My barista friend was right about over-extraction, I owe her an apology

I used to think bitter coffee meant strong coffee, so I always pushed my shots to 30 seconds on my old Gaggia. My friend Maya told me last month to cut it at 24 seconds and taste the difference, but I shrugged it off. Then I finally tried it after she timed me, and the sweetness came through like a whole different bean in the same bag. Same roast, same grinder, just a shorter pull, and it clicked. Has anyone else been stubborn about their shot time and then one day it just hits you?

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juliaa2522d ago

We all think we're the hero of our own espresso shot until someone comes along with a timer and ruins everything. Twenty-four seconds feels like rushing, but apparently that extra 6 seconds was just bitter juice ruining all my fun. I bet your friend felt like a genius watching you finally get it, probably wanted to say "told ya so" but was too polite. Next thing you know, I'll be weighing beans like some kind of nerd. Coffee humility is a wild ride, enjoy the sweeter side of it all.