Neutron movie of coffee making

Anders Kaestner · 133K views · 2012 · 1:03

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Everyday physics & science demosCooking & fooddemo

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended in moka pot threads as the best way to see how the pot works from the inside.

What it is

A short film made with cold neutron imaging at the Paul Scherrer Institut showing a moka pot brewing coffee, sped up four times. The neutron beam makes the water and steam inside the pot visible.

Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2021 to 2024.

What Hacker News said

Strong rec jarvist · 2024-01 · on “The humble brilliance of Italy's moka coffee pot (2018)”

There's also a fantastic Youtube video in a neutron beam facility of a Moka pot, in which you can see the full process of brewing. The water and plastic handle appear 'black' as hydrogen scatters neutrons so strongly. [this video]

Recommends simon_acca · 2021-11 · on “The Humble Brilliance of Italy's Moka Coffee Pot (2018)”

For anybody wondering how a moka pot works, have a look at this neutron imaging of the pot in action: [this video]

Recommends msds · 2023-09 · on “X-ray CT scans of coffee equipment: Aeropress, Fellow kettle, Moka pot”

CT is the wrong imaging tech for Moka pots at least - they're much cooler looking if you're doing neutron imaging and can see the water: [this video]