Accelerated decaffeination process

摘要

This invention relates to an improved countercurrent extraction process for accelerated decaffeination of coffee beans, and to the novel decaffeinated coffee product generated thereby. In particular, turbulent flow of the extracting solvent is used to obtain a substantially accelerated decaffeination rate involving a caffeine extraction time of only from about 3 to about 5 hours. Since the rate of extraction of non-caffeine coffee solubles is not correspondingly accelerated, the decrease in extraction time minimizes the loss of these valuable materials. Use of multiple vessels in countercurrent operation also decreases the loss of non-caffeine coffee solubles, resulting in an improved decaffeinated coffee.