This is the mathematical formula to prepare the perfect coffee

 This is the mathematical formula to prepare the perfect coffee

Using very fine ground coffee in large quantities for a stronger and more flavorful cup is not the perfect method.

An international team of mathematicians , physicists and materials experts from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and Switzerland have been brought together to confront a common threat to humanity: the disappearance of coffee as we know it. The truth, according to the work published in Matter magazine  , is that we have been preparing coffee badly all our lives : using fewer but larger ground coffee beans would lower the costs of the drink, it would better preserve its flavor cup after cup, and it would bejust as strong and flavorful .

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"Most people who brew coffee choose to grind the bean very fine , and use a lot of beans to get a mixture of sour and bitter taste that is as unpredictable as it is irreproducible, " says one of the authors,  Christopher Hendon , chemist. Computer Science from the University of Oregon. "It may seem counterintuitive, but experiments and models suggest that short coffees can be made with fewer beans, but coarser grinding ."

There are many factors that contribute to the little glory that an espresso is , but the norm is to grind a relatively high amount - 20 grams - as finely as possible. In this way, as logic dictates, there would be  a greater surface area of ​​the product exposed to high pressure water and this will allow to improve the extraction rate, that is, the amount of ground coffee that will dissolve and go into the final cup .

But when the researchers established a mathematical model to explain the extraction rate based on the factors available to the person preparing the coffee - be it the masses of water and dry coffee to be used, the thickness or fineness of the ground grain , and water pressure - and the predictions were compared with the coffee brewing experiments, it became clear that the relationship was actually more complex. Grinding as fine as dictated by the industry standard amalgamated the coffee at the base , reducing the extraction rate, wasting raw material  and causing flavor alterations by not using all the beans equally.

Coffee with data, please
After "a lot" of data processing and short coffees, the team came up with a recipe that would maximize the extraction of bean content while producing a drink that doesn't change flavor from cup to cup . "One of the ways to optimize extraction and reduce variability is to grind coarser beans and use a little less water ; another is to simply reduce the mass of coffee used, " Hendon proposes.

The task of developing a representative model of coffee preparation was not easy. At a basic level, the extraction rate depends on how high pressure hot water flows through the ground grain mass. But that mass is made up of millions of individual grains of different sizes and shapes , squeezed irregularly against the same filter.

"We would need a greater computational capacity than Google has to adequately solve the physical rules and transport equations involved in a geometry as intricate as that of the interior of a coffee machine," says another of the authors,  Jamie M. Foster , a mathematician from the University of Portsmouth (UK).

To get out of the quagmire, the researchers turned to an unexpected source, electrochemistry , linking the way in which caffeine and other molecules dissolve from coffee beans with the movement of lithium ions across the electrodes of a battery. Borrowing methodologies for battery models, they developed a "rigorous" model to work from.

At the current price of roasted coffee beans, they say, reducing dry coffee mass from 20 to 15 grams would save a few thousand dollars for a particular coffee shop, and a billion dollars for the entire coffee industry in USA. Greater efficiency in the use of coffee would also reduce waste , at a time when production in traditional growing regions is threatened by climate change .

However, they admit, the ultimate parameter to establish the perfect coffee is still everyone's palate . "The strategies to reduce waste and improve replication are clear, but the reliance on the preferences of the person who makes the coffee is tremendous, " Hendon concedes. "What we do is elucidate the variables that they must consider when navigating the parameters of preparing a coffee."

This is how you have to grind coffee with Thermomix

 This is how you have to grind coffee with Thermomix

Having a kitchen robot allows us to do 1000 things and not all related to grinding. More and more recipes are being extended that we can automate with the kitchen robot. Well, obviously it is also possible to grind coffee with Thermomix .

Its comfort allows us to do it every day to enjoy the intense aroma of freshly ground coffee. In this article we are going to tell you the steps to follow to use the Thermomix and grind coffee .

- This is how you have to grind coffee with Thermomix and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

It is always advisable to keep coffee beans, as this is the best way to preserve the pure characteristics, aroma and flavor of the coffee. However, it is not so convenient to have to grind coffee with Thermomix on a daily basis. Especially thinking that every time we crush it we will have to scrub the glass of the kitchen robot.

Our trick is to save ground coffee for a maximum of 1 week, so that on Sundays we prepare the coffee for the next week again. It seems silly, but even when packaged in airtight glass jars, the aroma slowly fades and takes up some moisture that can be noticed in the flavor.

How to grind coffee with Thermomix

There is no quantity limit when grinding coffee with Thermomix. We can do it for a cup, with an amount between 35 and 40 grams of coffee, or to store it for weeks, in hermetically sealed cans.

Important: the Thermomix glass must be completely dry, since the last thing we look for is to moisten the freshly ground coffee.

Steps to follow

We program 1 minute at progressive speed 5-10, leaving a minimum of 20 seconds at maximum speed.

As an advantage, keep in mind that you can also grind other types of spices, such as black pepper, cinnamon, seeds of all kinds, almonds, walnuts, etc.

Clean the Thermomix glass after grinding coffee

Keep in mind that one of the main qualities of coffee is its aroma, and you will notice it a lot when you grind it. That heady aroma also stays in the glass, so the cleaning you will have to do with the glass will not only be dry. You will have to moisten and clean the glass and blades of your Thermomix with water to completely eliminate the odor and not affect the next food cooking.

The perfect coffee grind

 The perfect coffee grind

Gourmet.

Grinding is an essential part of coffee preparation, since the finer it is ground, the greater the surface that is exposed to water and the faster the extraction of flavors. In preparation methods where the contact time between coffee and water is shorter, the coffee particles need to be more finely ground, but when the coffee has a longer contact time with water, or is left in the same container, it is a coarse grind that helps to expand the ground particles to better extract the flavor [1] is recommended.

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Grinding

In commercial or business grinding there are machines that are calibrated according to the amount to be ground and whose result will be both optimal and specific. On the other hand, for grinding at home it is necessary to take into account which preparation method is going to be used, as mentioned above.

There are different types of mills that can be hand-held or electric. For industrial or home grinding, take into account what type of preparation should be done. In the industrial or commercial sector, how to prepare the coffee is indicated on the packaging, while at home you choose the degree of grinding and therefore the preparation [2].

Mills

Hand mills

We mainly find two types: the first is a box-shaped grinder, but with a very time-consuming process. It grinds very well and is almost completely uniform, with results ranging from coarse, medium and even fine, but without reaching the express grind. The second is the Turkish mill that is known as the prince of the mills: they are tall and made of bronze or copper. In the upper part it is shaped like a small dome, which when removed reveals the space to put the grains, with a handle that helps them rotate to facilitate grinding. Subsequently, the ground coffee falls into the lower part that serves as a container. This type of mill achieves all grades of fine and extra fine grinding such as Turkish grade (which is almost like talcum powder) [3].

Electric mills

Some of them have a small receptacle to store the ground coffee and there are two types, one with a propeller blade and the other with two discs that grind the coffee beans. The propeller mill is the most common, but it is useless for grinding coffee and it is not possible to obtain a uniform grinding, so the resulting coffee will obtain bitter-tasting beverages, which will leave sediment in the cups, in addition to this type of coffee may block the filter of some coffee makers.

Grinding mills

These are the mills that have two discs, they are the most complete for domestic use, since they produce a uniform grinding. They are somewhat slow and noisy, and they also need calibration for a given degree of grinding. Some have a timer that automatically starts the grinding, however, this type of grinder requires very specific cleaning care [4].

Grinding degrees

They are generally found from the finest (which is known as Turkish), followed by the fine, medium, omnigrade and extra coarse filter express.

The Turkish grind, express and fine filter are for the use of filter coffee machines, the medium is used only for the fresh preparation (that is, the preparation at home where the coffee is introduced into the water at the first boil and left in the container to a second boil before serving), the omnigrade is a grind of different degrees of grinding (such as fine filter, medium and a little extra coarse), so it gives an incorrect extraction in some methods for its preparation. This degree of grinding occurs when the grinders are poorly calibrated or are already too old, which is why it exists as an error within the coffee grind. In the case of extra coarse grinding, it is only useful within the commercial industry, so home mills cannot achieve the coarseness of this grain [5].

Should You Grind Finer For Better French Press Coffee?

 Should You Grind Finer For Better French Press Coffee?

French press extraction is one of the simplest and cheapest methods of brewing coffee. Even a complete coffee novice can follow the method and produce a decent cup.

But can you transform a decent French press coffee into an exceptional coffee by modifying the size of the grind?

- Should You Grind Finer For Better French Press Coffee and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

It may seem like the opposite of everything we know, but take a look at why using a finer grind in a French press might make sense.

An Indisputable Method

The specialty coffee world is used to modifying extraction times, grind sizes, and other factors to achieve a perfect cup. But generally, we do it with extraction methods like pouring, espresso, and AeroPress. The humble French press has been somewhat ignored.

It is generally accepted that the best use of the French press is with coarsely ground coffee and with water just below the boiling point. Allow three to five minutes for the dip and you have a decent cup of coffee.

Of course, all three variables in this method can be modified. And the three factors also affect each other, so if you change one, you should consider the other two.

Why A Coarse Grind Is Generally Used

You might find it strange to buy an expensive strawberry mill, just to pair it with a French press. But if you want great coffee, you should consider it. A quality grinder will produce consistently ground coffee.

Inconsistent grinds contain a number of particles from very fine to very coarse sizes. A poor quality mill can produce many fines. These are tiny particles that coffee sieve producer KRUVE equates to coffee powder. Too high a quantity of fines can make the coffee cloudy or bitter.

When you use coarse ground coffee, it is less likely to contain a lot of fines. This means that you are less likely to have a cloudy mug with confusing flavors. But if you use a quality grinder, and also a coffee sieve, you can solve this problem by using a finer grind of beans.

The French press is an immersion method , which means that the beans are given the opportunity to extract for a longer time, compared to other methods. Because of this, we generally use a coarser grind so extraction is kept slow and over-extraction is avoided.

In a pour, using a finer grind can make it difficult for the water to flow. This does not happen in a French press, so we can experiment more freely. But we should consider the extraction time if we modify the size of the grind to avoid over-extraction. Still, we are not limited by the need to ensure that water can get through a bed of ground grains.

The Argument For Finer Grinds

The idea behind using a less coarse grind is that it allows the extraction of flavor-producing compounds to occur faster. Since the surface area is larger, soluble compounds are quickly extracted from the ground grains into the water.

Matt Perger is the founder of Barista Hustle . On the website, he says that “the most important thing to understand is that the size of the grind does not actually change what is being extracted. It only changes when things are extracted. All the flavor is right there, in the coffee bean, ready to be extracted. The size of the grind only puts higher or lower degrees of that flavor in front of the water quickly ”.

Matt points out that "if you give the water a longer contact time with the coffee, more flavors will be extracted." We can do this by lengthening the extraction time, but since the water will cool, it may be less efficient than spending the same time with a finer grind.  

One of the fears of using a finer grind is that the coffee will eventually be cloudy and your cup will have sediment. Perhaps you think that the finest coffee passes through the filter mesh. But the jugs of quality French presses have a fine enough mesh to stop medium-sized grinding and, in addition, the coffee expands when saturated.

James Hoffman is the author of The World Atlas of Coffee. He advises using medium-sized ground coffee, mixing after four minutes, and then letting the coffee brew for an additional five to seven minutes. He told me that “the French press is one of the most tolerant ways to make coffee. With a long infusion time it is quite easy to achieve good extraction ”.

"However, I always recommend that people experiment with finer and finer grinds every time they make coffee," he said. “The coffee will get better and better and then all of a sudden you will run into a wall of bitterness. At this point, you just have to go to a slightly coarser grind and you will get the most and the best of the coffee you buy. "

What James highlights is that there is a point of over-extraction. If you use an excessively fine grind, you could get a coffee in which too many bitter-tasting compounds have been extracted and with an unpleasant taste.

How to Use Finer Grinds

This is the method I recommend as a starting point for your experimentation with grind size.

The coffee

Use 35 grams of grains for every 16 ounces (a little less than 475 ml) of water. James's method includes using a digital scale to make sure you know exactly how much coffee and water you are using and, if necessary, regulate the amount. Grind your coffee to a medium to medium-coarse size with a quality grinder.

If clean coffee is important to you, try coffee sieves to remove fines and rocks (large particles). I found that I could decrease infusion time by using 600 and 800 micron sieves. The larger particles had been removed, which meant a more consistent extraction. But it seemed to me that I wasted too much coffee this way.

The method

In your first few tests, use water right after boiling (around 200 ° F or 93 ℃). You can do this by boiling the water and then waiting about 30 seconds for it to cool down a bit.

After mixing the coffee and water to stir it , cover the carafe with the lid and lower the plunger slightly. This should not touch the coffee. The water cools quickly in a glass jug, so the lid serves only to isolate the infusion during extraction.

After 7-10 minutes, most of the coffee particles will have sunk. Keep an eye on this and make a note of when you are ready to push the plunger. Go very slowly to prevent the fines from rising.

Leave a small space between the grind and the screen. From this point we are just allowing the grind to saturate enough to sink in and prevent the brew from being muddy. The Turkish coffee is based on the same concept.


Pour the coffee carefully so as not to disturb the grind and leave the last sips in the carafe, under the mesh. You don't want to drink this part with sediment.

Now, repeat the entire method with a finer grind and see if you notice any difference.

Matt Perger told me: “For best results with the French press, grind finer than ever. Then grind two degrees finer. "

Adapting Water Temperature For Finer Grinds

When modifying the size of the grind, you should also consider the water temperature. Since a finer grind takes up a larger surface area, it will extract more quickly. Lowering the temperature can slow extraction and help prevent bitterness from over-extraction.

When using a medium size grind, we can drop below the 200ºF (93ºC) recommended for water temperature. If we use water of about 195ºF (91ºC) and we prolong the infusion, we can obtain a cup that is intense enough, but we avoid the bitter notes of over-extraction.

If we lowered the temperature of the water and used a coarse grind, we could get an under-extracted cup, unless the extraction time is extended to compensate. The key point here is that all the factors involved affect each other. If you change one, you will probably have to change another.

But some people prefer to make coffee with boiling water. Matt Perger said : “I'm a huge boiling fanatic. You can't screw it up. And if the coffee is good, you shouldn't 'burn' it or do something silly like that. "

There are so many different ways to brew coffee that it is extremely important to understand the concept of brewing and play with it. It is a matter of balancing the variables to find the perfect method. Try different temperatures, grind sizes, and extraction times, and determine which one is best for you.

Which French Press?

It's worth mentioning that the standard French press jug does not maintain a constant brew temperature .  

If you really want to play with variables and find the best method, try a ceramic jug or add a layer of insulation to your glass jug. The stainless steel pitchers insulate well, but I find that they add a slight flavor to my mug that I don't like.

Understanding extraction can open the doors to a world of coffee-making experimentation. And the French press gives rise to as many innovations as any other method.

If you use a decent grinder, let your grind saturate, and push the plunger in slowly, you shouldn't have the problem of coffee with sediment or muddy flavors.

Don't be afraid to experiment with modifying each variable. Change the grind size, water temperature and extraction time and take note of what works and what doesn't.

What degree of grind to use and how does it influence when preparing coffee?

 What degree of grind to use and how does it influence when preparing coffee?

As you may already know, at Cafés Candelas we recommend the use of coffee beans to make the perfect cup and grind just the product you are going to use and at the precise moment of its preparation. The grinding , as each of the processes in making coffee, has a huge bearing on the outcome, so if, like us, are someone who sees coffee genuine black gold , we leave some recommendations.

- What degree of grind to use and how does it influence when preparing coffee and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

The mill: If you like good coffee , banish the blade mill from your coffee equipment. The conical grinding mill is the most suitable because it grinds effectively without breaking the coffee beans and also achieves a uniform result and degree of grinding.

The degree of grinding, depending on the coffee machine

The degree of grinding of the bean : It is the thickness of the ground coffee and plays a fundamental role in the final flavor of the cup. For example, in a professional espresso machine , if the grind is too fine, the coffee will come out drop by drop, overheating and resulting in a short, strong and bitter coffee. If this same machine used a very coarse grind, the coffee would come out very quickly, in spurts, and without the water extracting all its components. The result will be a watery coffee, without aroma or cream.

So what grinding point is the right one? Well ... It depends on the coffee maker. Technically in a professional hospitality machine, knowing if the grind is adequate makes it necessary to measure the time and the amount of coffee: If you get 30 milliliters (the ideal amount of espresso) in 25 seconds , the grinder is at the ideal point.

And it is that the degree of grinding of the mill is not always the same; It depends on the mixture of coffee you use, its degree of roast , the humidity of the environment and the conditions of the coffee maker. So the ideal is to correct the degree of grinding practically daily, according to those conditions.

Three types of grinding and how to identify them

There are three main types of grinding: fine , medium and coarse that are adjusted to the needs of each coffee maker. In general there is a rule; the longer the coffee extraction time or the contact period between the water and the coffee lasts, the coarser the grind must be, as we detail below:

• -The coffee express or professionals : They make coffee in seconds and use a fine grinding. For these it is ideal to use 7 grams of coffee.
• -The Moka or Italian coffee machines : The extraction period is just over two minutes. That is why the grinding for them must be between fine and medium.
• -The filter , chemex or plunger coffee makers : These are those that use a medium grind, since the extraction time can last up to four minutes.
• -Coffee pot or squid : It is the classic obtained after an infusion in which the coffee is allowed to macerate for at least ten minutes. That is why it is the one that uses the coarsest grind.

To guide you and identify the type of grinding , the fine is equivalent to the thickness of table salt. If you take a pinch between your index finger and thumb and rub it gently, the coffee sticks to your fingers. The coarse grind is similar in size to sugar and when you do the test above, your fingers will be clean.

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 HOW TO USE A GRINDER

Coffee grinding and its great importance

The process of grinding coffee beans consists of reducing the size of the coffee beans to increase the surface area that will be in contact with the water.

Grinding coffee beans correctly is essential to achieve ideal coffee, with great aroma and body. If the grind is very fine, we will have a bitter coffee, but if it is very coarse, we will have a watery drink with a very mild flavor. So then, a medium ground coffee will be the ideal to prepare our favorite drinks.

- HOW TO USE A GRINDER and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

To ensure that the coffee beans are grinded properly, you can do it at home using a grinder. Thus, you can adjust it to your preferences and tastes, in addition to preserving all the natural properties of coffee.

How a grinder works

There are several types of grinder depending on their characteristics: manual, automatic, with blades, with grinding wheels, etc. Each one adapts to different types of coffee makers and drinks that we want to obtain. Today, we are going to talk about the automatic or electric grinder.

Using an automatic grinder is very simple:

1. First we must place the coffee beans in the container at the top.
2. Then, we must select the number of cups you want to prepare, which can range from a minimum of one to a maximum of twelve.
3. To start the grinder, you simply have to press the upper part until the light of the type of grind you want (fine - medium - coarse) comes on.
4. Ready! You can now use your freshly ground coffee in your coffee maker.

A few last tips

Heat is released during grinding, so natural coffee should be used. This type of coffee does not have any additives added during the roasting process. In no case will we use roasted coffee, since sugar has been added to it. With the heat it melts and can spoil our grinder.

Preserving coffee is very important to preserve the aroma of coffee and slow down its oxidation. The best way to store it is in grains, since many properties are lost during grinding. Still, we know that it is very convenient to grind a large amount of coffee to have it ready, so making a coffee will be faster. In the latter case, we recommend storing it in a hermetically sealed metal or glass container.

If you want to know more, you can read our where we tell you the best way to preserve your coffee .

Electric coffee grinder: ideal for enjoying coffee beans

 Electric coffee grinder: ideal for enjoying coffee beans

The delicious aroma of freshly ground coffee is not only a pleasure for the senses of the most coffee growers . Take advantage of the benefits that a coffee grinder offers you, the ideal option to enjoy coffee beans at its maximum power. Let's discuss the benefits of the coffee grinder and the importance of bean quality.

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Coffee grinder: the ideal complement for coffee lovers

When coffee arrived in Europe it became necessary to create a specific utensil to turn it into powder, suitable for infusing it and taking advantage of its virtues. With the spread of its consumption in the 19th century, coffee grinders also became more popular.

After several decades, the traditional grinder has evolved into the electric grinder, which can grind the grain at different speeds and therefore obtain different sizes .

The optimal use of a coffee grinder is not to grind the bean for a long time: the fact that the beans are heated is not the best way to preserve the properties of the coffee .

The advantages of the coffee grinder

Coffee lovers prefer to grind the bean themselves for a few reasons:

• By grinding the beans just before preparing the coffee, the intense aroma and flavor are preserved.
• You can adjust the size of the bean to the type of coffee machine you are going to use: Italian, espresso ...
• When the beans are ground with a coffee grinder, the ideal is to consume it in a short period of time. If you don't plan to do so, store the ground coffee in a container that protects it from moisture, light, and air.

The coffee grinder and coffee bean machines

Coffee makers that use coffee beans are a quality option so that coffee is not lacking at home or in the office. These types of coffee makers stand out for their performance and for offering the best flavor. In addition, its system of use is simple and easy to clean and maintain.

Eden's proposal is to offer a wide selection of coffee machines with a built-in coffee grinder. In this way you will enjoy the quality of the coffee and all its characteristics and benefits.

• The coffee preserves its freshness when it is beans and is ground with the built-in coffee grinder.
• You will enjoy a superior aroma and flavor .
• Don't worry about the dosage , it is automated.
• Eden has different sizes of this type of coffee maker so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

The quality of the grain

The best thing for you to enjoy your freshly prepared espresso is to choose the quality of the bean well. At Eden we can offer you a selection of Gimoka bean coffees in which two types of coffee beans are combined: on the one hand DIAMANTE coffee, which has 90% Arabica variety and 10% Robusta or GRAN GALA with 40 % arabica and 60% robust.

The Arabica variety is more appreciated for its mild flavor and greater digestibility. If you prefer, on the contrary, a higher concentration of caffeine with a bit more bitter, the robust variety is the one that will provide you with these characteristics. Ideally, look for a combination of both varieties of coffee that balance their properties.

If you like coffee and want to enjoy its flavor to the fullest, we recommend a coffee grinder or a coffee machine with a built-in grinder: enjoy all the advantages of this method and savor the delicious coffee beans.