In Conversation with Swiss Water® Process: The World's First Biodynamic® Decaf
What You'll Learn in This Q&A
Editor's Note
Following the official launch of the world's first Demeter Certified Biodynamic® Decaf, we wanted to take you behind the scenes. We sat down with the team at Swiss Water® to discuss what makes their process so unique—and why it matters for both quality and sustainability.
When we set out to create the world's first Demeter Certified Biodynamic decaf, we knew one thing for certain: the process had to be as clean as the farming. You can't take coffee that has been grown with passion and care using regenerative farming techniques, then soak it in chemical solvents...
That is why Swiss Water® Process was the only choice.
To celebrate this historic partnership, we spoke with the Swiss Water team about their commitment to 100% chemical-free processing, how they maintain the integrity of premium green coffee like our 18 Conejo Biodynamic coffee, and what this collaboration means for the future of clean, regenerative decaffeinated coffee.
1. Pioneering the Partnership
Swiss Water Process has always been at the forefront of sustainable decaffeination. As the first organically certified decaffeinator, they continue to push boundaries—and partnering with Holistic Roasters on the world's first Demeter Certified Biodynamic Decaf represents the next bold step in that journey.
As the first organically certified decaffeinator, we've always pushed the boundaries of sustainability and forward thinking. Embracing Biodynamic coffee is the next bold step in that journey, and we're truly honoured to be part of it.
Demeter has long been a pioneer in sustainability, championing Biodynamic practices well before they gained broader recognition. It's inspiring to see the coffee industry now embracing cleaner, more sustainable choices.
We were thrilled when Holistic Roasters approached us with this opportunity, and we're excited to help drive this movement forward.
Our process is built on quality and transparency. We felt that decaffeinating a refined coffee like 18 Conejo was sure to result in an equally elegant and flavourful decaf.
2. The Clean Process & Quality Assurance
Our process focuses on caffeine removal by carefully balancing the concentrations of the constituents of the GCE (green coffee extract) and the bean so that we are net extractive—in other words, nothing but caffeine enters or exits the bean.
The Swiss Water® Process has organic certification so meets the higher standards required for purity. Every lot processed is separated from the previous lot through a rigorous and auditable cleaning process.
We regularly test for pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides in our GCE and so can confirm that the bean is not being exposed to any of these elements.
As described earlier, our process is net extractive which means that we look to keep the same characteristics of the bean before and after decaffeination. Moisture levels and drying are important factors and we take great care and attention to those aspects of our process.
Our quality management starts with the arrival of the green coffee at our facility. Our pre-process evaluations for quality include:
Our rigorous testing for pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides in our GCE confirms that the bean is not being exposed to any contaminants during the decaffeination process.
Combined with our organic certification standards and net extractive process, we ensure that the cleanliness and purity you've established through Biodynamic farming and lab testing remains intact—or even enhanced—through decaffeination.
3. Sustainability and the Future
Our process was developed as the first-ever alternative to chemical decaffeination and was the first to be certified organic. Since day one, we have never introduced esters or solvents into our process—and only operate the clean Swiss Water® Process within our facility.
More broadly speaking, we have a four-pillared approach to sustainability:
- Advancing the Prosperity of Producers
- Caring for Our Planet
- Leveling Opportunities
- Helping Communities Flourish
We take a variety of actions in support of each of these pillars. Specific to our environmental pillar, we are proud to return more than 80% of the water used for our process to the community water supply—not to mention that it requires nominal treatment due to how clean our process is.
In addition, since moving to our new facility, we've reduced water usage by 35%.
Swiss Water's Four Pillars of Sustainability
Supporting coffee farmers and their communities through fair practices and partnerships.
80% water return rate, 35% reduction in water usage, and chemical-free processing.
Creating equitable access to clean, high-quality decaf across the industry.
Contributing to the wellbeing of communities throughout the coffee supply chain.
This reinforces the idea that decaf is an integral part of the coffee world—and that decaf drinkers deserve clean, high-quality options just as much as anyone else.
Now, they finally have one!
Decaf presents a powerful opportunity to reach a wider audience. More decaf consumption means growth for the coffee industry as a whole.
With roughly 12% of coffee drinkers choosing decaf, there is significant potential to expand the production and enjoyment of clean, Biodynamic, and sustainably grown coffee.
4. Final Thoughts
We are incredibly proud to work with partners who share our vision. When you drink our new Biodynamic Décaf, you aren't just avoiding caffeine—you are supporting a supply chain that values purity from the roots in the ground to the water used in processing.
A huge thank you to the Swiss Water team for their transparency, their technology, and their passion for great coffee.
Taste the Difference
Experience the clean, rich flavour of the world's first 100% chemical-free Biodynamic Décaf.
Shop Biodynamic DécafFrequently Asked Questions
The Swiss Water Process is 100% chemical-free, using only water, time, and temperature. It's net extractive, meaning nothing but caffeine enters or exits the bean. The process has organic certification and regularly tests for pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides to ensure the bean is not exposed to any contaminants during processing.
Swiss Water employs rigorous quality management throughout the entire process. This includes pre-process evaluations for moisture, density, defects, and cup analysis; online measurement of caffeine in the GCE; hourly bean sampling to verify caffeine levels; continuous moisture monitoring in 5-minute intervals; and final verification to ensure 99.9% caffeine removal while maintaining optimal quality and shelf life.
Swiss Water's process is built on quality and transparency. The 18 Conejo Biodynamic green coffee is a refined, premium coffee with elegant characteristics. When decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process, these qualities are preserved, resulting in an equally elegant and flavorful decaf that maintains the integrity of the original Biodynamic beans.
Swiss Water follows a four-pillared approach to sustainability: Advancing Producer Prosperity, Caring for Our Planet, Leveling Opportunities, and Helping Communities Flourish. They return more than 80% of the water used in their process to the community water supply (requiring minimal treatment due to process cleanliness) and have reduced water usage by 35% since moving to their new facility.
This reinforces that decaf is an integral part of the coffee world—and that decaf drinkers deserve clean, high-quality options just as much as anyone else. With approximately 12% of coffee drinkers choosing decaf, there is significant potential to expand the production and enjoyment of clean, Biodynamic, and sustainably grown coffee.
As the first organically certified decaffeinator, Swiss Water has always pushed the boundaries of sustainability and forward thinking. They have never introduced esters or solvents into their process, making them the perfect partner for Biodynamic coffee. This collaboration represents the next bold step in sustainable, clean coffee production.
References & Additional Reading
- Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company. "The Swiss Water Process." https://www.swisswater.com/pages/our-process
- Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company. "Sustainability at Swiss Water." https://www.swisswater.com/pages/sustainability
- Demeter International. "Biodynamic Agriculture Standards." https://www.demeter.net/
- Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company. "Quality & Certifications." https://www.swisswater.com/pages/quality
- Holistic Roasters. "Biodynamic Décaf Coffee." https://biodynamic.coffee/products/biodynamic-decaf
