New Study Reveals Physics Behind Brewing Stronger Coffee with Fewer Beans

Physicists from the University of Pennsylvania have recently released a new study showing how physics can be used to improve the coffee brewing process. Arnold Mathijssen, Ernest Park, and Margot Young collaborated on this research. They hope to meet new needs and opportunities, like addressing the climate crisis that will affect the entire coffee industry that uses more than 30 billion kilograms of coffee worldwide each year.

Coffee production is already under extreme pressure, especially from the effects of climate change. Now, as temperatures rise and rainfall becomes less reliable thanks to climate change, cultivating coffee beans has never been harder. This research provides coffee drinkers with what they want to hear, but it provides a more sustainable solution for our coffee consumption.

The team from the University of Pennsylvania worked with the American Institute of Physics, which provided the independent research experience they were seeking. They explained that by using the laws of physics, anyone can make a great cup of coffee using less coffee. It’s an easy-to-understand, step-by-step process that everyone can do.

Ernest Park guided us through these instructions, noting that pour height is one of the most critical elements.

“What we recommend is making the pour height as high as possible, while still maintaining a laminar flow, where the jet doesn’t break up when it impacts the coffee grinds,” – Ernest Park.

The researchers described what happens as a thin jet of water takes turns breaking up into smaller droplets. This results in uneven extraction of flavors from the coffee grounds. Margot Young further added,

“If you have a thin jet, then it tends to break up into droplets,” – Margot Young.

This insight recalls lessons from high school science classes, demonstrating that the laws of physics have practical applications in everyday life, including the art of brewing coffee. According to the study, even relatively simple changes in brewing methods could improve their peppery flavor profile. Imagine all the richer flavor you’ll get – and without having to use additional beans!