But if you're a coffee lover who prefers to avoid caffeine, you can still enjoy a cup of coffee that delivers rich flavor with decaffeinated coffee.

It's how caffeine is extracted from coffee beans that is a mystery for most of us.

These are some of methods currently used for decaffeinating.

Direct Contact Method

In direct contact method beans come directly in contact with decaffeinating agents, such as methylene chloride, after being softened by water or steam. Caffeine is removed by directly soaking materials in methylene chloride.

Indirect Contact Method

With indirect contact method a water and coffee solution is used to draw off caffeine. The solution containing caffeine is then treated with a decaffeinating agent, such as ethyl acetate, and mixed back into beans for reabsorption of flavorings.

Sometimes this method is referred to as naturally decaffeinated because ethyl acetate is a chemical found naturally in many fruits.

Water Processing

This process is similar to indirect method, except no chemicals are used. The coffee beans are soaked in hot water then solution is passed through a carbon filter to remove caffeine.

Swiss Water Process

In Swiss Water Process method, caffeine is still extracted with carbon filters but beans soak in hot water that is saturated with coffee flavor. The result is caffeine removal without removing coffee flavors.

It's referred to as Swiss Water Process because a Swiss company originally developed and patented procedure.

Carbon Dioxide Processing

Gourmet gift baskets usually contain savory (or salty) foods, although you can also buy gift baskets containing your favorite sweets. Often these are primarily what we call 'junk food'. Savory gourmet foods are a fabulous way to totally indulge senses, primarily senses of taste, texture and smell. They include foods like

Cheese There are all kinds of wonderful cheeses available on your supermarket shelves. Some of most popular are - Emmentaler (from Switzerland) - Jarlsberg (from Norway) - Gouda (from The Netherlands) - Edam (from The Netherlands) - Parmesan (from Italy) - Romano (from Italy)

Olives Most of Mediterranean countries grow olives and pickle them in a variety of marinades. Greek olives differ from Italian olives because of ingredients used in their dressings.

Pickled & Marinated Vegetables Each country has its own specific recipes and methods of pickling vegetables, most of which are delectable. Sun dried tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, marinated eggplant, artichoke hearts and marinated mushrooms are just a few of items available in this category.

Most gourmet foodstuffs have a high salt component. They are astringent or tangy, as most marinades include vinegars and oils. They stimulate savory areas of our taste buds.

Dried Breads Again, every country has its wheat-based gourmet products, from crisp breads to papadams. They provide an excellent base on which to add a combination of ingredients, much like a standard savory biscuit or cracker.

Smoked Seafood You can include a variety of seafood products in a gourmet treat. Pickled herrings, smoked oysters, smoked mussels or clams all blend well with other savory gourmet products.

Pates And Meats Pates are used as spreads on dried biscuits while meats such as salami, ham and prosciutto blend well with cheese, olives and pickled vegetables.