Coffee is an excellent source of antioxidants that help fight against cancer and heart disease, as well as increasing energy levels. But what happens when you want a morning buzz without caffeine? Many turn to decaf coffee – made by chemically stripping beans of their caffeine content before roasting them again – though some chemicals used may be toxic; in particular, Methylene Chloride used in paint strippers has been known to be carcinogenic and linked with liver, kidney and heart damage.

Methylene chloride has long been linked with nausea, numbness and drowsiness when inhaled; when inhaled it can also cause respiratory complications including dizziness and fainting. Although banned from some workplaces (such as construction industry) this solvent remains widely used in household products like polish remover, carpet cleaner and paint stripper; even major coffee brands continue using this solvent without disclosing its use on labels, creating additional risks to pregnant women and the elderly who are particularly sensitive to its harmful effects.

As part of their decaf coffee production process, some producers soak the beans in solvents containing either methylene chloride or ethyl acetate prior to roasting and selling. When exposed to these solvents, coffee beans bond to them before being evaporated off before roasting and sale – although both chemicals can have adverse effects on flavor extraction, as they strip the coffee of its essential oils. Methylene chloride’s non-water-soluble nature leaves residues behind even after decades of bans in Japan and Korea on this chemical use! According to new reports by Clean Label Project research, some decaf coffees still contain trace amounts even after 35 year bans on this chemical used as decaf coffee producers try their luck on making decaf coffee!

Consumers looking for alternatives to chemically produced coffee have some fantastic choices available to them. Choose organic and certified kosher for Passover coffee that was Swiss Water processed, ensuring no methylene chloride or other chemicals were used during processing. Fidalgo Coffee’s Organic Decaf is an ideal example, featuring smooth full body flavors with bold undertones, as well as being Kosher Parve year-round (excluding Passover). We also carry Trees Organic’s SWISS WATER process decaf, the only globally recognized 100% chemical free caffeine removal method globally available globally branded as chemical-free globally branded.