Since caffeine is more soluble in dichloromethane (140 mg/ml) than it is in water (22 mg/ml), it readily dissolves in the dichloromethane. However, the tannins are slightly soluble in the dichloromethane. But we want to separate the caffeine from the tannins by having the caffeine dissolve in the dichloromethane and the tannins remain in the water.