About This Coffee
From the beautiful land of Veracruz, our Rio Blanco EA Decaf is a consistent blend of different regions near the Citlaltepetl volcano. It delivers a sweet cup packed with flavors like citrus, almond, chocolate, and brown sugar, all with a syrupy body.
The decaffeination process used for this coffee utilizes a naturally occurring compound, ethyl acetate (EA), to remove caffeine from the coffee. It is often called sugarcane decaf because the EA used in this process can be derived from molasses (a byproduct of sugar production). Since EA is naturally occurring, the process is labeled as “naturally decaffeinated.”
The EA process is relatively simple. The coffee beans are moistened with water and EA is circulated throughout. The EA binds with the caffeine in the bean and extracts the caffeine while leaving most of the other flavor compounds. After the desired caffeine level is reached, the EA residue on the beans is removed by steaming them.
Coffee in Mexico
Mexico is one of the largest exporters of certified Organic and Fairtrade coffees. Smallholders with less than 10 hectares compose a full 70% of Mexico’s coffee producers. Since the 1990s, producers have largely been successful at forming cooperatives that sell certified coffees and help them gain market access to garner higher prices.