TIL that fancy latte art foam can hide a bad espresso shot

I dropped $22 on a single cappuccino at The Grind House in Portland last week because the barista did this insane swan design on top. Looked amazing but the espresso underneath was burnt and bitter as hell. Anyone else think we're getting distracted by pretty foam and ignoring the actual coffee quality?

3 comments

3 Comments

carr.lee14d ago

You ever tip a barista extra for a pretty pour and then instantly regret it when you taste the coffee? I started just asking for a plain latte with no art at my local spot, and it's wild how much more consistent the shots are when they dont spend time on the design. If they're focused on the foam they're probably rushing the pull or using stale beans to save money. Next time watch if the barista actually tempers the grounds or just scoops them quick.

michael_coleman1014d ago

Is it really that deep though? I mean it's just coffee not like a life or death decision.

patricia55814d ago

My local roaster charges $7 for a single origin pour over, so it matters to me when they mess up the extraction. Getting the coffee right takes skill and attention, not just pouring milk. If people want to order plain lattes that's fine, but acting like coffee itself is trivial misses the point for those of us who drink it every day.