Coffee brewing methods - scientific analysis?

Question

Can anyone point out websites or academic articles analyzing coffee brewing methods?

I can easily identify taste differences between the various methods, but I'd like to know which ones are comparable and what variables are most important.

Methods:

drip
cold-brew (toddy)
pour-over
french press
other?

espresso

Beans:

type (arabica, robusta, other?)
roast (light->dark, freshness)
ground (fineness, consistency)

You can read about all this stuff all over the internet, but it's all anecdotes.  I'd like to see, e.g., the results of mass spectroscopy given different processes.

Sebiddychef · Accepted Answer

Could this help: http://www.goodfood-project.org/www/Links/Hashimoto.pdf?

I had a quick flick and it basically uses infrared analysis to work out the quality and underlying flavor of the beans.

Other sites I found (though less of what you asked) are http://www.web-books.com/Classics/ON/B0/B701/22MB701.html which is just a general look at the science behind coffee and http://www.marco.ie/other_pdfs/070516_SCAE_Gold_Cup_Filter_Presentations.pdf which looks at the methods behind brewing.

Anyway, hope this helps.

soegaard · Answer

There are quite a few articles concerning coffee brewing methods.
Since you are interested in academic articles, I take a look at this search in Google Scholar:

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=coffee+drip+espresso+french+press&btnG=Search&as_sdt=0%2C5&as_ylo=&as_vis=0

The first looks particular relevant.

eterps · Answer

This article from Gizmodo links to a company that makes refractometers specifically to measure particulate levels and pH balance of coffee. Good read, and lots of scientific looking charts related to coffee flavor.

Chasing the Perfect Cup of Coffee With Science

Coffee brewing methods - scientific analysis?

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