Are you influenced by the poster's espresso setup? - Page 2

[roblumba]

Their setup doesn't influence me, but the collective affirmations from posters and reviewers who provide excellent written material to review helps me to make an informed decision, and that's valuable, especially considering that these machines are not something you can just ask your neighbors about.

[espressme]

Since I have a lot of posts, that must make me a half asset. I am still learning and look to the right to see whether that poster's rig may help me improve my shots. Some things do not transfer, but if the pressure range of the machine in the poster's kit is similar to those of mine then I may try and find out if the suggestion will work for me.
I had a teacher once that said "Put the incoming information on a shelf in your mind, without qualifying it. Then, if it is not destructive, try it when/if the chance comes. If it works, it is yours and if it didn't, then you are not out any emotional investment!"

When someone writes a (in my opinion) really good post, I do look to the right. Not at the equipment but at the number of posts written by that author. Just to see if someone is an established author or a new asset. IN both cases it's just nice to see that there's a lot of quality advice at HB.

EDIT:
FWW. Look at some of a person's posts to see if their expertise is in the area that they are posting about. Look to their profile to see if their life experience and hobbies tie in with their post. Me, I'm a gearhead and improve the equipment. I am no expert on coffee and pulls on other than my own machines, and not always then!

[samgiles]

I have gained a huge amount of help in my espresso making from posts on this site for which I'm eternally grateful. When I am looking for advice on a problem, I am interested in the equipment lists. I like to see if posters have experience with the same or similar setup as me. At the same time, I do recognize that the biggest factor in espresso making is the person doing it. Having a lever machine really brought this home to me. They are similar to musical instruments. Just because you play a $10,000 instrument, doesn't mean you're going to play it well.

[malachi]

Honestly, before reading this thread I don't think I'd ever looked at that little "profile" box much less read what people had for gear.
shrug - must just be me.

[jbeecham]

I don't usually read the profile unless something in the comment makes me curious. I probably reflect more on their history and body of comments.

[r-gordon-7]

Yes, but (and this is a simple but important distinction...) based on the pertinence of the setup to the question/topic at hand... not based on the perceived "prestige factor" of the setup in the abstract...

[LaCrema]

Not really... I think I have a pretty good machine, but I still haven't mastered the art of making great espresso... at least not yet.

My philosophy on the subject; I think espresso equipment is like cars to me... there are those that own expensive, high performance sports cars who think they can drive, but can't. Sometimes I wonder... why pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Ferrari when BMW "M6" will do almost the same thing for much less?

If you're competent at something, one can often compensate for deficiencies and work with certain limitations to perform far beyond expectations.

Your equipment is a tool, who knows if you know how to use it correctly?! We all own a hammer, I'm not going to assume you also know how to build a house with it too?!