20 votes

Cold brew coffee in three minutes using acoustic cavitation

14 comments

  1. [14]
    DeaconBlue
    Link
    What kind of energy is required for this kind of procedure? I assume that it isn't crazy amounts of energy required because things like ultrasonic jewelry cleaners exist as consumer products.

    What kind of energy is required for this kind of procedure? I assume that it isn't crazy amounts of energy required because things like ultrasonic jewelry cleaners exist as consumer products.

    3 votes
    1. [13]
      lackofaname
      Link Parent
      They used a 100-W ultrasonic transducer for the ultrasonication. Original paper is open access Ultrasonicator used Someone electronics-inclined could probably do something similar..

      They used a 100-W ultrasonic transducer for the ultrasonication.

      Original paper is open access

      Ultrasonicator used

      Someone electronics-inclined could probably do something similar..

      6 votes
      1. [12]
        elight
        Link Parent
        100W? This is going to be a product. Yay!

        100W? This is going to be a product. Yay!

        1. [11]
          quarkw
          Link Parent
          From the article, it sounds like they want to use the tech to make (at least on the consumer side of things) a keurig-like machine. If you don't want to wait a few years for the technology to...

          From the article, it sounds like they want to use the tech to make (at least on the consumer side of things) a keurig-like machine.

          If you don't want to wait a few years for the technology to mature, you can get faster cold brew today using sous vide or a vacuum chamber

          3 votes
          1. [10]
            stu2b50
            Link Parent
            Or just put it in the fridge overnight. Making cold brew isn't hard. This would only be useful really for businesses. Which is fine, businesses are a perfectly lucrative market.

            Or just put it in the fridge overnight. Making cold brew isn't hard. This would only be useful really for businesses. Which is fine, businesses are a perfectly lucrative market.

            8 votes
            1. SirNut
              Link Parent
              I wouldn’t buy an expensive machine for it, but I’m pretty lazy about making it early enough to be ready in the morning so I do see the appeal

              I wouldn’t buy an expensive machine for it, but I’m pretty lazy about making it early enough to be ready in the morning so I do see the appeal

              5 votes
            2. [8]
              quarkw
              Link Parent
              Yeah. Admittedly one of the main perks of cold brew is it's dead simple to do. But supposedly cutting down on the brewing time "improves" the flavor

              Yeah. Admittedly one of the main perks of cold brew is it's dead simple to do. But supposedly cutting down on the brewing time "improves" the flavor

              1 vote
              1. [7]
                sparksbet
                Link Parent
                I guess I just don't understand the advantage over... non-cold brew. Cold brew is preferred by some because it mellows out all the flavors of the coffee, which is why it's good for low-quality or...

                I guess I just don't understand the advantage over... non-cold brew. Cold brew is preferred by some because it mellows out all the flavors of the coffee, which is why it's good for low-quality or stale coffee but why most coffee aficionados will opt for iced non-cold brew coffee for their fancy beans. What does this bring to the table that you can't get with a V60 over ice?

                1 vote
                1. DefinitelyNotAFae
                  Link Parent
                  I'm not an aficionado, I just prefer cold brew at home and espresso drinks when I get them hot from a coffee shop. But overnight coffee-making works for me. I don't really like brewed coffee that...

                  I'm not an aficionado, I just prefer cold brew at home and espresso drinks when I get them hot from a coffee shop. But overnight coffee-making works for me. I don't really like brewed coffee that much regardless of its quality. (or perhaps I've only had cheap coffee, I don't really know)

                  2 votes
                2. quarkw
                  Link Parent
                  Everyone has their preferences. Using a different method for brewing coffee is going to have different results. You may prefer the V60 over ice, and others might prefer the quick cold-brew. And...

                  Everyone has their preferences. Using a different method for brewing coffee is going to have different results.

                  You may prefer the V60 over ice, and others might prefer the quick cold-brew. And some might prefer a more traditional cold-brew over either. That's why I put "improves" in quotes in my other comment.

                  1 vote
                3. [4]
                  stu2b50
                  Link Parent
                  It just tastes different. You’re not wrong that most third wave coffee people prefer a normal pourover, but no one would disagree that cold brew tastes nothing like a traditional brew, for better...

                  It just tastes different. You’re not wrong that most third wave coffee people prefer a normal pourover, but no one would disagree that cold brew tastes nothing like a traditional brew, for better or for worse.

                  So what does this get that a v60 over ice doesn’t? Well, one is time - in most of the west it’s not economical for most coffee shops to make pour overs.

                  But also, it just tastes completely different!

                  And people who like cold brew are a market like any other. If someone has money and wants to exchange it for a product, who are you to say no?

                  1. [3]
                    sparksbet
                    Link Parent
                    Oh I agree cold brew tastes totally different -- I enjoy both cold brew and other methods of brewing -- but the fact that the time is part of why makes me wonder if this method actually tastes...

                    Oh I agree cold brew tastes totally different -- I enjoy both cold brew and other methods of brewing -- but the fact that the time is part of why makes me wonder if this method actually tastes like cold brew. If it tastes less like cold brew, that seems to make it a weird alternative to a normal iced coffee.

                    If it does taste just like traditional cold brew, I guess it's selling itself on convenience. Personally I think making a big batch of cold brew overnight is already pretty low-effort compared to most other brewing methods, so it's a high bar to clear to make it more convenient than that. But ig we'll see if this ever goes to market.

                    1. [2]
                      stu2b50
                      Link Parent
                      Per the article, the paper did blind taste tastes, and it does seem to taste like coldbrew.

                      Per the article, the paper did blind taste tastes, and it does seem to taste like coldbrew.

                      1 vote
                      1. sparksbet
                        Link Parent
                        Ah fair enough then. I still think they have their work cut out for them in making it more convenient than just making coldbrew normally, though.

                        Ah fair enough then. I still think they have their work cut out for them in making it more convenient than just making coldbrew normally, though.