The process begins with fermented molasses from sugarcane, which is used to produce ethanol. This ethanol is then combined with natural acetic acid to form the solvent Ethyl Acetate (E.A.). The coffee beans are first soaked in water to increase their moisture content, allowing the caffeine to loosen from their structure. This water is then used to dissolve and extract the caffeine.
Afterward, the beans are rinsed again with fresh water, briefly steamed to clean their inner layers, and finally dried back to their original moisture level.
This method removes approximately 97% of the caffeine from the beans.