3 ms·
> making sure to sample the espresso throughout the day to check for over or under extraction, and adjusting the grind to compensate for changes in air pressure
by briandear 8y ago
> making sure to sample the espresso throughout the day to check for over or under extraction, and adjusting the grind to compensate for changes in air pressure and temperature.
Sounds like the perfect job for a computer. I highly doubt most baristas are checking atmospheric pressure or are even mindful of minute temperature charges throughout the day. Since these aspects are things that are monitor-able at high precision, it’s doubtful that your average barista is going to outperform a computer. The social aspects of the barista are a worthwhile, but unrelated debate.
- uhtred 8y agoSorry I didn't word it well. I'm not suggesting the baristas are contemplating the temperature and air pressure, but rather those things will affect an espresso shot and the level of extraction, and thus the barista will need to test the espresso throughout the day to determine if it is pulling differently (more/less extraction resulting in sour or bitter notes) in the afternoon compared to the morning due to weather changes. So I don't think it was unrelated debate.
- uhtred 8y agoBut please, do enlighten me as to whether a computer can determine if coffee tastes good.
- mc32 8y agoWhile there are some limits to what people consider good and or acceptable, a lot of taste is more of a consensus thing among people rather than something empirical. To use a pun, it’s up to people’s taste and that’s ill defined.
- o_____________o 8y agoCan the flavor and properties of a substance be measured? Can people define the ideal measurements? Then ultimately yes.