1
Return

A model for the permeability of coffee pucks validated using X-ray computed micro-tomography

delete2026-04-01
delete1
PRE
AI
W
Wadsworth, Fabian B. *
Z
Zhang, Jingwei
K
Katherine J. Dobson *
G
Gagne, Jonathan
B
Buckland, Hannah M.
C
Coumans, Jason P.
H
Heap, Michael J.
T
Theurel, Anna
L
Lavallee, Yan
H
Hendon, Christopher H.
DOI:10.1098/rsos.252031delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Tuning the permeability of beds of ground coffee is central to making good espresso. Here, we develop a theoretical framework for such a permeability model, which depends principally on the pore volume fraction that is connected between the grains phi p and the specific surface area of the interfaces between liquid and coffee grains, s. We test our theoretical predictions by using lattice-Boltzmann simulations of fluid flow through three-dimensional domains obtained via X-ray computed micro-tomography (XCT) of real packed ground coffee. Our tomography is performed on two different roasted coffees ('Tumba' from Rwanda and 'Guayac & aacute;n' from Colombia) ground to one of 11 grind settings using a Mahlk & ouml;nig grinder, ranging from very fine to coarse grinds. We find excellent agreement with our percolation theory, suggesting a practical way to relate grind size and packing fraction to the specific surface area to predict coffee permeability. We discuss this model in the context of optimal espresso recipe design and the effects of coffee dose to define a Forchheimer number that can be used to predict the onset of inertial flow in coffee.
Keywords:
porous media
percolation
percolation threshold
granular media

Journal

Royal Society Open Science cover
Royal Society Open Science
IF:
2.9
Papers:
775
Citations:
1.8W

Organization

Université de Strasbourg cover
Université de Strasbourg
Scholars:
810
Papers: 348
Citations: 2.2W
U
University of Munich
Scholars:
5.6W
Papers: 4.2W
Citations: 66
D
Durham University
Scholars:
1.2W
Papers: 1.5W
Citations: 2.1W
L
lancaster university
Scholars:
1.2K
Papers: 797
Citations: 0
U
université de montreal
Scholars:
1.0K
Papers: 409
Citations: 0
U
University of Oregon
Scholars:
809
Papers: 431
Citations: 3
U
universites de strasbourg etablissements associes
Scholars:
2.4W
Papers: 1.8W
Citations: 19
U
University of Strathclyde
Scholars:
1.2K
Papers: 601
Citations: 1.3W
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers