Step by step to make the perfect coffee, according to science

There are millions of people around the world who love coffee, because they find in this beverage much more than a source of energy: they consider it a ritual, a sensory experience , and, in many cases, a way of life.

For them, coffee is not just a beverage, but a moment of pause, connection, and pleasure, which can be shared in good company or enjoyed alone. Their passion drives them to always seek out the perfect cup, discovering specialty coffee shops, artisan roasters, and new ways to celebrate the aroma and flavor of coffee.

Plus, many of them enjoy exploring different brewing methods , from the classic Italian coffee maker to the refined pour-over , and appreciate the nuances that each bean variety, roast, and origin can offer. See more: Beware: Expert explains why it's not advisable to eat fat-free and sugar-free coffee.

Thus, it is worth saying that the 'perfect cup of coffee' is possible by following the steps dictated by science to make it.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States set out to find a way to maximize its flavor, and discovered that it's possible thanks to fluid dynamics, the science of how liquids flow. See more: Having a Healthy Cat: This Is How These Felines Help Relieve Stress and Sadness. After several tests, the researchers confirmed that coffee extraction can be optimized by prolonging the mixing time with slower, but more effective, pours that take advantage of avalanche dynamics.

Thus, the water should be poured from a distance that's not too close, but not too far either; its flow should be constant, yet it should fall in the center. This creates a "mini avalanche" of particles, they explain, causing the center to collapse and the sides to accumulate and collapse again . In the case of ground coffee, more particles are extracted. See more: Colombians are the most beautiful women in the world, according to a ranking.

They also indicate that slow pouring increases the brewing time, thereby intensifying the flavor. Pouring from a greater distance (without excessive force that disperses the coffee grounds) ensures an optimal blend. See more: Think about your future: How to build wealth in dollars for your retirement.

" With a denser water stream, they found that taller pours resulted in more intense coffee, confirming their observations of increased agitation with higher pour heights. By using a thinner water stream, extraction remained consistently high across different pour heights, possibly due to the longer pour time required to reach the desired volume ," notes a Penn Today article.

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