The beans are then rinsed in some solvent that contains as much of the chemical composition of coffee as possible without also containing the caffeine in a soluble form. The process is repeated anywhere from 8 to 12 times until it meets the international standard of having removed 97% of the caffeine in the beans While statistically it looks like a lot, the effect on the body of that 3% is remarkable even in small amounts. That's why the Mormon guide book tells you to avoid both caffenated and decaffinated coffee.