Mr, Smithson on an [July, 



Article VI. 



An improved Method of making Coffee, By J. Smithson, Esq. 



F. R. S. 



(To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy/,) 



SIR, JwteA, 1823, 



From the highly fugacious nature of that part of coffee on 

 which its fine flavour depends, a practice has become very ge- 

 nerally adopted of late years of preparing the hquor by mere 

 percolation. 



This method has not only the great defect of being excessively 

 wasteful, but the coffee is likewise apt to be cold. 



Coction and the preservation of the fragrant matter are, how- 

 ever, not inconsistent. The union of these advantages is attain- 

 able by performing the operation in a close vessel. To obviate 

 the production of vapour, by which the vessel would be ruptured, 

 the boiling temperature must be obtained in a water- bath. 



In my expermients I made use of a glass phial closed with a 

 cork, at first left loose to allow the exit of the air. Cold water 

 was put to the coffee. 



This process is equally applicable to tea. 



Perhaps it may also be employed advantageously in the boil- 

 ing of hops, during which, I understand, that a material portion 

 of their aroma is dissipated ; as likewise possibly for making 

 certain medical decoctions. 



This way of preparing coffee and tea presents various advan- 

 tages. It is productive of a very considerable economy, since 

 by allowing of any continuance of the coction without the least 

 injury to the goodness, all the soluble matter may be extracted, 

 and consequently a proportionate less quantity of them becomes 

 required. By allowing the coffee to cool in the closed vessel, it 

 may be filtered through paper, then returned into the closed 

 vessel, and heated again, and thus had of the most perfect 

 clearness without any foreign addition to it, by which cofl'ee is 

 impaired. The hquors may be kept for any length of time at a 

 boiling heat, in private families, coffee-houses, &.c. so as to be 

 ready at the very instant called for. 



It will hkewise prove of no small conveniency to travellers 

 who have neither kettle, nor coffee-pot, nor tea-pot, in places 

 where these articles are not to be procured, as a bottle will 

 supply them. 



- in all cases means of economy tend to augment and diffuse 

 comforts and happiness. They bring within the reach of the 

 many what wasteful proceedmgs confine to the few, By 



