The barista at the shop on 8th pulled my shot 4 seconds early and I've been chasing that taste for 6 months
I was in Portland last spring and this guy named Marcus watched my face after I took the first sip, then told me I'd been drinking burnt shots my whole life. He pulled it at 22 seconds instead of my usual 26 and it tasted like honey, which sounds nuts but it did. Now I can't enjoy my own machine at home. Has anyone else had a single cup wreck their whole routine?
Used to roll my eyes at people who swore a few seconds made a difference. Figured coffee was coffee and if it tasted bad you just added more cream. Then a buddy pulled me a shot at 24 seconds off the same beans I had at home and it was a totally different drink, sweeter and almost fruity. Now I get why you can't go back, once your mouth knows what it's missing the old stuff just tastes wrong. Wish I had never found out, honestly.