Swiss cheese I was of course familiar with, great sandwich cheese and a solid contributor to a charcuterie board.  Even Swiss Army knives, blew my mind as a child that all those tools could fit on a knife and still confuses me to this day why someone felt the need to add a toothpick to it.  But Swiss Water process for decaf coffee?  As all new ideas are, I was unsure what it was the first time I heard it.  And, like the toothpick on a Swiss Army knife, continues to cause confusion to this day.  So, let’s go figure out this Swiss Water decaf deal and leave the Swiss Army toothpick mystery for another day. 

Decaf Swiss Water coffee gives you a way to enjoy the taste, smell, and comfort of coffee with much less caffeine.

It also serves to destroy the idea that decaf is somehow boring or subpar coffee. 

Of course this means you can still enjoy your morning cup, an afternoon coffee, or even coffee after dinner without getting the same amount of caffeine as regular coffee.  And opens the possibility that two things we love, coffee and sleep, can co-exist. 

At Philly Fair Trade Roasters, we believe coffee should be simple. Start with quality beans. Source them with care. Roast them well. And let the natural flavor of the coffee do the work.

Want great coffee with less caffeine?
Explore Our Decaf Coffees

What Is Decaf Swiss Water Coffee?

First, here is something that surprises some people:

Decaf coffee starts as regular coffee.

There is no special decaf coffee plant.

Just regular awesome coffee plants. 

Coffee beans naturally contain caffeine. To make decaf coffee, most of that caffeine is removed from the green coffee beans before they are roasted.

There are several ways to remove caffeine.

The Swiss Water Process uses a water-based method instead of the common chemical solvents used in some other decaf methods.

The water process uses water, temperature, time, a special coffee solution (which we’ll talk more about), and carbon filters to remove caffeine.

The goal is simple:

Remove the caffeine while keeping as much of the coffee’s natural character and flavor as possible.

Swiss Water states its process removes 99.9% of the caffeine from the green coffee.

Of course this means you can still enjoy awesome coffee with less caffeine. 

How Does the Swiss Water Process Work?

The name may sound complicated.

The basic idea is actually pretty simple.

Step 1: Start With Green Coffee Beans

Coffee beans are not brown when they come off the farm.

Before roasting, when they arrive in our shop, they are green.

The Swiss Water Process happens before these beans are roasted, the beans arrive in our shop with the Swiss Water Logo on the bag of greens (a term often used for green beans, just calling them greens.  I’m sure you can connect the dots how we arrived at such a clever name).

The green beans are first cleaned and prepared for the decaf process.

Step 2: Add Water

The green coffee beans are exposed to water.

This helps prepare the beans so the caffeine can move out.

Coffee contains much more than caffeine. It also contains many natural compounds that help create its flavor and aroma.

A good decaf process tries to remove the caffeine without removing everything else that makes the coffee taste good.

Step 3: Use Green Coffee Extract

Swiss Water uses something called Green Coffee Extract.

That sounds fancy, but the idea is simple.

It is water that already contains many of the natural compounds found in coffee, but not caffeine.

When green coffee beans are placed with this solution, caffeine begins moving out of the beans.

Because the water already contains many coffee compounds, more of the natural coffee character can stay inside the beans.

Step 4: Filter Out the Caffeine

Once the caffeine leaves the coffee beans, it ends up in the liquid.

The liquid then moves through special carbon filters.

These filters trap the caffeine.

The liquid can then return to the process and keep helping remove caffeine from more coffee.

Step 5: Dry the Beans

After the caffeine has been removed, the green coffee beans are dried again.

Following this, the greens are ready to be shipped for roasting.

During the roasting is when coffee really starts to smell and taste like the drink we know and love.

Roasting develops the sweetness, body, aroma, and flavors in the beans.

And yes, decaf coffee needs careful roasting too.

Does Swiss Water Decaf Have Caffeine?

Yes, but only a small amount.

One important thing to understand is that decaf does not always mean zero caffeine.

Most of the caffeine has been removed.

Swiss Water says its process removes 99.9% of the caffeine that was in the green coffee before processing.

If you need to completely avoid caffeine for a medical reason, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Recommended Reading:
Where Does Caffeine Come From?

Why Drink Decaf Coffee?

There are several reasons of course; enjoying an after-dinner coffee while still having plans to sleep, enjoying a favorite movie snuggling under a blanket and wanting the comfort of coffee without the kick or simply trying to limit overall caffeine consumption in a day. 

But there is another big reason:

People simply enjoy coffee.

Think about your normal coffee routine.

Opening a fresh bag.

Smelling the coffee.

Grinding the beans.

Hearing the brewer start.

Holding a warm mug.

Taking that first sip.

Coffee is about more than caffeine.

For many of us, coffee is part of the day.

It can be a quiet morning moment, a break from work, or something enjoyed with family and friends.

Decaf Swiss Water coffee lets you keep that coffee routine while drinking much less caffeine, whether its time of day or other reasons. 

And we think that is pretty great.

Does Swiss Water Decaf Taste Different?

Decaf coffee can be as divisive as the idea of pineapple on pizza.  Some will love it; others will make a face reserved only for the things in life they disdain the most.

But decaf does not have to be this way, and in our opinion, can still be a pretty awesome cup of coffee. 

Like any good coffee, decaf begins with good coffee beans.

The taste of any coffee depends on many things, including:

• Where the coffee was grown
• The type of coffee plant
• How the coffee cherries were processed
• How the caffeine was removed
• How the coffee was roasted
• How fresh the beans are
• Grind size
• Water
• Brewing method

The Swiss Water Process is designed to remove caffeine while keeping much of the coffee's natural character.

After that, roasting still matters.  Brewing still matters. 

At Philly Fair Trade Roasters, we roast in small batches to give the beans the attention they deserve and bring out the natural flavors already inside the coffee.

We don't add artificial flavors.

Good coffee should taste like good coffee.

Simple as that.

Swiss Water Decaf vs Regular Decaf

Not all decaf coffee is made the same way.

“Decaf” simply tells you that most of the caffeine has been removed.

It does not tell you how it was removed.

There are several decaf methods.

The Swiss Water Process is one specific method that uses water, Green Coffee Extract, and carbon filtration.

Other water-based decaf methods also exist.

At Philly Fair Trade Roasters, our decaf coffees use water-based methods, including Swiss Water Process and Mountain Water Process coffees.

A quick note about Mountain Water Process – Mountain Water Process also uses a water-based method to remove caffeine, not harsh chemicals.  It’s simply a different brand, done in a different part of the world.  Swiss Water has been around longer, occupies a larger part of the market and has more name recognition. 

Back to our story.

When shopping for decaf, look past the word “decaf” on the front of the bag.

Ask a few more questions.

Where was the coffee grown?

How was it decaffeinated?

Was it roasted fresh?

What does it taste like?

Is it Organic?

Is it Fairtrade?

Decaf coffee deserves the same attention as regular coffee.

Is Organic Decaf the Same as Swiss Water Decaf?

No.

These terms mean different things.

Organic Coffee

Organic refers to how coffee is grown and handled.

Organic certification has rules about farming practices and the products used to grow coffee.

Fairtrade Coffee

Fairtrade focuses on the people behind the coffee.

It includes standards for farmers, workers, trading practices, and communities.

Swiss Water Decaf

Swiss Water refers to the process used to remove caffeine from green coffee beans.

These three things can work together, but they do not mean the same thing.

A coffee may be:

• Organic
• Fairtrade
• Water-process decaf

For us, knowing where coffee comes from matters.

Coffee begins long before it reaches our roaster.

How Do You Brew Swiss Water Decaf?

You don't need a special coffee maker for decaf.

Use the brewing method you already enjoy.

Drip coffee?

Great.

French press?

Go for it.

Pour-over?

Absolutely.

Cold brew?

That works too.

The same basic brewing rules still apply.

Is Decaf Only for Drinking at Night?

Not at all.

Evening coffee is a great use for decaf, but there are plenty of other times to drink it.

Try decaf:

• After dinner
• With dessert
• As an afternoon cup
• As your second cup in the morning
• In a latte
• As cold brew
• When you want to lower caffeine
• Anytime you simply want coffee

You can also mix decaf coffee with regular coffee.

This is often called half-caf coffee. (Check out our Mexican Half-Caf).

Half-caf gives you some caffeine, but less than a normal cup.

For some people, this can be the best of both worlds.

How Do You Choose Good Decaf Coffee?

Treat decaf the same way you would any other coffee.

Start with good beans.

Here are a few things to look for.

Look at the Origin

Where coffee is grown can have a big effect on how it tastes.

Coffee from different countries and regions can have very different flavors.

Look for Freshness

Freshly roasted coffee can make a noticeable difference in your cup.

Coffee does not stay fresh forever.

Look for a roaster that roasts in small batches and ships coffee quickly.

Choose a Roast You Enjoy

Choose the Right Grind

Look at How It Was Sourced

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Decaf Swiss Water

What does decaf Swiss Water mean?

Decaf Swiss Water means the coffee was decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process.

This water-based process removes caffeine from green coffee beans before they are roasted.

Does Swiss Water decaf use chemical solvents?

The Swiss Water Process does not use conventional chemical solvents to remove caffeine.

It uses water, Green Coffee Extract, time, temperature, and carbon filtration.

Is Swiss Water decaf completely caffeine-free?

Not completely.

Swiss Water says its process removes 99.9% of the caffeine from green coffee.

A small amount may still remain.

Does Swiss Water decaf taste like regular coffee?

It can.

The final flavor depends on the quality of the coffee, the decaf process, the roasting, freshness, and how you brew it.

High-quality decaf can still have plenty of flavor, sweetness, aroma, and body.

Is Swiss Water decaf the same as Organic coffee?

No.

Organic describes how the coffee was grown and handled.

Swiss Water describes how caffeine was removed.

A coffee can be both Organic and water-process decaf.

Can I make cold brew with decaf coffee?

Yes.

Decaf coffee can be used for cold brew just like regular coffee.

You can also use it in drip machines, French press, pour-over brewers, and espresso machines.

Final Sips on Swiss Water Process Decaf Coffee

Choosing decaf does not mean giving up coffee.

You can still enjoy the smell.

The flavor.

The warm mug.

The morning routine.

The afternoon break.

And that great feeling when you take the first sip.

Decaf Swiss Water coffee simply gives you another way to enjoy coffee with much less caffeine.

At Philly Fair Trade Roasters, we believe great coffee does not have to be complicated.

Start with quality coffee.

Source it responsibly.

Roast it with care.

Brew it well.

Then enjoy your day.

Because caffeinated or decaf, it's a good day to have a good day.

Ready to Try Better Decaf?

Explore our fresh-roasted decaf coffees and find a cup that fits your routine.

📚 Recommended Reading

Keep growing your coffee knowledge with these helpful articles:

Brewing & Coffee Education

• How to Store Coffee Beans for Maximum Freshness
• Coffee-to-Water Ratio: Brew Better Coffee Every Time
• Best Coffee Brewing Temperature Explained
• How to Make Coffee Without a Coffee Maker
• French Press Coffee Guide for Beginners

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