Yuppie Decaf - Sugarcane Decaffeination Process Explained

Deep in the Andes Mountains of southwestern Colombia live the Nasa Wes’x indigenous people. Victims of violence and displacement throughout decades of conflict, the Nasa community reached an agreement with FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in the late 1990s that allowed them to farm coffee in peace. With a vision of nurturing the land and living with dignity, the Nasa formed a coffee-growing initiative that today includes 96 members—known as the Young Coffee Growers Program. Affectionately, it's also called the Yuppie Program, with “Yuppie” standing for Young Professional People.

Knowledge Perk’s new “Yuppie Decaf” is a product of this inspiring program. It’s a washed-process coffee grown by young coffee professionals, then decaffeinated at the world’s only facility using the Ethyl Acetate sugarcane process. Though “Ethyl Acetate” might sound intimidating, it’s a natural and environmentally friendly compound derived from sugarcane.

The sugarcane decaffeination process begins by steaming the green coffee beans to make them more permeable. The beans are then soaked in an Ethyl Acetate solution, which draws out the caffeine. A charcoal filter removes the caffeine from the solution. Once decaffeinated—typically to about 97%—the beans are dried in vacuum dryers, then gently cooled with ventilation to preserve moisture. When the coffee reaches the ideal moisture level and temperature, it’s packed and shipped to Knowledge Perk’s roastery for the final steps.

Even more than traditional water-based decaffeination, this method helps preserve the origin integrity of the coffee, resulting in a vibrant and flavorful cup. Knowledge Perk is proud to showcase this coffee in our portfolio—we believe it more than holds its own against any of our caffeinated offerings.