another_jim wrote:Ah-ha, if I could describe shots I wasn't tasting that well, I'd also practice like this

I get that you're poking fun, but you lost me. I was of course tasting my shots. And you are pretty good at describing espresso.

I don't think anyone is arguing that preground Illy is useful for anything. Just that improper distribution becomes increasingly noticeable as a coffee ages, which can be illuminating.