’
This is where marketing gets sneaky. You’ll often see bags labelled “naturally decaffeinated using ethyl acetate”. Sounds eco, right?
But unless that EA is made from real fermented sugarcane molasses, it’s probably synthetic. Calling it “natural” is like calling margarine “plant-based butter” technically true, but missing the point.
That’s where the EA Sugarcane Process comes in, and it’s the game changer that makes decaf finally worth drinking again.
The EA Sugarcane Decaf Process (A.K.A. The Good Stuff)
Here’s how our decaf is made:
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Sugarcane is harvested and its molasses are fermented to naturally create ethyl acetate, the same compound, but without synthetic chemicals.
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Green coffee beans are steamed to open their pores.
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They’re washed in the naturally derived EA solution, which gently binds to caffeine molecules and pulls them out.
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The beans are then rinsed, dried, and shipped.
The result? Coffee that’s sweet, balanced, and deliciously complex, without a hint of bitterness or chemical residue.
Why It Matters, for You and for the Planet
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No synthetic chemicals. Everything comes from sugarcane. A renewable, plant-based source.
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Better for workers and the environment. No toxic solvent waste or hazardous handling.
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Better flavour. Because the natural EA process is gentle, the original flavour profile of the bean is preserved. You actually taste the coffee, not the process.
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Supports producers. The decaffeination happens closer to origin (in Colombia), keeping value and jobs where the coffee grows.
So, Why Don’t More Roasters Use It?
Because it costs more.
The process takes longer.
And, to be blunt, most consumers don’t ask enough questions.
But at Snakebite, we do things differently. We’d rather lose a few pennies per bag than compromise on what goes in your cup. That’s why our decaf isn’t an afterthought, it’s a coffee we’re proud to serve to anyone, day or night.
Our EA Sugarcane Decaf is roasted with the same care and attention as any of our full-caf coffees. It’s sweet, smooth, and tastes like caramel, brown sugar, and roasted nuts, everything you want from a good Colombian cup, minus the caffeine shakes.
So the next time someone cracks a decaf joke, tell them this: “Maybe you just haven’t tried the right one.”
If you love coffee but don’t fancy counting sheep at 2am, our EA Sugarcane Decaf is the cleanest, sweetest, least boring way to keep the ritual alive.
Try Snakebite’s EA Sugarcane Decaf