The Brazil Nut Coffee-Ground Effect


Dr. Hanson made a video about the Brazil Nut Effect, but called it the Raisin Bran Effect. To me, it will always be the “Brazil Nut Effect” because that’s the term that Jay Ingram used when discussing it 15 years ago on an episode of Discovery Channel’s “Daily Planet”.

That said, even then, I was already familiar with the effect from having noticed that upon shaking a cup of instant coffee grounds and sugar, the sugar would sink and the coffee grounds would rise. Simple observation (and slow shaking) revealed that the difference in size and shape of the grounds and sugar crystals was the reason for the “granular convection”.

Sorry Joe, but it I don’t know if the Raisin Bran Effect will take.

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