I Changed My Mind About Coffee (Here's Why)

Summary

In this reflective video, the creator discusses their evolving approach to coffee brewing, acknowledging past fixations on concepts like extraction, thermal stability, and puck preparation. They recognize that their earlier, confident advice may have been interpreted as strict rules, when it was meant as context-dependent suggestions. The creator emphasizes a more flexible mindset, encouraging viewers to focus on personal taste and experience rather than rigid techniques. The video ultimately advocates for continuous learning, testing, and revising one’s approach to coffee, embracing nuance and growth over certainty.

Takeaways

• 😀 Coffee advice is often context-dependent, and what works in one situation may not be universally applicable.
• 😀 Overconfidence in coffee advice can inadvertently turn suggestions into rigid rules, which may hinder exploration and growth.
• 😀 Thumbnails and catchy titles can lead viewers to oversimplify complex ideas, making them feel like final conclusions rather than nuanced advice.
• 😀 The speaker acknowledges that their past focus on high extraction as the 'best' method was too narrow, and they now see it as just a tool, not the goal.
• 😀 The idea of 'zupa' emerged as a reaction to an obsession with extraction, encouraging people to explore different coffee experiences rather than just focusing on numbers.
• 😀 Some methods, like WDT, were once essential but have become less relevant as technology (such as improved grinders) has evolved.
• 😀 Coffee brewing should be about the experience and personal enjoyment, not rigid rules about extraction, temperature, or pressure.
• 😀 Certainty in coffee brewing can be harmful, as it stifles learning, experimentation, and adaptation to new information.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that learning in coffee, as in life, is iterative, and even past advice is subject to revision as new information is discovered.
• 😀 The speaker encourages viewers to create their own framework for brewing, guided by testing and openness to change, rather than blindly following rules.
• 😀 Regardless of the method (WDT, zupa, thermal stability, etc.), the ultimate goal is to brew something enjoyable and tasty in the present moment.

Q & A

What is the main idea behind the speaker's message in the video?

The speaker is reflecting on the evolution of their approach to coffee brewing, acknowledging how certainty in advice can sometimes turn into rigid rules. They emphasize the importance of staying flexible, learning, and adapting, rather than treating past advice as unchangeable doctrine.

Why does the speaker mention thumbnails in the context of coffee brewing advice?

The speaker uses thumbnails as an example to highlight how they often simplify complex ideas into decisive, confident claims. This can lead viewers to treat these simplified ideas as absolute rules, even though they were intended as context-dependent advice.

What is the 'Zupa' approach mentioned in the video, and why was it introduced?

'Zupa' is an approach where the focus shifts from higher extraction to chasing experience. It was introduced as a reaction to the speaker's earlier emphasis on higher extraction as the ideal, exploring the idea that lower extraction and different brewing techniques can still produce enjoyable coffee.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'coffee punishes singular thinking'?

The phrase suggests that rigid, one-size-fits-all thinking in coffee brewing leads to limitations. Coffee is complex, and when we stop considering different variables and perspectives, we stop learning and improving.

Why does the speaker say that 'extraction is a tool, not a goal'?

The speaker explains that while higher extraction can improve certain flavors, it is not the ultimate goal. The real aim should be to enhance the overall coffee experience, which might not always be achieved through higher extraction alone.

What role does the speaker's ADHD play in their approach to coffee brewing?

The speaker attributes their tendency to fixate on specific variables, such as extraction, to their ADHD. This explains why they often dive deep into one aspect of brewing before shifting their focus when new insights or experiences challenge their previous understanding.

How does the speaker view the relationship between new and old brewing techniques?

The speaker stresses that newer brewing techniques replacing older ones does not mean the old methods were wrong. Rather, it shows that the problems faced by brewers have changed, and adapting to new methods is part of learning and evolving.

What does the speaker mean by 'learning is iterative'?

The speaker refers to the process of learning as being ongoing and evolving. Their views on coffee brewing have changed over time, and they acknowledge that even their past advice was subject to revision as they continue to learn and experiment.

Why does the speaker caution against turning any specific brewing method into a 'rule'?

The speaker warns that turning any brewing method into a rigid rule undermines the flexibility required to experiment and discover what works best for different situations. They believe the goal is to remain open to learning, rather than rigidly adhering to one method.

What is the ultimate takeaway from the speaker's video?

The key takeaway is that coffee brewing is about the experience, not adhering to fixed rules. The speaker encourages viewers to experiment, be open to new ideas, and focus on brewing something tasty rather than following dogmatic advice.