🧵 Hey fags! I'm gonna run a coffee experiment soon.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:14:56 UTC No. 16081603
I recently found out that caffeine detection strips are quite cheap, so this means I'll soon have the opportunity to run some experiments. I'm gonna outline the parameters of my scientific experiment and I'd like some criticisms of my methodology if it is flawed.
Controlled variables: The temperature and amount of hot water, the amount and coarseness of ground coffee beans, the amount of brew time, the container in which the coffee is being brewed, the filtration of the coffee bean-water solution into a cup once brewing is complete
Independent variable: the agitation or lack thereof of the coffee bean-water solution during brewing
Dependent variable: The amount of caffeine present in the coffee after brewing
I will grind some coffee beans, pour some hot water into a thermos, and either leave the thermos undisturbed for five minutes or provide consistent agitation to the thermos during the brewing process. After the five minutes is up, I will filter the coffee grounds out and measure the caffeine levels of both solutions. BTW, if you know any reliable and cheap caffeine detection strips, please recommend them. I shall post results soon.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:34:40 UTC No. 16081633
>>16081603
how about instead of testing the coffee for caffein extraction you test your urine for caffein after different activities and instead of using detection strips you taste-test for caffein.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:38:10 UTC No. 16081644
>>16081603
I'm interested. How will you provide consistent agitation? What if caffeine concentration isn't proportional to agitation?
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:46:15 UTC No. 16081665
>>16081644
For the consistent agitation, I'll just have to use the crude method of shaking it for a while. It's imperfect, but sadly, I possess limited funds and tools. If my hypothesis of "agitating the solution will make it more caffeinated" turns out to be false, then I will have to readjust my hypothesis to reflect that. Do you have any recommendations for how I can make the agitation measurable and consistent?
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:48:59 UTC No. 16081674
>>16081633
Kill yourself. Also, my taste buds are not a reliable measuring tool for caffeine.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:04:45 UTC No. 16081818
>>16081665
Perhaps putting it on top of your washing machine for a specified amount of time, except you can't alter the agitation frequency.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:06:41 UTC No. 16081821
>>16081818
>Put thermos in washing machine
>Thermos lid pops off from the force
>Now my washing machine is ruined
Respectfully, sir, that is a retarded idea.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:07:43 UTC No. 16081825
>>16081818
Oh wait, I misread what you wrote. It would appear that I'M the retard. My bad.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:28:32 UTC No. 16081842
>>16081603
Test strips are not a quantitative measuring method. The result of your experimental set up will be that that both methods will yield coffee containing caffeine, congratulations.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:31:43 UTC No. 16081846
>>16081842
So is there any way to find out either what percent of the coffee is caffeine or how much total caffeine there is?
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:47:19 UTC No. 16081875
>>16081846
Yeah, gas chromatography
Less reliable method would be to extract the caffeine and weigh it. Needs very well controlled conditions, so that both extractions are done without changing variables and differences in your end product are because of differences in your coffee and not your set up.
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:49:27 UTC No. 16081882
>>16081875
How expensive is gas chromatography?
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:55:57 UTC No. 16081902
>>16081882
lol
If you're lucky, you might be able to pick up an old one for $5k or so. You'd need to know how to operate it though and hope that its still working fine.
Alternative would be knowing someone with access to one that can throw in a few samples for you. I'm not sure what a lab would charge you as a costumer. Maybe something in the ballpark of $50-$100 per sample?
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 21:05:34 UTC No. 16081927
>>16081902
FUCK. Any cheaper alternatives to gas chromatography?
Anonymous at Sat, 16 Mar 2024 21:12:55 UTC No. 16081939
>>16081927
Well, the extraction. Make two bog batches of either method. Split them in half exactly. Do an acid base extraction on all 4 samples. Measure out all reagents precisely. Keep all reaction times the same. If you didnt mess up, both samples of batch 1 and both samples of batch 2 should yield reasonably similar amounts of caffeine. If you manage that, you can compare batch 1 and 2 and have a goos idea whats going on.