Why do baristas spray water on coffee beans before preparing espresso?

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Usually before making espresso, some baristas will spray water on the coffee beans before grinding. Is this the secret to making coffee more delicious and rich? Explore with 43 Factory Coffee Roaster

Spraying water on coffee beans before grinding reduces static electricity

Espresso needs a super fine grind, so the blender capacity must be larger than normal. Friction in the machine is strong, creating the phenomenon of static electricity. This can cause agglomeration and discharge of particles. A small amount of fine powder will stick to the walls of the blender or stick together, hindering the extraction process. Meanwhile, through research results, professor Joshua Méndez Harper from the University of Oregon discovered that spraying water on coffee beans before grinding can prevent the accumulation of electrical charges on the surface of the beans and clumping of coffee. .

Spraying water onto coffee beans before grinding creates a rich and consistent espresso

Professor Christopher Hendon teamed up with a researcher to scientifically prove that adding pre-ground water results in a richer and more consistent shot of espresso. The experiment was conducted by monitoring the espresso extraction of samples without added water and with water added during grinding. In particular, all parameters when making espresso coffee for each sample were kept constant (18g coffee beans for a 45g cup of coffee, grind at setting 1.0, press at 196 N, water temperature 94°C, static water pressure 7 bar, pre-infusion time 2 seconds).

According to recorded results, coffee brewed by spraying more water before grinding has an extraction time nearly 50% slower. The reason may be because the coffee does not stick to the grinder wall, so the density of compressed coffee increases. At the end of brewing, espresso coffee without additional water spray before grinding had a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration in the cup of 8.2%. As for the bean sample that was supplemented with water before grinding, the cup of coffee had a TDS of up to 8.9%. In addition, the professor also said that wetting the beans will lead to a more compact layer of coffee powder, capable of more uniform contact with water throughout the brewing process. This creates a richer, more consistent cup of coffee.

According to scientific research, adding water to coffee before grinding can bring huge improvements in consistency to each cup of coffee. Because coffee can have different moisture levels. Humidity is an important ingredient in preventing static electricity. Therefore, adding the right amount of water for each type of grain at the right time will help the grain reach enough moisture and eliminate static electricity created during the grinding process. This allows the press and water to come into more complete and complete contact with the coffee, resulting in a rich and complete flavor extraction. So next time you make espresso, you can experiment with spraying a little water on the beans before grinding and look forward to the results.

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