Special Types of Coffee

Decaffeinated coffee (coffee with most of the caffeine removed) is usually produced by first softening green coffee beans with high-pressure steam and then extracting the caffeine with any of various solvents. Coffee that is decaffeinated using water or other naturally occurring solvents is called naturally decaffeinated coffee. Other decaffeinated coffee is produced with synthetic solvents, such as methylene chloride.

Instant, or soluble, coffee is prepared by first brewing the coffee in very large quantities at a processing plant. Water is then removed from the coffee by evaporation or by freeze-drying. Instant coffee is sold as a fine powder or, in the case of freeze-dried coffee, as granules. The user simply adds hot water.

A cereal substitute for coffee is made by blending roasted whole wheat with bran and molasses. Coffee substitutes were used extensively during the two World Wars when real coffee was unavailable.