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Coffee - Philosophical issue?

adminadmin
edited January 1970 in Coffee Industry related subjects
By definition most industry people who are interested enough to participate in coffee forums are purists and [dare I say it] a bit geeky about their coffee.

Is this good for the general customer [because it forces them to extend their coffee boundaries] or is it getting so purist that it's putting 'real people' off?

A
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  • Dry_bean.Dry_bean.
    on 1282006950:
    By definition most industry people who are interested enough to participate in coffee forums are purists and [dare I say it] a bit geeky about their coffee. Is this good for the general customer [because it forces them to extend their coffee boundaries] or is it getting so purist that it's putting 'real people' off? A
    No question Admin, people who frequent coffee forums are pretty geeky, some more so than others, there are the seekers of advice on buying coffee appliances, i.e. Sunbeam, Breville etc, these seem to arrive on site and ask the old question (how can I buy a machine and grinder for about $200) that will give me similar results to a $3000 machine and grinder, the threads seem to go on for ever, a good percentage of answers coming from other newbies who seem to become instant experts but are in fact saying stuff all. And of course there the dedicated geeks who do in fact seek the perfect cup and are not afraid to seek informed advice, and open the purse strings in an effort to achieve their goal. I don't think the current situation of the industry is is either forcing people to extend themselves or putting them off. Our visitors examine my set up with polite interest, certainly enjoy the coffee, and regard me as as some sort of eccentric. I have never had the experience of someone seeing the light and immediately rushing out to buy a top end machine and grinder. So are purists putting people off, I doubt it, but neither is Joe public feeling any need to extend his/her knowledge of the brew, its a cup of coffee for goodness sake. 
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  • blanyonblanyon
    I think what the "geeks" are doing is creating room at the top of the cafe industry, the majority of customers just want a coffee they don't care about the machinery or the coffee they just want it to taste good. Hopefully the geeks are pushing more cafes to improve their coffee hence giving the general public better coffee on average. On the putting people off I know I have to be careful about how much detail I go into when people ask questions, if I give too much information their eyes just glaze over. Generally what they want is a very simple cheap easy way of replicating my coffee (as we know great coffee doesn't just happen) my answers never give them exactly what they want but hopefully I give them a glimpse of what is involved and in time they may get a bit more geeky about their coffee.
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  • Dry_bean.Dry_bean.
    on 1282017942:
    I give them a glimpse of what is involved and in time they may get a bit more geeky about their coffee.
    Don't hold your breath waiting.
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  • Unknown
    I wouldn't call it 'geeky' .. I just think people are passionate about their coffee and there's nothing wrong with that. People are into wine, food or even a particular sport and really get into the complexities of that particular interest - so why not coffee? Italians hold the stuff in high regard. A morning doesn't get started without one and a meal never ends without one... It's more than a beverage, it actually plays an important part in some nationalities be it Greek, Turkish, Morrocan, Italian etc. I love the stuff and really enjoy the role that coffee plays in customs.
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  • blanyonblanyon
    on 1282018323:
    on 1282017942:
    I give them a glimpse of what is involved and in time they may get a bit more geeky about their coffee.
    Don't hold your breath waiting.
    You might be surprised, it doesn't happen easily or quickly but I have converted a few people who used to drink anything but now they are fussy and tell me that I have "ruined" coffee for them as now they can't drink bad coffee. Those sort of comments make my day.
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  • DoubleRistrettoDoubleRistretto
    on 1282022033:
    Italians hold the stuff in high regard. A morning doesn't get started without one and a meal never ends without one...
    have you noticed that almost none of the cafes doing great things [at least in Sydney & Melbourne] are doing the old Italian style thing coffee-wise. dR
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  • Unknown
    Yeah I agree, it will never happen here in Australia unfortunately, but still happens overseas...  would love to see authentic Espresso Bars open up that serves an espresso at the counter with a quick no fuss approach...
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  • Dry_bean.Dry_bean.
    on 1282047378:
    on 1282022033:
    Italians hold the stuff in high regard. A morning doesn't get started without one and a meal never ends without one...
    have you noticed that almost none of the cafes doing great things [at least in Sydney & Melbourne] are doing the old Italian style thing coffee-wise. dR
    Mores the pity, the espresso scene in Adelaide owes everything to the Italian community.
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    on 1282089711:
    Yeah I agree, it will never happen here in Australia unfortunately, but still happens overseas...  would love to see authentic Espresso Bars open up that serves an espresso at the counter with a quick no fuss approach...
    Um, I think you will find that its happening already - certainly I have more than a few customers who rock up more often than not for a quick single origin double espresso - slam it down - and then they're on their way again!
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  • Unknown
    Um, I think you will find that its happening already - certainly I have more than a few customers who rock up more often than not for a quick single origin double espresso - slam it down - and then they're on their way again! [/quote] Yeah? Well that's good to see. Where exactly is that happening?
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  • adminadmin
    on 1282095685:
    Mores the pity, the espresso scene in Adelaide owes everything to the Italian community.
    HI Db - wasn't it you who was bemoaning a little while ago, the lack of great espresso in Adelaide... does that mean that we should put it down to their influence?? A :o
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  • DoubleRistrettoDoubleRistretto
    on 1282017942:
    You might be surprised, it doesn't happen easily or quickly but I have converted a few people who used to drink anything but now they are fussy and tell me that I have "ruined" coffee for them as now they can't drink bad coffee. Those sort of comments make my day.
    isn't that the sort of thing we're talking about in the 'sensitivity' thread in Have your say?
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  • Dry_bean.Dry_bean.
    on 1282182209:
    on 1282017942:
    You might be surprised, it doesn't happen easily or quickly but I have converted a few people who used to drink anything but now they are fussy and tell me that I have "ruined" coffee for them as now they can't drink bad coffee. Those sort of comments make my day.
    isn't that the sort of thing we're talking about in the 'sensitivity' thread in Have your say?
    Then there's the opposite end of the spectrum. We have friends that drop around and go to no ends to let me know that the $16 a kilo Harris pre ground bought through local Cheap as Chips and dispensed through a low end Breville is not only as good as but indeed better than the freshly roasted and ground beans put through my Bezzera, I can assure you it ain't so, once people take a position it can be difficult to change their opinion. ;-)
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  • adminadmin
    on 1282182209:
    isn't that the sort of thing we're talking about in the 'sensitivity' thread in Have your say?
    yes DR - that's exactly what I mean - have resurrected 'Coffee sensitivity' thread A
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