Used to chug a sugary latte at my desk in Austin every morning until I watched a barista at Strange Brew actually weigh the beans

I thought good coffee was just about roast quality or the machine. Then I saw this guy at Strange Brew on South Congress spend a full 30 seconds dialing in a single espresso shot, checking a little scale and timing it. Now I actually grind fresh at home and time my pour-over, and the difference in flavor is huge for a beginner like me. Has anyone else had a barista moment that completely changed their morning routine?

3 comments

3 Comments

val_williams11d ago

Yeah, I was totally in the "just buy good beans" camp too until I saw it done right. @thompson.reese is spot on, that cheap scale and timer combo is all you need to start. Changed my whole morning routine honestly.

the_thea11d ago

That scale and timer combo reminds me how little things done right stack up everywhere, not just coffee.

thompson.reese11d ago

That scale and timer combo is the real game changer. Try a cheap gram scale and a $15 timer before spending money on a fancy grinder.