coffee algorithm: the perfect cup

One way to understand an algorithm is as a recipe. A set of instructions, that if followed, will yield an anticipated result.

The example that CS50 at Harvard used (based on the published videos on YouTube) is of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

When I was first learning to code, I decided that I would write a coffee algorithm.

Apparently, I was writing in Python at the time, because my first attempt began with:

Class BrewCoffee(self,water,coffee,brew_type, grinder, filter, mug)
 __init__.self()
 self.water = water
 self.coffee = coffee
 self.brew_type = brew_type
 #... the grinder, filter, and mug are dynamic and are dependent on the coffee and brew_type

Making the perfect cup of coffee really is a blend of art and science.

The way you pour water, letting the beans bloom, making sure to have a consistent drip - it’s all important. But it can all be for naught if you ignore appropriate ratios.

When brewing with a Chemex, my preferred method, I’ve found my preferred ratio is 16:250 coffee to water.

A quick reference then is as follows:

I found the patent drawings for the chemex to be quite stunning. This one comes from the Chemex Store, but you can find all of the original patent filings here.