Circulates ethyl acetate, which can be derived from sugarcane molasses, through moistened beans to bind and remove caffeine.
Sugarcane EA decaffeination moistens green beans and circulates ethyl acetate through them, which binds and extracts caffeine while leaving most other flavor compounds. An importer says the ethyl acetate can be derived from molasses. That importer's version is sourced from Colombia and described as balanced, chocolatey and sweet.
How it worksBeans are moistened with water and ethyl acetate is circulated through them, binding the caffeine while leaving most other flavor compounds. The ethyl acetate can be derived from molasses, a byproduct of sugar production.
Step by step
- 01
Moisten the beans with water.
- 02
Circulate ethyl acetate through them to bind and extract caffeine.
History
Ethyl acetate is one of the solvents that, with dichloromethane, replaced benzene in later decaffeination. Sucafina sources its sugarcane EA decaf from Colombian regions including Cauca, Tolima, Antioquia and the Eje Cafetero.
Our notes on Sugarcane / Ethyl Acetate (EA) Decaffeination are still being checked against their sources, so for now this page shows only the facts we can stand behind.
In the cup, according to guides
- SweetnessMoreOne importer describes its Colombian sugarcane EA decaf as balanced, chocolatey and sweet.
Common in
At the same stage
Sources · 2 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-09-30. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Sugarcane EA Decaf · Sucafina
- Decaffeination · Wikimedia Foundation