Got told at a coffee shop that my 'input' was just noise

I was at a local coffee shop in Austin last month, just chatting with a barista about the best way to pour latte art. I mentioned my method, nothing fancy, just what worked for me. This guy sitting nearby chimes in and says, real casual, that people who haven't worked behind a counter shouldn't offer opinions on barista techniques. It stung because I've been brewing at home for 5 years, but he had a point about lived experience versus reading online. I didn't push back, just nodded and left, but it's been rattling around in my head since. I guess I'm wondering if there's a line between sharing what you know and talking over people who actually do the job. Has anyone else had a moment where someone called you out like that and it actually made you rethink something?

2 comments

2 Comments

walker.andrew3d ago

That kind of comment sticks with you because there's a tiny bit of truth in it, even when it's delivered like a jerk. You can have all the home brewing experience in the world, but that doesn't mean your method works in a high volume shop with a different machine and different water pressure. Next time someone brushes you off, just ask them a real question about their workflow. "Hey, what's your go-to pour pattern when you're slammed?" That little shift from telling to asking usually changes the whole dynamic and shows you respect the actual work.

nina_butler3d ago

My boyfriend's a barista at a shop in Portland and he told me the same thing after I tried to give him tips on steaming milk. I was all "but I watched all these YouTube videos" and he just looked at me and said those videos don't show the 20 drinks you have to make in a row. That comment from your coffee shop guy was harsh but honestly it made me realize my home setup and their commercial setup are totally different worlds. I still make good latte art at home but I shut up now when I'm actually in a shop.