Lead author Kevin Moroney and Dr William Lee measuring coffee using a refractometer.

A man from Ballyduff Upper has led complicated mathematical research that explores how to make the perfect cup of coffee.

Kevin Moroney undertook the research as part of his PHD at the University of Limerick (UL). It is expected the information will be of particular interest to the manufacturers of coffee machines.

The advanced mathematical analysis of a set of variables revealed that the size of the coffee grain is critical, followed by a long list of other factors. The model developed by Mr Moroney and his colleagues, discusses how the water flows through the coffee and was developed with Dutch technology company Philips.

“Philips conducted the experiments and we came up with the model. We have made this model as the first step and the next step is to improve it,” said Mr Moroney.

The research, carried out by a group from Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry (MACSI) at UL, was published last week in SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics. The team hope to develop a complete theory on coffee brewing …

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