A cup for the truest coffee lovers
At Vienna Coffee Company, we’ve always believed that decaf drinkers are the truest coffee lovers. You’re not in it for the caffeine. You’re here for the flavor, the ritual, and the craft. That’s why we take our decaf program seriously and why we’re excited to announce an upgrade: moving our decaf offerings to the EA process, sometimes called sugarcane decaffeination.
Here’s what this means and why we’re making the switch.
What Is the EA Decaf Process?
The EA process uses a naturally occurring solvent called ethyl acetate (EA), a natural compound found in fruits like apples and pears and produced during sugarcane fermentation. While the term may sound scientific, the method itself is simple, natural chemistry.
Here’s how it works:
Steam prepares the coffee
Green coffee beans are steamed which opens their pores and makes them ready for caffeine removal.A natural solvent does the work
The beans are washed with an EA solution. The EA bonds specifically with caffeine molecules which allows the process to target and remove caffeine while leaving the beans’ flavor-building compounds intact.Steam finishes the job
After extraction the beans are steamed and rinsed again which removes any remaining EA. The coffee is then dried and sent on to us for roasting.
This process is called “sugarcane decaf” because the EA used is a naturally occurring byproduct of fermented sugarcane. It is one of the reasons many specialty roasters choose this method.
Why We’re Making the Switch
While water-processed decaf served us well in the past, EA decaf offers several advantages that align with the flavor profile and consistency we want for our decaf drinkers.
The EA process is selective which means it preserves the sweetness, complexity, and character of the original coffee. You end up with a decaf that tastes more like the caffeinated version of the same bean.
Ethyl acetate is a compound we encounter every day in fruits, vegetables, and even in coffee itself. After processing nothing remains in the final roasted product.
What This Means for Your Cup
If you enjoy our VCH Decaf, here’s the simple difference you’ll taste:
The cup profile is smoother and more expressive which allows decaf to stand proudly alongside every coffee we roast.
We’re excited for you to taste the new version and to continue refining our decaf program with methods that honor both the farmer’s work and the customer’s experience.
Watch this video to learn more about the Ethyl Acetate Process:
AT VIENNA COFFEE COMPANY…
Our dedication to ensuring that we are a market leader in craft coffee throughout the southeast dictates that we apply the same critical scrutiny used for our complete coffee lineup to any product we offer.
This commitment demonstrates our continued pursuit to provide craft coffee that enriches the lives of customers and producers alike by providing an experience grounded in excellence and hospitality. We custom pick our green coffee beans from regions across The Coffee Belt and always seek responsible sourcing from seed to cup.
Our roasting team ensures each bean varietal is roasted according to its characteristics to enhance its peak flavors. Vienna Coffee Company goes further by evaluating each varietal harvest through coffee cuppings to evaluate and adjust its roasting profile.
Explore our complete line of coffees online or stop by the Coffee House and let our baristas do the brewing for you. We hope that exploring what we offer (whether its organic, single-origin, a VCC custom blend or your favorite flavored coffee) continues your journey in discovering that “Great Coffee is an Adventure”.