What decaffeination process does Nespresso use?

Nespresso removes over 99.9% of the caffeine from green coffee by using water as solvent.  This is known as the Swiss Water^® Process of decaffeination.  Green coffee grains are soaked in hot water in order to dissolve the caffeine. The decaffeinated beans are then dried while active carbon is used to absorb the caffeine from the water.  The dried beans are soaked again in the water now free of caffeine. This process is repeated until the beans are 99.9% caffeine free. Finally, the green coffee beans are dried, roasted and then ground.

The residual caffeine content in Nespresso decaffeinated blends is below 0.1%, in accordance with all regulatory requirements.  Nespresso currently offers three varieties of decaffeinated coffee (Vivalto Lungo Decaffeinato, Volluto Decaffeinato, Ristretto Decaffeinato and Arpeggio Decaffeinato). The water extraction process maintains the aromas and flavors of the bean. The decaffeinated Nespresso varieties undergo the same quality controls applied to all Nespresso Grands Crus blends.