The ultrasound creates a phenomenon called acoustic cavitation, which is a rapid formation and collapse of microscopic bubbles in the liquid. When these tiny bubbles collapse near the coffee particles, they act like microscopic scrubbing brushes or jets of liquid, pitting and fracturing the coffee grounds and accelerating the bewing process.
If I understand it correctly it should be primarily useful in methods attempting to extract flavour from something. Maybe tea, spices like cinnamon, maybe vanilla but thats fairly soft so it mightn't work very well.
Well, usually the heat is being used to actually chemically change the food. Coffee beans are pre-roasted and you're just using hot water to get the coffee into the liquid. It's not like this technique could be used to cook meat or vegetables. Liquefy them, possibly.
A few months ago I saw a video of someone who used an ultrasonic cleaner to make extracts, so i tried it. I did 30 - 60 mins for each of orange peel, banana peel, pepper corn, anise, vanilla bean, cinnamon, and coffee. The coffee smelled absolutely disgusting, but this was like an hour rather than 3 mins. I had no idea how much time was appropriate. I also used vodka instead of water. Idk why I thought the coffee would work. The rest seem roughly what I'd expect. I've done traditional extracts previously. It makes sense to try water for coffee. I feel dumb for not trying that obvious combination.
The video that I watched? It was from How to Drink, which iirc he said he decided to try and make his video after watching a video that talked about speeding up extracts via ultrasonic cleaner, but I don't recall what he said what was the video he watched.
Depends what context. For environmental reasons it'd be a negligible impact, but every bit counts. From a business like Masters Coffee Chill probably a nice little boost to productivity by swapping ongoing electricity costs for a one time capital allocation and 25% the ongoing cost for brewing than before.
I suppose for matketing 'green'credentials its technically useful as well, but you'd not design a whole campaign around it otherwise you'd leave yourself open to credible allegations of greenwashing.
I don't think the "companies making ready-to-drink coffee products at industrial scale" that article is talking about this being designed for are running a 1500 watt appliance for 15 minutes a day.
They're thinking more that factories won't need to use traditional extractors which generally need to heat stuff to high temperatures to make coffee milk drinks and soluble instant coffee, etc.
Dutch startup BlueHeart Energy is testing its thermoacoustic heat pump engine in residential settings, with a limited European launch expected in spring 2027, followed by gradual scaling. The system uses sound waves instead of refrigerants, aiming for quiet, flexible, low-maintenance heating suited especially for retrofits and renewable integration.
Saving up to 75% of energy by not heating the water is a minor benefit for home users or small coffee shops. But for companies making ready-to-drink coffee products at industrial scale, it could be very significant indeed.
I was going to say that my coffee machine runs off solar/battery so no use here but I'm certain a good majority of coffee shops are not running on solar or solar battery and this would be amazing
They recently started doing this with whisky first and i thats when i wanted to go down the path of trying it on all of types of liquids but never had the time or money to do it.
It's a neat idea, I just hope they take the unintended consequences into account. Imagine this product being used at an industrial scale near wildlife.
33 Comments
Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone · 27 pts · 62d
Cavitation Wikipedia
That is such a cool use of an observed phenomenon.
Lemming6969@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 61d
Begs the question, can it be used in conjunction with other cooking methods to reduce energy usage?
Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 61d
If I understand it correctly it should be primarily useful in methods attempting to extract flavour from something. Maybe tea, spices like cinnamon, maybe vanilla but thats fairly soft so it mightn't work very well.
zurohki@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 61d
Well, usually the heat is being used to actually chemically change the food. Coffee beans are pre-roasted and you're just using hot water to get the coffee into the liquid. It's not like this technique could be used to cook meat or vegetables. Liquefy them, possibly.
Lemming6969@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 61d
Was thinking microwave or reheating things evenly from within, particularly liquids like soup.
zurohki@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 61d
It's not actually leaving the coffee hot, though.
Lemming6969@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 60d
Optimal drinking temperature is only about 125 though
LuigiMaoFrance@lemmy.ml · 17 pts · 61d
Just what we needed, merging of the espresso nerd and audiophile demographics.
MintyFresh@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 61d
Bro.You haven't really had espresso till it's been brewed with a vinyl recording of David Bowie's life on mars.
NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone · 5 pts · 61d
Imagine what Windowlicker coffee would taste like…
arbilp3@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 61d
😆
teslekova@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 62d
Fascinating. They can make room-temperature coffee in far less time than cold-brew. Could be really great for places that sell a lot of iced coffee.
Lee@retrolemmy.com · 11 pts · 62d
A few months ago I saw a video of someone who used an ultrasonic cleaner to make extracts, so i tried it. I did 30 - 60 mins for each of orange peel, banana peel, pepper corn, anise, vanilla bean, cinnamon, and coffee. The coffee smelled absolutely disgusting, but this was like an hour rather than 3 mins. I had no idea how much time was appropriate. I also used vodka instead of water. Idk why I thought the coffee would work. The rest seem roughly what I'd expect. I've done traditional extracts previously. It makes sense to try water for coffee. I feel dumb for not trying that obvious combination.
Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 56d
sounds like the thought emporium?
Lee@retrolemmy.com · 1 pts · 56d
The video that I watched? It was from How to Drink, which iirc he said he decided to try and make his video after watching a video that talked about speeding up extracts via ultrasonic cleaner, but I don't recall what he said what was the video he watched.
Tenderizer@aussie.zone · 8 pts · 62d
Is coffee-brewing energy use even remotely a concern?
Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone · 6 pts · 61d
Depends what context. For environmental reasons it'd be a negligible impact, but every bit counts. From a business like Masters Coffee Chill probably a nice little boost to productivity by swapping ongoing electricity costs for a one time capital allocation and 25% the ongoing cost for brewing than before.
I suppose for matketing 'green'credentials its technically useful as well, but you'd not design a whole campaign around it otherwise you'd leave yourself open to credible allegations of greenwashing.
LodeMike@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 61d
The cost of brewing includes the machine cost over its lifetime. The electricity cost is near zero.
arbilp3@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 62d
Apparently yes because of all the different products made from brewed coffee. 🙅♀️
LodeMike@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 61d
Ah yes the most important thing to save energy on: the 1500 watt appliance that's on for 15 minutes daily.
TechLich@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 60d
I don't think the "companies making ready-to-drink coffee products at industrial scale" that article is talking about this being designed for are running a 1500 watt appliance for 15 minutes a day.
They're thinking more that factories won't need to use traditional extractors which generally need to heat stuff to high temperatures to make coffee milk drinks and soluble instant coffee, etc.
No1@aussie.zone · 6 pts · 62d
They better have used The Hottest 100....
Eyekaytee@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 62d
lol imagine you got different versions, turn on the coffee machine, start hearing a little ac/dc playing from inside it 🤣
No1@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 61d
I wonder if an AccaDacca brew tastes different to Air Supply brew lol
Eyekaytee@aussie.zone · 5 pts · 62d
The first thing I thought of: The Hardcore Coffee Machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5OYQOyceoM
Second thing was:
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/04/23/thermoacoustic-heat-pumps-on-the-verge-of-commercial-breakthrough/
But back to the original article:
I was going to say that my coffee machine runs off solar/battery so no use here but I'm certain a good majority of coffee shops are not running on solar or solar battery and this would be amazing
Here's hoping they can commercialise it
nevetsg@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 61d
That heat pump is an interesting read. Thank you for the link.
Kowowow@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 62d
I wonder how well it would work for tea
zer0squar3d@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 62d
They recently started doing this with whisky first and i thats when i wanted to go down the path of trying it on all of types of liquids but never had the time or money to do it.
supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 61d
The essence of convection "without" heat?
the_mighty_kracken@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 62d
This sounds like a great way to torture your family pet. They can hear ultrasound, and the brew time for this is 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
Squizzy@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 61d
Proof concepts can be refined to dampen sound beyond the unit. Its cool to save energy.
the_mighty_kracken@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 61d
It's a neat idea, I just hope they take the unintended consequences into account. Imagine this product being used at an industrial scale near wildlife.
PabloSexcrowbar@piefed.social · 3 pts · 61d
On the other hand, it may have the unintended effect of keeping rats and mice away from brewing sites.