gaillaustx Senior Member Joined: 4 Aug 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Austin, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Duo Pro Grinder: Ascaso I-Steel
Posted Sat Aug 11, 2012, 5:11am Subject: Coffee Bar Etiquette
What would you do if you are served nasty espresso?
So I’m not sure I have ever had a “good” espresso, my best experience being $bucks. I’m making my own at home, I’m a super newbie. All of my shots are drinkable to me. A couple of them have been very exciting, flavorful, and interesting; to me. But after lurking here for awhile, I’m not trusting my own judgment.
So I went online to find the best coffee shop here in town, and after filtering through the reviews I found one across town, in an old neighborhood, sort of hidden from the main tourist crowd. I hoped to have the experience of tasting a good shot of espresso.
I went over there this week, around 9:30, thinking most of the heavy morning traffic would be gone, but still early enough for the better barista to be on duty. I watched him pull the shot. The water poured right through the filter, black as sin, no crème. I’m thinking this is not right, but what do I know. What I experienced with that cup was awful. So bitter there was no flavor, no hint of anything right about it. The nastiness hung in my mouth for the whole ride home, about 45 min.
And it was $3, plus $1 tip. Really? What would you have done?
Posted Sat Aug 11, 2012, 6:52am Subject: Re: Coffee Bar Etiquette
Depends. In most cases, I would leave the espresso on the counter, undrunk, and leave no tip. If it's not a rush, I might let them know that the shot was bad (maybe it's a fluke). If they care about quality, they'll make you another. If they don't, they won't and that place (or that barista if I've had good coffee from that place before) gets stricken from my little list.
Usually, in a new cafe, I'll watch for a while before ordering an espresso to see how the barista works and if he's grinding fresh for each shot or working from a doser full of rapidly staling coffee. I'll see if he's pulling directly into cups for shots or pulling into a shot pitcher then pouring it into a cup from there. Sometimes I turn around and walk back out the door without ordering anything.
I try not to be that guy who attempts to tell the barista how to do his job. He's got whatever level of training his employer provides and advanced that in accordance with his personal levels of curiousity and interest, and belief in doing a job to the best of his abilities.
BTW, the regional forums here are a good source of finding places to go. There's a thread on Austin here with several places to try.
Posted Sat Aug 11, 2012, 8:16am Subject: Re: Coffee Bar Etiquette
I would just not go back. You are not going to change them into suddenly caring. Even a very polite discussion would just lead to rolling of their eyes about the know it all stuck up customer. I think about 90% of the coffee shops are like this, so just get make your shots at home.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,722 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Sat Aug 11, 2012, 8:41am Subject: Re: Coffee Bar Etiquette
^+1
I think if the barista cared enough to make a good shot he/shed know how to do it and wouldn't serve you a sink shot. Best just tossing it and going somewhere else in the future. Sadly, I've thrown away or left undrunk too many a shot to count (mostly from restaurants with good equipment but poorly trained staff). I do try to watch the barista in action before ordering at a new place. It really tells me if I want to risk wasting my money or not. If they know what they're doing, I often strike up a conversation to let him/her know they're making the next one for an informed customer. I've found I tend to get better drinks that way.
Last night I was at an Argentinian restaurant. We had to sit at the bar to wait for our table. They had a 2 group commercial machine at the bar area. I think it was a La Cimbali. I couldn't see the grinder from across the bar, and didn't walk over to check it out. I saw a bartender pull a cappa. The machine sits on the end of the bar (a pretty high one) and there was a cart in front of it, so he had to reach out and up, almost full arm's length, to get to it. Also, the lighting was bad, so I know he couldn't see the milk as it was frothing. The sound I heard during frothing made me cringe. Oh, I almost forgot, I never heard the coffee grinder through the whole process. After our meal, when the waiter asked if we wanted any coffee or espresso, my wife and I both politely declined.
gaillaustx Senior Member Joined: 4 Aug 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Austin, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Duo Pro Grinder: Ascaso I-Steel
Posted Sat Aug 11, 2012, 9:55am Subject: Re: Coffee Bar Etiquette
Thank you for your input. I'll remember to watch first the next time. He did grind the beans fresh for my drink, but something went wrong. Also the cashier is not getting my tip BEFORE I get my drink.
And great link to the local forum, I'll try those places too. Restaurants etc. come and go here pretty quickly, but there are several mentioned that are still here. That's a good sign too, I'm thinking.
Unfortunately the place I went to is #1. It must have been a bad day. I may try again.
Posted Sun Aug 12, 2012, 3:50pm Subject: Re: Coffee Bar Etiquette
All my food writer friends say never judge a place by just one visit. It could just be an off night. Of course you mention that in the final review (something like "although inconsistent, XXX can scale the heights of culinary goobledy-gook with their Pan-Asian/Hungarian fusion cuisine, etc...), you need to go back just to be sure.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,679 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Aug 14, 2012, 7:45am Subject: Re: Coffee Bar Etiquette
I can't offer a place to go but I can say that you should let the barista know that you are serious about coffee and are looking for the best that they can give. If you are still served dreck, walk on by and don't look back.
When I did a round robin tour of the best spots in Seattle, I told the baristas the above and they went WAY out of their way to make the best shot possible. I even had one toss about 4 doubles while making sure that the machine was perfect. The coffee from there was a bit more bright than I was expecting and while I was drinking my Cap in the store, she worked even harder on pulling the shots and offered me her BEST effort when I was leaving, and it was good!
I have had the other coffee many more times though and like others have said, leave it on the counter and walk away.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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