Effects of different decaffeination methods on caffeine contents, physicochemical, and sensory properties of coffee

Coffee consumption could provide various benefits for human health, but also could contribute to several health problems. The growing trend of coffee consumption has created a rising demand for decaffeinated coffee that is safe for consumers with low caffeine tolerance. Decaffeination process, however, can result in the alteration of several properties of coffee which affect overall coffee taste. This review discussed current decaffeination methods such as water decaffeination, solvent decaffeination, supercritical decaffeination, and biodecaffeination which includes their mechanisms, benefits, and drawbacks as well as their effect in the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of coffee. Solvent decaffeination has showed potential improvements in the future such as the incorporation of membrane and ultrasonic technology. In addition, the mathematical model for caffeine diffusion has been arranged according to Fick’s second law of diffusion, based upon spherical and rectangular coordinates with several assumptions. Further research should be aimed to maintain the properties of coffee after decaffeination process. Furthermore, utilizing new solvents that are safe and non-toxic will potentially be favorable research in the development of decaffeination methods in the future.