Rant: A guy at a coffee shop in Austin said my pour-over method was 'too slow' and it got me thinking

I was at this little spot on South Congress last month, just doing my normal thing with a V60. This older guy next to me at the bar watched for a minute and then just said, 'You know, you're wasting your time. That's way too slow for what you get.' He said he only uses a French press because it's 'honest work' and you get all the oils. I mean, I just like the clean cup from a pour-over, you know? But he was so sure of himself, like his way was the only right way. It stuck with me because it wasn't just about taste, it was about the whole idea of what makes a method 'good.' Is it just about the speed, or the taste, or the feel of making it? Has anyone else had someone question your whole routine like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

ivanhart21d ago

Totally get that feeling when someone acts like their way is the only way. Dude was basically saying your whole process has no value because it takes a few extra minutes, which is wild. Makes me think it's less about the coffee and more about people needing to feel right about their own choices. The whole point of methods like pour-over is the control and the ritual, not just speed. Let people enjoy things.

nelson.wesley21d ago

Ever think they're just insecure?

kim73320d ago

Honestly, that tracks. Tbh I get weirdly defensive about my own dumb routines too, like the exact way I load the dishwasher. Someone points out a better way and it feels like a personal attack on my whole life. Ngl, it's probably because my way is the only thing holding my morning together.