The Physics of Coffee  

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       "The espresso method is a beverage                           technique  based on pressure-induced                       percolation of a limited amount of hot                       water through a ground coffee cake,                       where the energy is spent within the cake               itself." (Andueza et al)

        "Illy calls espresso the 'quintessential                           expression of coffee'" (Clark 205)

• Espresso's are favored due to the fact that the beverage is served moments after it is ordered allowing for the flavors and aromas to still be in the drink.

• It uses 14-17 grams of coffee (vs 2 tbsp in drip methods) in only 1 to 2 oz of water (vs. 6 oz for every 2 tbsp in drip methods) 

• The water is pushed through the espresso machine with a force of about 9 atmospheres of pressure in under 25 seconds.
  

• It is because of all three of these things combined that the espresso is the epitome of coffee drinks in physics.
  

Espresso

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