Length of a Day on Uranus Revised, Pour Height Influences Coffee Quality, and Plastics Recycling Falls Short.

image via New Scientist

April 14, 2025, 10:00 AM

• •A new study finds that the best way to brew a strong cup of coffee is to maximize the contact time between water and coffee grounds while also allowing for plenty of mixing so as much coffee as possible is extracted.
• •The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Trump administration will pull around $4 million in research grants for climate change-related projects from Princeton University.
• •A study published last Thursday in the journal Communications Earth & Environment found that less than 10 percent of the plastic made worldwide in 2022 contained recycled materials.

A new study finds that the best way to brew a strong cup of coffee is to maximize the contact time between water and coffee grounds while also allowing for plenty of mixing so as much coffee as possible is extracted. The team says the key is to pour slowly—to maximize contact—and from a greater height to increase the water velocity. A slim stream of water from a gooseneck kettle can help optimize this process. If you get it right, the researchers say, you can actually get a stronger cup of coffee using a smaller quantity of grounds. They recommend experimenting by subtracting a small amount from your usual bean count—maybe a couple of grams per serving—and then trying cups brewed at different pour heights until you find a strength you like.

Read original article