# The Science of Coffee A podcast by James Harper. The Science of Coffee is a journey into coffee’s hidden microscopic secrets to help you make even better coffee at home. Documentary maker and coffee professional James Harper travels the world and speaks with leading coffee scientists to help you appreciate coffee more deeply. You are going to get taken into the science of water, coffee extraction, plant genetics, espresso technology, latte foam, sonic seasoning, our sense of taste and smell, organic farming, roasting, grinding and freshness, and how to think like a scientist. Press the Subscribe button so you don’t miss future episodes! The Science of Coffee is a spin-off series from James Harper’s documentary podcast Filter Stories. Follow James on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Mlkk0O Listen to Filter Stories: https://bit.ly/3ajoT5 Feed: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-science-of-coffee/ ## Latest episodes - [Coffee Quality, Part 3: When the “quality” myth hits the farm](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/685dae63fab6) (2025-12-08, 30 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/83b10f92-2a05-415a-a1ce-43a959f9c7cf.mp3 - [Coffee Quality, Part 2: How “quality” became a myth](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/b979e9ae9bd7) (2025-12-08, 26 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/9c0e0add-e84f-4150-9fef-14964f229475.mp3 - [Coffee Quality, Part 1: The birth of specialty coffee flavours](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/5fedecc33493) (2025-12-08, 24 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/fa18ee32-1940-47eb-8b48-4764b71dddff.mp3 - [How specialty coffee woke up to water’s role in flavour](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/7e48144bbdf2) (2025-07-28, 26 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/67318b54-059a-4591-a564-8292643b6a92.mp3 - [The two ingredients in water that ruin your coffee, and the ancient story behind them](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/69c364fdfaf5) (2025-07-28, 39 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/b02db362-8e41-4f5a-90e2-b83efce19316.mp3 - [Getting great water for coffee, step-by-step. Part 2: How to measure and treat your water](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/a348f8c56e3f) (2025-07-14, 44 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/1ea6e1be-bef3-4c91-9b8e-f7e39696bd27.mp3 - [Getting great water for coffee, step-by-step. Part 1: Alkalinity, hardness and why it matters](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/3ff7b6a9928c) (2025-07-14, 27 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f8b0edc8-9406-4156-8853-f78d03a75aaa.mp3 - [Farm to port: why specialty costs more](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/aa8a5a4cc731) (2025-06-23, 55 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/29553ab0-f116-4ffe-9848-91bdd8a3f15c.mp3 - [Why one Colombian farmer chose specialty, and the other walked away](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/1923929167a7) (2025-06-09, 47 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/47520ea6-0737-43a7-ba59-825910ce87df.mp3 - [The hard business of selling beautiful coffee, part 2](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/f0dad79a6f0d) (2025-05-19, 40 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/27aa9f14-1a7c-4944-a9d9-de7345b829c2.mp3 - [The hard business of selling beautiful coffee, part 1](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/7ff43150aa51) (2025-05-19, 30 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/3feaefd8-0404-475e-9b24-26b01ea67ebc.mp3 - [The Speed of Heat: How to roast more coffee, faster!](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/90f15515b251) (2025-03-24, 53 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/4d11da2f-d793-4a0b-9f34-6e126fd815a7.mp3 - [Coffee Roasting: How baby plant food transforms into delicious coffee flavours](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/a270380afee6) (2025-03-10, 48 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/665cda45-d882-4a88-8fce-ced31e6f6587.mp3 - [Fruit juice or creamy almonds? Your guide to controlling cold brew flavors](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/3efc50214ca7) (2025-02-16, 47 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/69584a06-856a-43ec-b811-f394d87d6493.mp3 - [Hot vs Cold: The science behind temperature and taste](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/8e5335471608) (2025-02-03, 46 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/0b004fcf-2010-49d3-b97d-940992dbe3b2.mp3 - [Introducing: Season 3 of The Science of Coffee](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/e12fe626f637) (2025-01-27, 3 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/14cbc102-33ab-41ff-ae4a-b91bd1e12e57.mp3 - [Freshness and Grinding, Part 2: How grinders work deep inside](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/92e0d59c544b) (2024-05-06, 48 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/8d99db69-c872-453a-8e8b-f9e50b181b73.mp3 - [Freshness and Grinding, Part 1: Protecting your coffee’s flavours](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/a542aaa3af98) (2024-04-22, 50 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/8f6a4188-936c-486b-99f8-ad1024b15e73.mp3 - [What Is Good Science? Part 2: How to think like a scientist](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/10aaa474dea7) (2024-04-08, 48 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/7cb672c6-27ac-4507-9325-adfa8e9eb900.mp3 - [What Is Good Science? Part 1: How to brew coffee like a scientist](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/3e8bf28f3a29) (2024-03-25, 47 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/faaface2-e99e-4472-8f2b-289d48ac7897.mp3 - [Organic Coffee, Part 2: Why don’t we see more organic coffee farms?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/6b17445c5c35) (2024-03-13, 42 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ecc9af79-733a-4adb-9fad-d765a60b3302.mp3 - [Organic Coffee, Part 1: The magic of soil](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/065146f1296a) (2024-02-26, 39 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/a04c0928-dc16-4a21-8086-552814a2ae46.mp3 - [Coffee Roasting, Part 2: Roasting made easy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/669c1a1f0f9e) (2024-02-12, 47 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/dd268163-b477-4008-926e-42158bec072e.mp3 - [Coffee Roasting, Part 1: How heat transforms coffee beans](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/789f45cb8a7e) (2024-01-29, 38 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ba2af121-9259-41be-8a48-4433394b3048.mp3 - [Smell and Taste, Part 2: Are you and I tasting the same flavours?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/1e58d481258a) (2024-01-15, 40 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f41b24b2-d6d5-45be-b188-c66490529f6b.mp3 - [Smell and Taste, Part 1: How to be a better coffee taster](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/fbbeb53bb1f6) (2024-01-08, 45 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/5b126301-dc9c-46e8-831a-28183089675f.mp3 - [Introducing: Season 2 of The Science of Coffee](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/765cfb4aa21b) (2024-01-02, 3 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/32fe9658-07c1-492a-958a-32719b0cd9a4.mp3 - [6) Sonic Seasoning](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/15d051cafcad) (2023-01-03, 54 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/b7ec8117-8392-4809-aab9-eda951c40fa4.mp3 - [5) Latte Foam](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/4b9240400625) (2023-01-03, 44 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/c08c9a87-ab60-4471-b732-f105664e8204.mp3 - [4) Espresso Technology](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/3af377bc83ef) (2023-01-03, 43 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/c6201fe8-01b6-4e4b-9260-acd1a54c455a.mp3 - [3) Plant Genetics](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/2c551a3e711d) (2022-10-25, 64 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/756e811f-3981-40f0-a4ed-7cbd536df84e.mp3 - [2) Coffee Extraction](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/dee8e67094f0) (2022-10-25, 54 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f4ebfa2f-d444-4031-b8d3-66c5fd719451.mp3 - [1) Water For Brewing Coffee](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/ffa8fc2d8c1e) (2022-10-25, 62 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/cdbeedcb-ea9b-464a-b023-8e4b55cd5644.mp3 - [Introducing: The Science of Coffee](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1649183496/39e9394de38f) (2022-10-10, 4 min): audio https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ae5e17b2-aac9-4733-8e2b-bc6a76f09311.mp3 Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.