Atlanta Science Festival Showcases the Science Behind Coffee

Decatur coffee shop Opo Coffee teaches festivalgoers the science behind brewing the perfect cup.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:48pm

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The Atlanta Science Festival is returning with hundreds of hands-on events, including a demonstration at Opo Coffee in Decatur that showcases the science behind making a great cup of coffee. Owner Jonathan Pascual is teaching festivalgoers about the tools and techniques used by coffee professionals, such as a coffee siphon, a refractometer to measure coffee strength, and the chemistry behind steaming milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

Why it matters

The Atlanta Science Festival aims to connect everyday activities like brewing coffee with the underlying scientific principles, sparking curiosity and helping the public better understand the science that shapes our daily lives.

The details

Pascual demonstrated several professional coffee tools, including a siphon brewer that uses heat and pressure, and a refractometer that analyzes the light refraction to determine the coffee's strength and dissolved solids. He also explained how the proteins and fats in milk react when steamed to create the foam and texture in specialty coffee drinks.

  • The Atlanta Science Festival runs from March 7 to March 21, 2026.
  • The festival's Exploration Expo in Piedmont Park is on March 21, 2026.

The players

Opo Coffee

A coffee shop in Decatur, Georgia that has partnered with the Atlanta Science Festival for the past three years to offer demonstrations connecting coffee brewing with scientific principles.

Jonathan Pascual

The owner of Opo Coffee who is leading the coffee science demonstrations at the Atlanta Science Festival.

Atlanta Science Festival

An annual event in Atlanta, Georgia that features hundreds of interactive exhibits and events exploring various scientific topics.

Delta Air Lines

The presenting sponsor of the Atlanta Science Festival.

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What they’re saying

“That tells us if the sample has a certain percentage of coffee solids in the water. Then it tells us how strong it is.”

— Jonathan Pascual, Owner, Opo Coffee

What’s next

The Atlanta Science Festival's Exploration Expo in Piedmont Park on March 21, 2026 will feature a wide range of hands-on exhibits and demonstrations covering topics from robotics to space science.

The takeaway

By connecting everyday activities like brewing coffee to the underlying scientific principles, the Atlanta Science Festival aims to spark curiosity and help the public better understand the science that shapes our daily lives.