Blew a shot on my machine at the coffee shop yesterday and the barista just stared at me

I was at Third Wave Brews in Portland trying to dial in a new Ethiopian bean and the grind setting was way too fine, so the pressure gauge hit 12 bars and the shot came out in drips. The barista behind the counter just watched me for 10 seconds without saying anything until I finally asked for help. Has anyone else had a moment where you felt totally lost in front of a pro and had to swallow your pride?

3 comments

3 Comments

joel_mason229d ago

Three years ago at a local car shop in Spokane. I asked the mechanic to check my brake pads. He popped the wheel off and just held the caliper up. Silent. I stood there dumb. Finally said "they look thin?" He just nodded. That's the thing. People who know their stuff don't always jump in. They wait to see if you're gonna figure it out or just stand there. It's like a test.

rileyw725d ago

Man, that mechanic could've charged me for new pads based on my clueless face alone.

davis.gavin8d ago

That "it's like a test" thing is pretty much how the whole world works. I've noticed it at hardware stores too. You ask someone where a specific type of screw is and they just point down the aisle and watch you try to find it yourself. It's like they're checking to see if you really know what you need or if you'll just grab something random. The barista at the coffee shop was probably wondering the same thing about your shot. Either you know enough to ask the right question or you just stand there looking lost.