4 ms·

Shops are opening left and right with specialty beans, great atmosphere, pastries, and the $30k La Marzocco espresso machine, yet the baristas have no training,

by cush 4y ago

Shops are opening left and right with specialty beans, great atmosphere, pastries, and the $30k La Marzocco espresso machine, yet the baristas have no training, can't steam milk, and pull shots that taste like battery acid. The reason the coffee costs $6 a cup is to pay the pilot

criddell 4y ago
> the $30k La Marzocco espresso machine I think it's interesting how a coffee shops are starting to hide their machines beneath the counter and just the group head is above (much like a beer tap). They don't get to show off their super expensive machine, but it does open up the counter for more human interactions (the barista isn't hidden behind a giant machine. I personally think it's a big improvement.
- twawaaay 4y ago
  I think most people who come for coffe don't care about espresso machines. My wife was shocked when I told her how much a good grinder and espresso machine costs. Forget about knowing particular brands and product lines. And people who care tend to care in an unhealthy way. I would put them in same category as people focusing what kind of photographic equipment you use to make a photo. From purely practical point of view the espresso machine is one of the least significant ingredients. An espresso machine is essentially a heater and a pump that is supposed to push water through coffee puck at a given pressure. Some bells and whistles can help make a touch better coffee more consistently. A good grinder and well dialled is on the other hand essential and any misstep here will basically preclude you from getting good coffee. And if you don't get quality, freshly roasted coffee no of the above will save you.
nikau 4y ago
Its often more nuanced than that, for example often cafes will get free machines and service if they agree to only use a particular brand of beans. Great for the cafe owner, but typically its mediocre beans like vittoria or similar which are stale by the time they get to the cafe and a barista can only do so much with them. So that then dictates the quality of baristas you get, any baristas with pride in their work will try and find cafes with better quality ingredients, so you are left with mediocre baristas than can just pump out okish coffee.

by cush 4y ago

criddell 4y ago

> the $30k La Marzocco espresso machine I think it's interesting how a coffee shops are starting to hide their machines beneath the counter and just the group head is above (much like a beer tap). They don't get to show off their super expensive machine, but it does open up the counter for more human interactions (the barista isn't hidden behind a giant machine. I personally think it's a big improvement.

twawaaay 4y ago
I think most people who come for coffe don't care about espresso machines. My wife was shocked when I told her how much a good grinder and espresso machine costs. Forget about knowing particular brands and product lines. And people who care tend to care in an unhealthy way. I would put them in same category as people focusing what kind of photographic equipment you use to make a photo. From purely practical point of view the espresso machine is one of the least significant ingredients. An espresso machine is essentially a heater and a pump that is supposed to push water through coffee puck at a given pressure. Some bells and whistles can help make a touch better coffee more consistently. A good grinder and well dialled is on the other hand essential and any misstep here will basically preclude you from getting good coffee. And if you don't get quality, freshly roasted coffee no of the above will save you.

nikau 4y ago

Its often more nuanced than that, for example often cafes will get free machines and service if they agree to only use a particular brand of beans. Great for the cafe owner, but typically its mediocre beans like vittoria or similar which are stale by the time they get to the cafe and a barista can only do so much with them. So that then dictates the quality of baristas you get, any baristas with pride in their work will try and find cafes with better quality ingredients, so you are left with mediocre baristas than can just pump out okish coffee.