How to Extract Caffeine from Green Coffee Using CO2

TL;DR

To extract caffeine from green coffee beans using supercritical CO2, first moisturize the beans with steam or hot water to enhance CO2 penetration. The process involves packing the beans into a modified chamber, heating it to supercritical conditions, and draining the resulting liquid, which is rich in caffeine. This method mimics industrial decaffeination techniques, though additional solvent extraction may be needed for complete caffeine isolation.

Transcript

there it is folks purified caffeine crystals extracted from green coffee beans with supercritical co2 finally success originally I tried doing this with a paintball high pressure paintball supply cannister and I kind of packed some dry ice with coffee beans in there and that really didn't work at all because I didn't have enough control over the co... Read More

Key Insights

• 💚 Supercritical CO2 can be used to extract caffeine from green coffee beans.
• 🦻 Moisturizing the beans before extraction aids in the penetration of CO2.
• 😒 Modifications to the supercritical drying chamber, including the use of military-grade Teflon tape, improve the extraction process.
• 🫗 The resulting liquid after extraction is highly caffeinated and may contain caffeine crystals.

Questions & Answers

Q: What modifications were made to the supercritical drying chamber for the caffeine extraction process?

The chamber was modified by adding pipe fittings and a cap, along with a higher density military-grade Teflon tape for better sealing. Additionally, an extra six-inch pipe nipple was added to increase the chamber's length.

Q: Why were the coffee beans moisturized before the extraction process?

Moisturizing the beans with steam or hot water helps soften them, allowing the supercritical CO2 to penetrate more effectively and extract the caffeine.

Q: How was the extraction process carried out?

The chamber was filled with water at the bottom, followed by coffee beans supported by a screen. The chamber was then heated to supercritical CO2 conditions using a torch, and the resulting black liquid was drained.

Q: What was the outcome of the extraction process?

The extracted liquid, which was black and resembled ink, was found to be highly caffeinated. The liquid contained caffeine crystals that could be observed upon cooling.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video showcases the modification of a supercritical drying chamber for extracting caffeine from green coffee beans using supercritical CO2.

• Moisturizing the coffee beans with steam and hot water before extraction helps the CO2 penetrate the beans effectively.

• The extraction process involves filling the chamber with coffee beans and water, heating it to supercritical CO2 conditions, and then draining the resulting black liquid, which contains caffeine.