The Physics of Filter Coffee by Jonathan Gagne

This book delves into the science behind drip coffee and other filter coffee brewing methods.

The Physics of Filter Coffee by astrophysicist Jonathan Gagne is perhaps the most important book ever written about the science of coffee brewing. In it, Jonathan covers the physics of percolation, extraction, grinding, and the chemistry of water. He takes the reader through a labyrinth of topics including pouring kettle design, optimizing pouring turbulence, the effect of fines on percolation, the physics of paper filters, and the geometry of various brewing tools. He also presents original ideas about coffee brewing and backs it all up with a huge amount of facts and data.

The best thing about The Physics of Filter Coffee is not its scientific depth, but the practical lessons Jonathan draws from the science. For example, while Illy's Espresso: the Science of Quality is an impressive treatise on the science of espresso, The Physics of Filter Coffee offers a wealth of practical recommendations derived from science, data, and experimentation. Baristas who read this book will instantly have new tools to make better coffee.

Although this is an English book, it uses a lot of graphs and diagrams, so you can understand it even if you don't understand English.

This book is recommended not only for those who work in the coffee industry, but also for coffee hobbyists who want to study daily extraction methods.