I finally visited that famous coffee shop in Portland and I'm split on whether it's actually good

Went to that spot everyone raves about, the one with the 15 minute pour-over. The barista was super serious, like a scientist, and the coffee did taste super clean. But I spent $8 on a small cup and I honestly think my $20 Mr. Coffee at home makes a better cup with the beans from the grocery store. Is the whole third wave thing just about showmanship or am I missing something? Who else has been to a hyped shop and felt let down?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix_black1mo ago

Yeah, respect your take but I gotta push back on the "better cup" part. You said your Mr. Coffee makes a better cup, but are you really getting that clean, bright flavor or is it just passable? I used to think the same thing until I actually dialed in my cheap brewer at home with the right grind size and water temp. That shop is probably doing a specific light roast that highlights notes you wouldn't catch in a darker grocery store bag. $8 is steep, no argument there, but pour-overs take time and the barista is literally weighing everything to get the extraction right. If you had a dark roast or a blend from the grocery store, you're comparing apples to oranges, both good but totally different. I've had expensive cups that were just okay too, but when a shop nails that clean, transparent flavor, it's not about showmanship it's about showing what the beans can do.

claire_hart531mo ago

Oh, absolutely! I went through the exact same thing. I spent years thinking my old drip machine was just fine until I finally got a decent burr grinder and started paying attention to water temperature. Now I can actually taste the difference between a bright, fruity Ethiopian and a heavy Colombian, and I can't go back to that muddy Mr. Coffee taste even when it's fresh.

taylorc401mo ago

Wait, has nobody talked about what you're actually drinking these cups WITH? I'm serious. I used to think my home brew was just as good as the shop's until I realized I was drinking their pour-over BLACK while I was adding milk or sugar to mine at home. That's a TOTAL game changer. If you're tasting that shop's Ethiopian with nothing in it but you're cutting your Mr. Coffee with oat milk and honey, you're literally comparing two different drinks. Try your home brew totally naked for a week and see if the gap closes.