Mixing mechanics

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Grumble
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Mixing mechanics

Post by Grumble » Tue May 18, 2021 12:31 pm

I think the easiest way to mix coffee in a cafetière is by pushing the plunger down then pulling back up. Others seem to think this is strange and I should be using a spoon to stir with. Any fluid dynamics experts on here with a view?
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Boustrophedon » Tue May 18, 2021 3:09 pm

Grumble wrote:
Tue May 18, 2021 12:31 pm
I think the easiest way to mix coffee in a cafetière is by pushing the plunger down then pulling back up. Others seem to think this is strange and I should be using a spoon to stir with. Any fluid dynamics experts on here with a view?
That's how I do it. Saves washing a spoon. I only push it half way down though, so as not to compact the grains at the bottom.
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Martin Y
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Martin Y » Tue May 18, 2021 3:22 pm

I do it just a short way down and up to release the trapped air bubbles and let the water get to more of the coffee.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Boustrophedon » Tue May 18, 2021 6:41 pm

I had forgotten having only stainless steel cafetieres that I had original decided to do it this way by watching it work through a glass one.
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by jimbob » Tue May 18, 2021 9:15 pm

Martin Y wrote:
Tue May 18, 2021 3:22 pm
I do it just a short way down and up to release the trapped air bubbles and let the water get to more of the coffee.
Yup
Have you considered stupidity as an explanation

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Bird on a Fire » Tue May 18, 2021 11:45 pm

Irrelevant, but Mrs BoaF likes to froth up milk for coffees using a cafetiere. And she used to be a proper hipster barista and everything.

I use a spoon, but I never thought about it. I'm gonna try this method next time I use one, but I expect I'll make a mess.
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Martin Y » Wed May 19, 2021 9:35 am

Bird on a Fire wrote:
Tue May 18, 2021 11:45 pm
Irrelevant, but Mrs BoaF likes to froth up milk for coffees using a cafetiere. And she used to be a proper hipster barista and everything.

I use a spoon, but I never thought about it. I'm gonna try this method next time I use one, but I expect I'll make a mess.
That sounds fun to try. Hot or cold milk? And I assume she just fills it to about *there* and then frantically splunges the filter up and down to generate foam?

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Bird on a Fire » Wed May 19, 2021 10:20 am

Martin Y wrote:
Wed May 19, 2021 9:35 am
Bird on a Fire wrote:
Tue May 18, 2021 11:45 pm
Irrelevant, but Mrs BoaF likes to froth up milk for coffees using a cafetiere. And she used to be a proper hipster barista and everything.

I use a spoon, but I never thought about it. I'm gonna try this method next time I use one, but I expect I'll make a mess.
That sounds fun to try. Hot or cold milk? And I assume she just fills it to about *there* and then frantically splunges the filter up and down to generate foam?
Warm milk, about 60°C, apparently. And yes, that's the technique.
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Grumble » Thu May 20, 2021 10:41 am

Bird on a Fire wrote:
Wed May 19, 2021 10:20 am
Martin Y wrote:
Wed May 19, 2021 9:35 am
Bird on a Fire wrote:
Tue May 18, 2021 11:45 pm
Irrelevant, but Mrs BoaF likes to froth up milk for coffees using a cafetiere. And she used to be a proper hipster barista and everything.

I use a spoon, but I never thought about it. I'm gonna try this method next time I use one, but I expect I'll make a mess.
That sounds fun to try. Hot or cold milk? And I assume she just fills it to about *there* and then frantically splunges the filter up and down to generate foam?
Warm milk, about 60°C, apparently. And yes, that's the technique.
60°C is tricky to achieve, might have to use a Bain Marie
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Martin Y » Thu May 20, 2021 12:02 pm

Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 10:41 am
60°C is tricky to achieve, might have to use a Bain Marie
Where your eye was caught by "60°C", mine was caught by "about" and I assumed half a mug of milk microwaved until not boiling but too hot to stick a finger in would be close enough.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Grumble » Thu May 20, 2021 12:08 pm

Martin Y wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:02 pm
Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 10:41 am
60°C is tricky to achieve, might have to use a Bain Marie
Where your eye was caught by "60°C", mine was caught by "about" and I assumed half a mug of milk microwaved until not boiling but too hot to stick a finger in would be close enough.
I don’t have a microwave so am reliant on pans for heating milk.
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Martin Y » Thu May 20, 2021 12:12 pm

Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:08 pm
Martin Y wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:02 pm
Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 10:41 am
60°C is tricky to achieve, might have to use a Bain Marie
Where your eye was caught by "60°C", mine was caught by "about" and I assumed half a mug of milk microwaved until not boiling but too hot to stick a finger in would be close enough.
I don’t have a microwave so am reliant on pans for heating milk.
Well, now I just feel foolish. Hadn't thought of that.

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Grumble
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Grumble » Thu May 20, 2021 1:46 pm

Martin Y wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:12 pm
Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:08 pm
Martin Y wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:02 pm

Where your eye was caught by "60°C", mine was caught by "about" and I assumed half a mug of milk microwaved until not boiling but too hot to stick a finger in would be close enough.
I don’t have a microwave so am reliant on pans for heating milk.
Well, now I just feel foolish. Hadn't thought of that.
I’m a Luddite in some ways. Also, small badly designed kitchen
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by dyqik » Thu May 20, 2021 2:51 pm

I'd just use one of my several temperature controlled heating devices: kettle, oven (lowest temperature setting is 90F/32C) cheese incubator, instant pot, Raspberry Pi controlled brew kettle and RIMS mash tun.

What? ;)


Actually, I'd just froth milk with the espresso machine.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Grumble » Thu May 20, 2021 5:54 pm

dyqik wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 2:51 pm
I'd just use one of my several temperature controlled heating devices: kettle, oven (lowest temperature setting is 90F/32C) cheese incubator, instant pot, Raspberry Pi controlled brew kettle and RIMS mash tun.

What? ;)


Actually, I'd just froth milk with the espresso machine.
I do have a temperature controlled kettle but I’m not about to put milk in it! Oven seems inefficient. I think pouring into the glass part of the cafetière then standing that in a pan of water might be easiest for me.
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by dyqik » Thu May 20, 2021 6:39 pm

Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 5:54 pm
dyqik wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 2:51 pm
I'd just use one of my several temperature controlled heating devices: kettle, oven (lowest temperature setting is 90F/32C) cheese incubator, instant pot, Raspberry Pi controlled brew kettle and RIMS mash tun.

What? ;)


Actually, I'd just froth milk with the espresso machine.
I do have a temperature controlled kettle but I’m not about to put milk in it! Oven seems inefficient. I think pouring into the glass part of the cafetière then standing that in a pan of water might be easiest for me.
Just stand the milk in a covered glass container and leave it in the sun.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by dyqik » Thu May 20, 2021 6:41 pm

I've just thought of another option: stand the container on the heated bed of the 3d printer.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by basementer » Thu May 20, 2021 7:10 pm

dyqik wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 2:51 pm
I'd just use one of my several temperature controlled heating devices: kettle, oven (lowest temperature setting is 90F/32C) cheese incubator, instant pot, Raspberry Pi controlled brew kettle and RIMS mash tun.
The legislation for medicinal use is currently going through, but I'm not expecting instant pot to become available.
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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by dyqik » Thu May 20, 2021 9:56 pm

basementer wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 7:10 pm
dyqik wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 2:51 pm
I'd just use one of my several temperature controlled heating devices: kettle, oven (lowest temperature setting is 90F/32C) cheese incubator, instant pot, Raspberry Pi controlled brew kettle and RIMS mash tun.
The legislation for medicinal use is currently going through, but I'm not expecting instant pot to become available.
It's here already.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Bird on a Fire » Fri May 21, 2021 12:56 am

Martin Y wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:02 pm
Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 10:41 am
60°C is tricky to achieve, might have to use a Bain Marie
Where your eye was caught by "60°C", mine was caught by "about" and I assumed half a mug of milk microwaved until not boiling but too hot to stick a finger in would be close enough.
This is the correct answer, apparently.

The reason they use stainless steel jugs to steam milk in coffee places is so the barista can use their finger to check the temperature, but keep it out of the customer's milk.
We have the right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Martin Y » Fri May 21, 2021 8:25 am

I have clearly missed my calling.

Still time I guess.

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Re: Mixing mechanics

Post by Grumble » Wed Jun 02, 2021 12:47 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote:
Fri May 21, 2021 12:56 am
Martin Y wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 12:02 pm
Grumble wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 10:41 am
60°C is tricky to achieve, might have to use a Bain Marie
Where your eye was caught by "60°C", mine was caught by "about" and I assumed half a mug of milk microwaved until not boiling but too hot to stick a finger in would be close enough.
This is the correct answer, apparently.

The reason they use stainless steel jugs to steam milk in coffee places is so the barista can use their finger to check the temperature, but keep it out of the customer's milk.
Mmm
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AC260ABC-E198-4E94-B6D2-6A6C4DB490A7.jpeg (27.58 KiB) Viewed 2407 times
where once I used to scintillate
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