Café HAG

Café HAG is a well-known coffee brand that originated in Germany. It was first established in 1906 by Ludwig Roselius, a German coffee merchant. Café HAG is renowned for its production of decaffeinated coffee, a process that Roselius himself invented and patented.

History

Café HAG was initially known as Kaffee Handels-Aktien-Gesellschaft (Coffee Trading Company), which was later abbreviated to Café HAG. Ludwig Roselius, the founder, was a pioneer in the coffee industry. He developed a method to remove caffeine from coffee beans without altering the taste, leading to the creation of the first commercially available decaffeinated coffee.

In 1914, Café HAG introduced the first coffee substitute, a product made from grains and chicory, which gained popularity during the World Wars when coffee was scarce. Over the years, Café HAG has expanded its product range to include various types of coffee, including instant coffee, ground coffee, and whole bean coffee.

Decaffeination Process

The decaffeination process invented by Roselius involved steaming coffee beans with various acids or bases, then using benzene as a solvent to remove the caffeine. This method, however, has been discontinued due to health concerns associated with benzene. Modern decaffeination processes used by Café HAG and other coffee producers typically involve the use of water, organic solvents, or carbon dioxide.

Global Presence

Café HAG is now a global brand, owned by Jacobs Douwe Egberts, a Dutch company that is one of the largest coffee roasters in the world. Café HAG products are sold in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

See Also

• Coffee production
• History of coffee
• Decaffeination