Vent: A barista in Seattle told me to stop stirring my pour-over and I think he's wrong

I was at a small shop in Capitol Hill about two months ago, getting my usual pour-over. The barista, while prepping my cup, saw me give it a quick stir with a spoon after the water finished draining. He said, 'You know, that's actually breaking up the bed and making it bitter. You should just let it settle.' I tried it his way for a week, brewing my usual Ethiopian beans at home. The coffee tasted flat and uneven, like the flavors didn't fully mix. I went back to my gentle stir, and the cup was immediately brighter and more balanced. I get the theory of not disturbing the grounds, but in practice, that little mix makes all the difference for my setup. Has anyone else tested this and found stirring actually helps?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowan_wells3026d ago

Is the coffee police handing out tickets now? If a stir gets you a better cup, stir it. I've seen people do way worse to coffee and still enjoy it.

sean5126d ago

Ever feel like coffee rules are just made up by people who want to watch us fail? I once had a guy tell me my kettle was the wrong color for a good bloom. My own disaster was trying the no-stir method with a light roast. Got a cup that tasted like someone whispered the word "fruit" near some hot water. Went back to my tiny swirl and suddenly it was actually coffee.

murray.cora26d ago

Totally get where @sean51 is coming from. Some of these rules feel like they exist just to make people feel bad about their morning routine. The kettle color thing is honestly wild. I stick with what works for me too, even if it's not the "right" way. What's the weirdest coffee rule you've ever been told?