(Image via Unsplash under CC0)

(Image via Unsplash under CC0)

What makes the perfect brew? Some may say it’s the coffee beans; others will argue it’s the roast or the grind of those beans; others yet will point to the brewing methods. Now, a group of researchers investigated the mathematics of the drip filter brewing system, looking at the numbers behind such brewing elements as the flow of hot water through the coffee grounds and transfer of coffee solubles from grounds into the coffee pot. Ultimately, the study aims to find the optimal brewing parameters to achieve the best-tasting beverage.

Authors:

K. M. Moroney, W. T. Lee, S. B. G. O’ Brien, F. Suijver, and J. Marra

Original paper published in SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics on November 15, 2016.

Associated press release from SIAM News.