Check Your Decaf
A shocking reality awaits coffee lovers: many popular brands rely on chemical decaffeination methods, including Methylene Chloride—the same ingredient found in paint stripper! While there are safer, chemical-free alternatives available, you would never suspect your decaf contains harmful chemicals because this vital information is absent from the label.
But fear not! With our Check Your Decaf tool, you can uncover the truth about your favorite brands. We’ve conducted controlled lab testing to detect the presence of Methylene Chloride, and we’ve also reached out to brands to ask them about their decaffeination processes.
Dive in below to discover which brands prioritize your health and which may be using questionable methods. Your coffee choice shouldn’t come with hidden risks—let us help you sip smartly!
Methylene Chloride is an active ingredient in paint stripper that was recently banned by the EPA. The FDA currently allows methylene chloride to be used in some coffee decaffeination processes and brands are not required to disclose the decaffeination process on their label.
There is an alternative water-based process that doesn’t require chemicals, but many major brands continue to use the chemical process anyway.
What is troubling is that many vulnerable populations like pregnant women, the elderly, and people with heart disease are regular decaf consumers.
Consumers deserve to know how their decaf is made and if they are getting chemicals in their coffee.
Clean Label Project investigated to see if methylene chloride was showing up in the decaf coffee products that people purchase.
Many coffee manufacturers still use chemicals like methylene chloride – commonly used in paint removers – to strip away caffeine.
Solvent-based decaffeination
uses chemicals or carbon dioxide.
Brands don’t have to disclose their process on the label. Demand that they do.
#DetoxYourDecaf
We don’t need chemicals to drink decaffeinated coffee!
Water-based decaffeination processes
use water and rely on time and temperature.
Look for solvent-free, chemical-free, Swiss-water, or certified organic labeled decaf.
Methylene Chloride is an active ingredient in paint stripper that was recently banned by the EPA. However, the FDA currently allows methylene chloride to be used in the coffee decaffeination process and brands are not even required to disclose the decaffeination process on their label.
Decaffeinated Colombia
Decaffeinated Café Molido
Decaffeinated House Blend
Decaffeinated Classic Roast
Decaffeinated Breakfast Blend
Decaffeinated Dark Roast
Decaffeinated Classic
Decaffeinated The Original Roast
Decaffeinated House Blend
Decaffeinated Portside Blend
Decaffeinated Organic French Roast
Decaffeinated House Blend
Decaffeinated Caribou Blend
Decaffeinated Café Special
Decaffeinated French Roast
Decaffeinated Medium Roast
Decaffeinated Classic
Decaffeinated Illy Blend
Decaffeinated Dark
Decaffeinated House Blend
Decaffeinated Major Dickason’s Blend
Decaffeinated House Blend + Decaffeinated Caffè Verona
Decaffeinated Organic Gorilla
Decaffeinated Medium Roast
Look for claims on product packaging such as solvent-free, chemical-free, Swiss-water, or certified organic. These decaffeination approaches don’t use harsh chemicals.
Contact your favorite decaf brand via email, social media, or phone (we’ve provided numbers to popular brands) to ask for information about their decaffeination process.
If you’re concerned about your exposure to methylene chloride or have questions about your caffeine exposure, speak with your doctor.
Have your opinion heard!
Reach out to brands and tell them you expect better or let them know you appreciate them for choosing a chemical-free decaffeination process.
Is your favorite product missing from our list?
Contact the brand and demand to know more about their decaffeination process
| Allegro Coffee | 303-444-4844 |
| Archer Farms (Target) | 800-440-0680 |
| Caribou Coffee | 1-888-227-4268 |
| Community Coffee | 800-884-5282 |
| DAZBOG Coffee | 1-888-932-9264 |
| Dunkin’ Donuts | 800-447-0013 |
| Folgers | 800-937-9745 |
| Illy | 1-877-469-4559 |
| Kicking Horse Coffee | 1-888-287-5282 |
| Nescafe | 800-637-8531 |
| Peet’s Coffee | 800-999-2132 |
| Starbucks | 800-782-7282 |
| The Organic Coffee Co. | 800-829-1300 |
| Tim Hortons | 1-888-601-1616 |
| Kirkland (Costco) | 800-774-2678 |
| Maxwell House | 800-432-6333 |
| Peet’s Coffee | 800-999-2132 |
| Seattle’s Best | 800-611-7793 |
| AmazonFresh (Amazon) | 1-888-280-4331 |
| Café Bustelo | 800-990-9039 |
| Gevalia Kaffe | 800-438-2542 |
| Great Value (Amazon) | 800-925-6278 |
| Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | 1-866-901-2739 |
| Kroger | 800-576-4377 |
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