It’s crazy to see how much has changed over the past two years. The amount of information available about coffee has probably tripled, driven by growing interest and research. What we’ve discovered, innovated, and applied in the past two years seems to have had more impact and reached more people than the previous decade.
With this surge in knowledge, however, comes challenges: anxiety, fear of missing out, and the constant pressure to keep up. Back in 2014, when I started learning about coffee, we didn’t have access to so much information. We focused on the basics, experimenting and validating theories to build our understanding. We asked questions, sought answers, and explored coffee with curiosity and patience. Fast-forward to now, and it feels like we’re losing that mindset. We’ve started accepting suggested ideas or implied truths without questioning, experimenting, or engaging in sensory testing.
You may already know but our attention spans have shrunk while the volume of content has skyrocketed. This endless stream of information feeds our desire to chase the next shiny thing: a new process, a new trend, a new gadget. But this chase can leave us feeling restless and disconnected.
Instead, I want to encourage you to slow down. By focusing on the sensory experience of the coffee you already have, you can reduce anxiety about staying on top of trends, improve your skills, and enhance your attention span. This practice won’t just benefit your coffee journey; it will positively impact your everyday life, from the smallest actions to your overall mindset.
In the coffee world, we often rush to try the latest processes, gadgets, and techniques. But I’ve noticed that the excitement for these innovations often overshadows thorough testing and comparison. When I started sharing my reviews, I loved experimenting and sharing genuine, thoughtful tests of equipment and techniques. However, the pace at which new tools are released makes it almost impossible to keep up while staying true to my values. Not every trend or piece of information leads to a happier, healthier coffee experience or mind.
For example, when a new innovative process is announced or a new flat-bottom brewer is created, it comes with a list of functions and promises. Then, it's time to experiment with those and check the unique features of those innovations, and that process can take time because to have a statistically conclusive answer, we need more data, which means more trained/untrained palate, which means more cost....And as you may already know or not, there isn't much money in coffee. But that's okay, we can perform our own experimentation, provided that it is fair without bias. One of the best excercise for that is triangulation, and the more triangulations the better statistics - but this time it takes effort and time....So we end up speculating about the benefit of a new stuff and maybe there are enough brewers to validate it, cool,... until a new machine, brewer, filter got released the next semester; and we're back for another cycle....
Coffee itself teaches us patience. It takes months to grow, weeks to travel and roast, and few minutes to brew. The compounds in a single coffee can evolve dramatically over time. So how can we accurately assess a coffee based on just a month or two of testing? This year, I challenge you to slow down and focus on the simple aspects of coffee—its taste, aroma, and sensory experience.
I know by now, you might be tired of hearing me talk about sensory exploration, but I still see so much room for improvement in how we approach coffee tasting. I believe we can become better tasters and, in turn, more mindful people. By being present with coffee, you’ll develop a mindfulness that ripples into other areas of life—relationships, work, and personal growth. Every action we take stems from countless tiny decisions. If those decisions aren’t made mindfully, they lead to frustration and missed opportunities - It starts at the coffee table. Set your phone aside and fully immerse yourself in the act of brewing and tasting. When you’re brewing, just brew. Don’t check your phone between pours. When you take your first sip, simply enjoy it without distractions. These small actions compound over time, reshaping your focus and enriching your life.
Ironically, you might be reading this on your phone in the restroom, multitasking as you go about your day. That’s fine for now, but maybe next time, try going to the restroom without your phone. Observe the color of the walls, the texture of the paper. Be present in the moment.
This practice of mindfulness is why I enjoy teaching others about roasting and brewing. It forces me to focus on one task and do it well. Like everyone else, I get distracted. That’s why I turned to baking a few years ago during COVID. Using my hands to create something tangible and delicious has been another way to cultivate mindfulness.
So, as we step into the new year, I encourage you to set your phone aside and live your life. At the end of the day, when you check your phone again, you’ll realize you haven’t missed anything—but you’ve truly lived.
Follow a better direction, not a better trend...
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