The Best Shot of Espresso-Not!
This CNY is a break away from work that i definitely need. The 21 days manning the Cafe day and night (at times stretching up to 9 days straights, 14hrs/day) was just too demanding. I don't miss not making coffee though as i am still pulling shots and downing espresso after espresso each day in this 4 days break. It was also time for some WBC videos for inspirations, in gear for the coming SNBC 2011 and hence, this topic to blog.
I came across one too many quotes from competitors who mentioned that their coffee is by par the best shot they had or the best coffee that they have encounter! Taking a line from one of my Barista, "taste is subjective" and thus i wonder how this "oh a perfect cup of espresso" fits into anyone taste bud.....
Every Espresso drinkers that i ever know and chat with have different views of what they look for in that perfect cup of Espresso. Certainly though, majority if not all, have high expectations of the perfect shot, each time they order the beverage only to be disspointed, many sips there after. I am also guilty of taking such actions.
Here, i come to accept that there will never be such a thing as a perfect shot, god shot, best shot- whatever:PERIOD. We should have an open aproach towards downing that shot and have a broaden tasting mind of what we look for in that shot. If we have lesser expectations of the Espresso, we will begin to appreciate the flavour for what it is and not what it isn't. We may hate the brightness but maybe, the toffee finish is something to rave about. When we expect less, we receive more and that shot will be a shot worth paying for. After all, the shot still arrive to us with effort from palnting, to processing, to roasting, grinding, brewing and serving. As long that we are not serve 100% Robusta and/or being told that it is an Ethiopia Sidamo SO only to know later on that it is a Chicory!
There will only be a good, moderate or bad espresso. Perfect- never. When you taste one, make a mental note and proceed to another. There is just too many coffee in the world to taste, each having its own quality to highlight.
Drink espresso with an open mind and embrace the diversity. That will be perfect.
Suhaimie
I came across one too many quotes from competitors who mentioned that their coffee is by par the best shot they had or the best coffee that they have encounter! Taking a line from one of my Barista, "taste is subjective" and thus i wonder how this "oh a perfect cup of espresso" fits into anyone taste bud.....
Every Espresso drinkers that i ever know and chat with have different views of what they look for in that perfect cup of Espresso. Certainly though, majority if not all, have high expectations of the perfect shot, each time they order the beverage only to be disspointed, many sips there after. I am also guilty of taking such actions.
Here, i come to accept that there will never be such a thing as a perfect shot, god shot, best shot- whatever:PERIOD. We should have an open aproach towards downing that shot and have a broaden tasting mind of what we look for in that shot. If we have lesser expectations of the Espresso, we will begin to appreciate the flavour for what it is and not what it isn't. We may hate the brightness but maybe, the toffee finish is something to rave about. When we expect less, we receive more and that shot will be a shot worth paying for. After all, the shot still arrive to us with effort from palnting, to processing, to roasting, grinding, brewing and serving. As long that we are not serve 100% Robusta and/or being told that it is an Ethiopia Sidamo SO only to know later on that it is a Chicory!
There will only be a good, moderate or bad espresso. Perfect- never. When you taste one, make a mental note and proceed to another. There is just too many coffee in the world to taste, each having its own quality to highlight.
Drink espresso with an open mind and embrace the diversity. That will be perfect.
Suhaimie
The perfect shoot of espresso...is a shot, made with true pure passion, and not passion driven by greed, selfishness, and money.
ReplyDeleteI dare say I pull a perfect shot, for my friends, since it isn't a competation for fortune or fame. Call me thick skin, I don't care, but so long as all my friends love
The shots I pull, that is as good as any named competation.