Food & DrinkThe BestieBeginner
The Magic of Sourdough Math course icon

The Magic of Sourdough Math

Like Duolingo, but for The Magic of Sourdough Math. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.

For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.

26 bite-size levelsAbout 5 minutes each

Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android

Bernie the Baker Bear
The Magic of Sourdough Math
with Bernie the Baker Bear
26
Levels
3
Sections
5
Min/day
What you'll learn

Key ideas in The Magic of Sourdough Math

  • Measuring by volume tells you the exact quantity of matter in your bowl
  • Flour is compressible and traps varying amounts of air
  • Mass remains constant regardless of ingredient aeration
  • Precise ratios are required for consistent sourdough fermentation
  • Scooping packs flour tightly and inconsistently
  • Grams provide a precise, objective measurement of mass
  • Why volume measurements for flour are unreliable compared to weight
  • The conceptual hierarchy of measurement reliability in baking
  • The impact of using a scale on recipe repeatability
  • Capacity determines if the scale can handle heavy bowls and dough
  • Readability/Precision determines the smallest increment the scale can detect
  • Grams are a smaller unit of measurement than ounces
  • Small ingredients like salt and yeast require high precision to ensure fermentation consistency
  • Identify the two critical technical specifications for a bread-making scale
  • Explain why gram increments are superior to ounce increments for small ingredients
  • Capacity allows for heavy vessels like Dutch ovens
Why not just Google it

You've tried the other tabs

Wikipedia

Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.

YouTube

You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.

ChatGPT

One answer, then back to scrolling.

Online courses

Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.

Tomo gives The Magic of Sourdough Math the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.

Try a question

Here's what playing it feels like

A real question from this course. Take your best guess.

The Science of the Scale

Why might a single cup of flour weigh 120g one day and 140g the next?

Get it right to open this lesson and 25 more in the app.

Course map

Where The Magic of Sourdough Math takes you

Learn how to bake perfect bread by mastering the numbers behind the crust. We will explore how simple measurements turn flour and water into a bubbly, delicious masterpiece.

  1. 1

    Getting Your Tools Ready

    • Why We Weigh Instead of Scoop
    • Choosing the Right Kitchen Scale
    • Understanding Grams and Milliliters
    • The Secret of the Zero Button
  2. 2

    The Science of Ratios

    • Feeding Your Starter by the Numbers
    • What is Baker's Percentage?
    • Calculating Water for Sticky Dough
    • Measuring Salt for Flavor and Strength
    • How Temperature Changes the Clock
    • Adjusting Recipes for Bigger Loaves
  3. 3

    Perfecting the Final Loaf

    • Timing the Bulk Fermentation
    • Measuring Growth in the Bowl
    • Checking the Internal Temperature

3 sections · 13 units · 26 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.

How it's taught

You pick the voice

This course
The Bestie

The Magic of Sourdough Math is taught in the The Bestie style: your friend who just gets it. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.

Keep going

More Food & Drink on Tomo

Beyond the Label: Mastering Wine

Explain Like I'm 5

Move past the basics and learn to decode complex flavors, pair like a pro, and navigate any wine list with confidence. Discover the hidden factors that make a great bottle stand out from the rest.

54 levels1h 48mIntermediate

Mastering Your Morning Cup

Professor

Stop settling for bitter coffee and start brewing like a pro. Learn to fix your flavor, master the Moka Pot, and unlock the science behind the world's favorite bean.

205 levels6h 50mBeginner

Mastering French Wine

Professor

Stop feeling lost at the wine shop and start picking bottles like a pro. Learn to navigate the famous regions of France by taste, label, and location.

170 levels5h 40mBeginner

The Art of the Pour

Bestie

Move beyond basic brewing and master the fluid dynamics of microfoam. Learn to manipulate texture, temperature, and tension to create stunning visual patterns and perfect matcha bowls.

170 levels5h 40mIntermediate

The Art of the Espresso Bar

Professor

Move beyond the basic latte and master the subtle ratios that define world-class coffee. Learn to navigate a specialty menu and understand how milk texture and water volume transform a single bean into dozens of distinct experiences.

24 levels48mIntermediate

The Home Barista's Espresso Guide

Professor

Master the art of the perfect espresso shot and learn how to build every classic cafe drink right in your own kitchen. From silky lattes to bold americanos, you'll learn the exact ratios that make each drink unique.

170 levels5h 40mBeginner
Start free

Start The Magic of Sourdough Math today.

Download Tomo, search The Magic of Sourdough Math, and play your first lesson in under a minute.