TimEggers wrote:Please don't take this the wrong way but are you making espressos to produce beautiful pucks or is your intention to produce a delicious hot beverage?
Puckology is really silly and seems to be the latest (unfortunate) trend.
Of course, there are symptoms of bad technique that can show up in the puck, and remarkable changes in the look of the pull or the resulting look of the puck will raise questions. Most folk are used to one thing happening, and when (usually without a detected technique change) the results change dramatically, most inexperienced users will question it. Not a bad thing.
It's kind a like, "My car is making a noise!"
"So, do you drive to get somewhere, or drive to make great noises? Ignore the noises and just concentrate on getting where you're going!"
Great advice, until the engine seizes...
I wouldn't discourage these questions too much, but reassure those that ask them that their machine is fine, and this is normal. This way, when some guy has a really weird issue (but the coffee still tastes pretty good) he won't destroy a machine for fear of getting mauled for wondering if there is a look-taste relationship.
Puckology may or may not indicate issues, and the look of a pour may or may not indicate quality of the pull, but the concern is valid, as is the conversation.
There is also the supposition that one is not pulling the best shot into the cup that one could, and the resulting taste, while not necessarily bad, could be improved if the technique were adjusted. Seeing dry pucks on everyone else's kit, and wet ones on yours, could lead you to believe that maybe there is and adjustment to your technique that could
improve your shots. To that end, I might say that if you are satisfied with what you're getting, engage the first rule of engineering. If it's working, don't screw with it. If you're in search of god in porcelain, however, and don't fear change (or the total lack of change in your pocket ever again!) asking questions such as, "Why does my puck look odd?" aren't that out of line.
The mere fact that the user has decided that this shot is 'good' is relative.
I used to be pretty danged proud of the shots I got from the ole steam toy. If I had been given the advice that 'taste is the only thing that matters' I might still be pulling shots on that. Sometimes, though...
I'd give them the same advice that you folk have, without the undertone of admonishment for questioning what the process looks like.
Humans have been depending on appearances for ten thousand years, successfully, I might add. This is going to be a very hard habit to break.
