0901.12.00 - Decaffeinated

This HTS category, 0901.12.00, specifically covers coffee beans that have undergone a decaffeination process but have not yet been roasted. This includes all types of coffee beans that have had caffeine removed through various industrial methods, making them suitable for consumers who wish to avoid caffeine. The key defining characteristic for classification under this code is the decaffeination treatment, regardless of the coffee bean varietal or origin.

Crucially, this category is distinguished from its sibling, 0901.11.00 ("Not decaffeinated"), by the absence of caffeine. While both cover unroasted coffee beans, the decaffeination process is the sole determinant for classification into 0901.12.00. This means that any unroasted coffee, even if it is of a naturally low-caffeine variety but has not been intentionally decaffeinated, would fall under the "not decaffeinated" category.

Within this category of decaffeinated, unroasted coffee, further subdivisions exist to classify the beans based on their varietal. The subcategories, such as "Arabica," "Robusta," and "Other," allow for a more granular classification of the specific type of coffee bean. This distinction is important for statistical tracking, trade analysis, and potentially for specific import/export regulations that may apply to different coffee varietals.