A process for producing decaffeinated green coffee beans, decaffeinated roasted coffee beans or preparations produced therefrom is described, wherein one process step comprises the PEF (pulsed electric field) treatment of (optionally presoaked) green coffee beans. Also described is a decaffeinated green coffee bean, a decaffeinated roasted coffee bean, and a preparation produced therefrom, and also the use of a PEF device for the treatment of (optionally presoaked) green coffee beans. A system for decaffeinating green coffee beans is additionally described.

The invention provides a method for extraction of at least one extract compound from a material, comprising: a. contacting carbon dioxide with the material to dissolve an amount of the at least one extract compound from the material into the carbon dioxide; b. contacting the carbon dioxide comprising the at least dissolved extract compound with a sorbent to sorb the at least one extract compound onto the sorbent and for regenerating the carbon dioxide; c. recirculating the regenerated carbon dioxide; and d. repeating said recirculating at a constant density of said carbon dioxide of between 100 and 1000 kg/m.sup.3, and repeating said recirculating for at least 10 cycles.

Provided is a method of producing roasted coffee beans, comprising: a first step of adding water to raw material roasted coffee beans, followed by heating of the resultant; and a second step of subjecting the raw material roasted coffee beans after the first step to supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.

The present invention provides a method for producing caffeine, wherein the method comprises: (a) combining a coffee extract comprising caffeine with an aqueous organic acid; (b) crystallizing the coffee extract and the aqueous organic acid so as to form caffeine-organic acid co-crystals in an aqueous phase; (c) separating the caffeine-organic acid co-crystals from the aqueous phase; and (d) extracting caffeine from the co-crystals obtained in step (c), wherein step (d) comprises placing the co-crystals in an aqueous solution so as to form a caffeine precipitate and a solution comprising the organic acid. Also provided is a method for producing a decaffeinated coffee extract comprising chlorogenic acids.

The present invention provides a method for producing caffeine, wherein the method comprises: (a) combining a coffee extract comprising caffeine with an aqueous organic acid; (b) crystallizing the coffee extract and the aqueous organic acid so as to form caffeine-organic acid co-crystals in an aqueous phase; (c) separating the caffeine-organic acid co-crystals from the aqueous phase; and (d) extracting caffeine from the co-crystals obtained in step (c), wherein step (d) comprises placing the co-crystals in an aqueous solution so as to form a caffeine precipitate and a solution comprising the organic acid. Also provided is a method for producing a decaffeinated coffee extract comprising chlorogenic acids.

The present invention is directed to supercritical fluid extraction systems that provide methods of extraction that further reduce total extraction time and improve yield efficiency as compared with existing methods. Such systems and methods utilize substantially increased pressures and flow rates that afford high intensity targeting of extractable material using supercritical carbon dioxide. Surprisingly, the present invention has identified and demonstrated dramatic improvements in the rate and efficiency of dissolution of the target compounds by increasing the pressure of supercritical fluid extraction systems to several times industry standards (e.g., 1000 bar versus 150-300 bar).

A process for producing decaffeinated green coffee beans, decaffeinated roasted coffee beans or preparations produced therefrom is described, wherein one process step comprises the PEF (pulsed electric field) treatment of (optionally presoaked) green coffee beans. Also described is a decaffeinated green coffee bean, a decaffeinated roasted coffee bean, and a preparation produced therefrom, and also the use of a PEF device for the treatment of (optionally presoaked) green coffee beans. A system for decaffeinating green coffee beans is additionally described.