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My barista trainer said to toss the first shot every time, and after 3 years I finally tested it
When I started at a shop in Denver, my trainer Marcus drilled it into me that the first shot after a grinder adjustment always goes down the drain. I did it for 3 years without asking why, wasting probably 2 pounds of beans a week. Then a roaster friend came by and pulled the adjustment shot, tasted it, and said it was better than the one I served him. Turns out it only matters if you change the grind by more than a full notch, and I was tossing perfectly good shots the rest of the time. Anyone else get handed a rule like this that fell apart the second you questioned it?
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torres.mark9d ago
Marcus probably learned that rule back when grinders had way more retention than they do now. On an old machine the first shot can carry a few grams of stale grounds from yesterday, but on anything modern with low retention you're mostly dumping fresh coffee for no reason. The real test is just weighing your dose and seeing if the shot pulls the same, not going by some rule handed down like scripture.
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