The pour-over guy at the coffee cupping who got under my skin

I went to a cupping at this shop in Austin called Third Coast Roasters last month. About 20 people were there, mostly home baristas and a few cafe owners. This one guy kept making comments about everyone else's brewing methods, acting like he had it all figured out. He spent five minutes explaining why his V60 technique was superior because he pre-wets the filter with hot water from a gooseneck at exactly 205 degrees. Then he pointed at someone using a Clever Dripper and said that was for people who didn't care about flavor clarity. The room got quiet and nobody really responded. I asked him if he had ever tried a cupping spoon to taste his own water temperature, which sort of deflated his whole bit. Was this guy just insecure or is that kind of gatekeeping normal at these events? Anyone else run into a person who makes coffee feel like a competition?

3 comments

3 Comments

grantc8015d ago

Is it really that deep though? Like, the guy probably just needed to feel special for a minute. I've been to maybe a dozen cuppings and there's always someone who turns it into a lecture, but honestly who cares what method they think is best. The Clever Dripper guy was probably just there to enjoy his coffee, not defend his life choices. Maybe we all need to just drink the dang coffee and move on with our day.

wells.evan15d ago

Had the exact same type of guy at a cupping in Portland a few years back. He was running down everyone's technique, even the host's pour over method. Best thing you did was call him out with something simple. People like that usually fold when you don't take them seriously. My advice is just ignore the comments and keep tasting what's in front of you. At the end of the day, coffee is about what you enjoy, not who brews it the most technically perfect. If it happens again, just ask him why he cares so much about how someone else makes their cup. That usually shuts them down fast.

barbaradavis15d ago

...and I actually just read something online about how a lot of these guys at cuppings transfer their anxiety about not knowing enough into putting others down. Like, the more they criticize, the more they're covering up that they don't really feel confident in their own palate. It's kind of sad when you think about it.