A group of physicists and fluid mechanics experts at the University of Pennsylvania have published a groundbreaking study on pour-over coffee, revealing how to extract the maximum amount of flavor from the fewest beans.
A year ago, staff at Arnold Mathijssen’s lab, including the main coffee enthusiast Ernest Park, began pondering the ideal pour-over technique while hanging out at their lab’s coffee table. This casual conversation led to a 10-page paper in the journal Physics of Fluids, published this week. The team used equipment like an espresso machine, French press, and pour-over setup, but it was the pour-over method that Park loved the most.
Intrigued by the potential for optimization, Park experimented with different pouring techniques (or automate the process) and kept records in a lab logbook. As they delved deeper into the research, they realized they needed better data to understand what was happening within the coffee filter. To solve this, they used small silica gel particles similar to coffee grounds, a transparent pour-over filter, a laser sheet for side illumination, and a high-speed camera to analyze the results using custom Python and Matlab computer code.
To ensure accuracy, they measured the amount of dissolved coffee solids by making cups of coffee with varying pouring heights and stream sizes, evaporating the coffee, and then weighing the remaining solids.
After numerous experiments, the team discovered that a slow, laminar pour (a single stream of water without droplets) resulted in the most flavorful coffee. To ensure accuracy, they measured the amount of dissolved coffee solids by making cups of coffee with varying pouring heights and stream sizes, evaporating the coffee, and then weighing the remaining solids.
1. A slow, laminar pour results in the most flavorful coffee. 2. The study used a combination of lab equipment and custom computer code to analyze pour-over coffee techniques. 3. The team measured the amount of dissolved coffee solids to ensure accurate results.
What do you think? Are you ready to apply these scientific insights to your next pour-over coffee experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and who knows – you might just inspire the next groundbreaking study in coffee science!
Questions & Answers
What did scientists publish about making a perfect cup of coffee?
Scientists released instructions for brewing the ideal cup of coffee, as per USA Today.
How can I brew a perfect cup of coffee based on the published guidelines?
To brew a perfect cup of coffee according to the guidelines, follow the water-to-coffee ratio and steeping time recommended by the scientists.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
