The Espresso Obsession: A Loop of Perfection and Regret
The espresso obsession isn’t just about coffee—it’s a cycle of obsession, upgrade, and disillusionment. It starts with a “starter setup,” a modest machine and a decent grinder, followed by a binge of tutorials on puck prep, distribution, and water chemistry. You’re not just learning to pull a shot; you’re unraveling the mysteries of extraction, pressure profiling, and the moon’s gravitational pull. After weeks of practice, you hit your first decent shot, convinced you’ve cracked the code. But then you realize the machine isn’t the problem. The grinder? The beans? The roast? The moment you upgrade, you’re back to square one,…










