Passage Summary: Even though decaf coffee costs more at the store, the author argues this isn't due to production costs because the actual decaffeination step is cheap and easy.

Conclusion: The higher retail price of decaffeinated coffee is not caused by the cost of producing it.

Reasoning: The specific process used to remove caffeine from coffee beans is simple and inexpensive.

Analysis: The author identifies one specific part of the production process—the decaffeination—and assumes that because this part is cheap, the entire endeavor must be cheap. This leaves a significant gap: what if the decaf beans themselves are more expensive to source, or what if the decaffeination process, while simple, requires extra shipping or specialized storage? To make this argument work, the author must assume that there are no other hidden costs associated with decaf that would explain the price hike. Look for an assumption that rules out these other potential expenses.