You have been hired by a large food company to develop a method to prepare decaffeinated coffee, suggest a simple procedure that you might use for this? (in regards to extraction)

Many used chloroform or dichloromethane in the past but I think most use water now. http://spot.pcc.edu/~chandy/241/CaffeineExtractionCH2CCl2.pdf

To prepare decaffeinated coffee, the most commonly used method is the extraction method, which involves removing the caffeine from the coffee beans while preserving the flavor compounds.

Here is a simple procedure you can use for decaffeination through the extraction method:

1. Start with green coffee beans: Firstly, obtain green coffee beans, which are unroasted coffee beans. Green coffee beans contain the caffeine but haven't undergone the typical roasting process.

2. Soak the beans: Submerge the green coffee beans in a solvent that can extract caffeine. The most commonly used solvent is either water or an organic solvent called ethyl acetate. For a simple procedure, let's use water as the solvent.

3. Solvent contact: Ensure the coffee beans are evenly exposed to the solvent. You can achieve this by either stirring the mixture or using an extraction vessel designed for this purpose.

4. Extraction process: Allow the coffee beans to soak in the solvent for a sufficient period to extract the caffeine. This can take anywhere from 8 to 24 hours, depending on the desired decaffeination level.

5. Remove the solvent: Once the extraction process is complete, separate the coffee beans from the solvent. This can be done using a filtration system or by straining the coffee beans from the liquid.

6. Dry and roast the decaffeinated beans: After removing the solvent, dry the decaffeinated coffee beans to remove excess moisture. Then, roast the beans as desired to develop the desired flavor profile.

7. Enjoy your decaffeinated coffee: Finally, grind the decaffeinated coffee beans and brew them using your preferred method. Enjoy your cup of coffee without the stimulating effects of caffeine!

It's important to note that the extraction method can be more complex on an industrial scale, and additional steps may be involved to improve efficiency and ensure quality. This simple procedure, however, provides a basic outline for achieving decaffeinated coffee through the extraction method.