{"id":183248,"date":"2025-10-16T15:38:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T13:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ainia.com\/?p=183248"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:25:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T09:25:15","slug":"caffeine-extraction-from-coffee-supercritical-fluids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ainia.com\/en\/ainia-news\/caffeine-extraction-from-coffee-supercritical-fluids\/","title":{"rendered":"Caffeine extraction from coffee using supercritical fluids"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=\u201d\u201d]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Caffeine extraction from coffee<\/strong> using supercritical CO\u2082 is one of the most advanced applications of <\/span>supercritical fluid extraction<\/strong><\/a> in the food industry.<\/strong> This technique enables the removal of caffeine from raw materials such as green coffee beans or tea leaves, while preserving aromatic compounds and essential oils that contribute to the sensory quality of the final product.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the sections below, we explain what the process involves, the specific conditions under which it is carried out, how supercritical CO\u2082 behaves, and why it has become one of the most widely used <\/span>decaffeination methods<\/strong> in the industry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is caffeine extraction from coffee with supercritical CO\u2082?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Caffeine extraction<\/strong> from coffee using supercritical CO\u2082<\/strong> relies on the unique properties of carbon dioxide in its supercritical state \u2014 a phase between gas and liquid \u2014 where it flows like a gas but dissolves substances like a liquid.<\/span>
\n This dual nature makes it an ideal selective solvent for separating caffeine without removing volatile compounds that contribute to flavour and aroma.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to its low toxicity, recyclability, and the absence of chemical residues in the final product, supercritical CO\u2082<\/strong> has become the cleanest and most effective alternative for producing high-quality decaffeinated coffee and tea.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Altex\"<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Process conditions for caffeine extraction with supercritical CO\u2082<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

To maintain CO\u2082 in its supercritical state and optimise <\/span>caffeine extraction from coffee<\/span><\/b>, specific process conditions must be applied:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n