# Real Coffee Or Fake? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 3, 2000, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401 "2000-02-03T15:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AvenueB-dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@AvenueB-dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AvenueB-dude)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/1 "2000-02-03T15:34:00Z")
After a trip to the corner Starbucks, I have a simple question: how do they get caffiene out of coffee beans? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/2 "2000-02-03T15:39:00Z")
Caffeine dissolves in chlorine. Unfortunately, I can’t recall how the beans are cleansed of chlorine after being decaffeinated…anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/3 "2000-02-03T23:02:00Z")
Maybe they leave the chlorine in…now _that’s_ a buzz. Studi * * * When I grow up, I want to be the Minister of Silly Walks. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/4 "2000-02-03T23:23:00Z")
I heard they simply soak the beans in water. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/5 "2000-02-03T23:33:00Z")
Decaffinated coffee is not the question… Why the Hell are you asking such a question on a MB where we have all imbibed such copious amounts of caffine… such cpious amounts of caffiene… * * * Current board events prohibit me from posting my sig line. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/6 "2000-02-03T23:36:00Z")
sbch cb obioubs bmomnts bfs bf cbffbb!! * * * Smilies like Brithael do donkey dung! {smilies disabled} ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/7 "2000-02-04T00:20:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by AvenueB-dude: > After a trip to the corner Starbucks, I have a simple question: how do they get caffiene out of coffee beans? This should really be in general questions. Pretty much moist, green coffee beans are bathed in a solution that removes caffeine. Originally (early 1900’s) the solution was benzene. Nowadays, I’ve heard of several chemicals being used: [ul][li]water[/li][li]ethyl acetate[/li][li]carbon dioxide under high pressure[/ul][/li] If I remember right, using water is the least effective, but some companies will claim “water decaffeinated” because it’s more “natural.” ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/8 "2000-02-04T00:38:00Z")
**AvenueB-dude** : Welcome to the Straight Dope, and welcome to New York City. There is one crucial thing you need to know. _Real New Yorkers do not drink at Starbucks_. Yes, I know there’s one on Astor Place where beatniks once were. And on A where generations of immigrants once came to find a better life. And for all I know, there’s one on D in an old crackhouse. And yes, it’s OK to _work_ there, what with the stock options and health insurance and whatnot. But we don’t go there. They are evil. Try Odessa, on A at 7th. The same applies to The Gap, a location on St. Mark’s place notwithstanding. ## Oops. I hope **Satan** doesn’t read this. The knowledge of a Gap on St. Mark’s would break his heart. Livin’ on Tums, vitamin E and Rogaine ---
**Author:** ![ejs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ejs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ejs)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2000, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/9 "2000-07-31T23:40:44Z")
So, does decaffeinated coffe taste different because of the process used, or does it taste different because of the lack of caffeine? ---
**Author:** ![astrangefish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbce88/32.png) [@astrangefish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astrangefish)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/10 "2000-07-31T23:44:06Z")
It tastes different because it’s fake coffee. Where’s the fun of removing the good stuff? It’s like chocolate, without the chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/11 "2000-08-01T01:54:06Z")
Since when is there a Gap on St. Marks? Yaaaargh! (Maybe I’ve seen it and just blocked it out or something.) Yah, the Green Beans (coffee beans, that is) are soaked in a solution that takes out the caffeine. Water is sometimes used, but the disadvantage is that it tends to take out too much of the flavor compounds in the coffee. Chemicals are usually used–chemical processes are cheaper than the water process. Chemical processes leave better flavor, but then there is the question of chemical residue. I haven’t the foggiest idea how they get the chemicals out of the beans. I can’t believe it, but it’s never occurred to me to wonder. And Starbucks coffee sucks ass, in New York and everywhere else too. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/12 "2000-08-01T02:39:04Z")
I read that Sanka, the granddaddy of decaf java, used water – but not plain water. They used salt water. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/13 "2000-08-01T03:37:38Z")
Gotta say, I see no point in drinking coffee without the caffeine. What, you drink it for the _taste_? BLEH! * * * Ruffian, who likes to add a little coffee to her cream and sugar ---
**Author:** ![ejs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ejs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ejs)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-coffee-or-fake/13401/14 "2000-08-01T17:46:29Z")
I signed onto this board specifically for the answer to that question. My work here is done. (And I don’t even drink coffee.)