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  • Need to convince my coffee shop

    Hi all,
    I have a predicament. I get coffee at the same place everyday and lately I've taken quite a liking to a piccilo latte. However its shown me that my barristers technique is really lacking.

    I've been going there for a year, what i've noticed is that sometimes the coffee is really really bitter and burnt, and other times its ok. Basically to cut a long story short, they don't tamp their coffee with a tamper. they use the press which is on their grinder.

    I asked him to show me the group after he tamped it and it was not level, there was a ridge around it, it was un even, basically everything that is wrong with a good tamp. I cannot imagine what is happening to the extraction but its not good.
    After explaining this all to him he told me its all garbage and there's no such thing, and that other cafes he's worked at, the guys with tampers always made the worst coffees. It was a heated discussion which prompted me to jump around the counter and explain what happens on extraction with an uneven/untamped group and explaining channeling to him.

    The challenge he presented was to bring in my tamper this tamper was hideous and had a lip on it, and all dented). So i'll bring in mine tomorrow and try and help him, but what more can I do.

    I tried to explain to him that making coffee is as much as a science as it is an art, but he said there is nothing here to do with science.

    Any advice from you guys would be great as to best way to tackle this one.

    Cheers

  • #2
    from his point of view, he probably is annoyed that a customer is telling him how to do his job, constructive criticism or not, it may not be welcomed if not asked... especially if no one complaint over the time he has made coffee before...

    from your point of view, you are trying to help, but then if he is not willing to listen, you are just wasting your time, and money for drinking his Russian roulette coffee.. let your wallet do the talking and find somewhere else for your daily fix...

    I know of a business owner who has an attitude problem, and has issues with keeping her temper, emotion and mouth in check which unfortunately has turned off alot of customers away from her business... a few of us had explained to her why people avoid her business to would rather go to other business that's inferior compared to hers... but she just doesn't listen or change... so we too stop telling her and go to her business anymore.... some people are just plain stubborn...

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    • #3
      Oh Dont get me wrong, I've been there for a year, I am very very very good friends with all of them over the past year. We talk evrey day and have lunch together. They don't ever take anything I say offensively. So there's no issue there, its more about helping them, because I do love them!

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      • #4
        Welcome to Coffee Snobs Sam.
        Your little story reminds me of the old adage "you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink"
        Keep us informed as to how your relationship with Mr Barista is going.
        You say "I asked him to show me the group after he tamped it" I think you mean you asked him to show you the porta filter after he tamped it (the coffee) that is.

        As a matter of interest I visit a couple of cafe's where they only use the tamping device built into the grinder, the coffee is usually very good, it can be done.

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        • #5
          haha yes thast what I meant! sorry there!

          I will let you know tomorrow when the test happens. The problem is that the tamper built into the grinder is really small, it doesnt fit the porta filter at all.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by oohsam View Post
            However its shown me that my barristers technique is really lacking.
            Must be if he ended up in hospitality

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
              Must be if he ended up in hospitality
              Reminds me of the Rake episode where he is described in a newspaper as a 'barista'

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              • #8
                Originally posted by oohsam View Post
                haha yes thast what I meant! sorry there!

                I will let you know tomorrow when the test happens. The problem is that the tamper built into the grinder is really small, it doesnt fit the porta filter at all.
                hahahah Is this the coffee snobs forum or the English Grammar and spelling forum!!!

                LoL.

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                • #9
                  I had a ristretto from a cafe in toorak a few weeks ago and the barista didn't even tamp - filled the basket from the grinder and then straight on to the machine.. didn't seem to affect the quality of the shot in terms of bitterness or poor extraction..

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by jools View Post
                    I had a ristretto from a cafe in toorak a few weeks ago and the barista didn't even tamp - filled the basket from the grinder and then straight on to the machine.. didn't seem to affect the quality of the shot in terms of bitterness or poor extraction..
                    You sure he didn't use one of those 'upward' tamping manouevres, where they have the equivalent of a tamper permanently suspended near the grinder, and the operator raises the portafilter upwards to lightly tamp the coffee? Hard to imagine the results of zero tamp, but I guess there's always a 'pioneer'.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by oohsam View Post
                      hahahah Is this the coffee snobs forum or the English Grammar and spelling forum!!!

                      LoL.
                      It's the internet, grammar nazis are everywhere - here they are also powered by caffeine!

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Yelta View Post
                        Welcome to Coffee Snobs Sam.
                        Your little story reminds me of the old adage "you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink"
                        .
                        Or Dorothy Parker's less tasteful variant 'You can lead a W&#re to culture, but you can't make her think'

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Barry O'Speedwagon View Post
                          You sure he didn't use one of those 'upward' tamping manouevres, where they have the equivalent of a tamper permanently suspended near the grinder, and the operator raises the portafilter upwards to lightly tamp the coffee? Hard to imagine the results of zero tamp, but I guess there's always a 'pioneer'.
                          I'm trying to remember if he at least tapped the grounds to settle them but I'm quite sure I remember a heaped and untamped mound of ground coffee in the basket as it was attached to the group

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
                            Must be if he ended up in hospitality
                            I imagine the difference in spelling could be quite important to a person needing a barrister and finding he has made an appointment to see a coffee maker.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Yelta View Post
                              I imagine the difference in spelling could be quite important to a person needing a barrister and finding he has made an appointment to see a coffee maker.
                              Or getting a $3500 bill for two flat whites

                              Comment

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