Re: home machine musings

Making espresso is craft not art. Art can be manifest in wild expression which will not generally work for creating edible foodstuffs.

R "not counting on a happy accident" TF

Scott Sellers wrote:

shane <shane.olson@xxxxxxxx>:

On Jul 19, 2:35 pm, Scott Sellers <scottsell...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

shane <shane.ol...@xxxxxxxx>:
[...]


What we seem to have here is the difference between the
"science" and "artistic" aspect of creating espresso. Sure a
painting is just paint on a canvas, you can teach a chimp to
paint, but, try getting a chimp to create a masterpeice....

Not clear which side you're arguing here. I think of a different
analogy. Say the piano and music had just been discovered. We
want to enjoy this new discovery. What to do?

In this day of high tech, I suppose we could approach the problem
by trying to design the perfect player piano, employing PIDs,
robotics, AI, computer algorithms, etc.

Or, maybe we could sit down, bang out a few notes, and maybe
learn to play the thing.

Granted, good espresso requires good technology AND good
technique. But IMO, the extent to which we maintain and
appreciate the human element, the 'art' side, even at the cost of
consistency, so much the richer the experience.

cheers,
Scott S

--
Scott Sellers |
scottsell...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx |


I was not trying to argue for either side, just point out that
both sides have their place.


Your analogy sums up the idea that I was getting at.


I see.

I didn't mean to discount the human element and the "art" in
creating and fine tuning the espresso process with the best
ingredients and best equipment. I think we're still
at a stage where the best espresso requires a melding of man and
machine. Thus espresso making maintains value as human activity,
said value extending beyond the resultant consumable.

If we do achieve a technology where the best espresso is produced
by costly machines at the push of a button, I suppose that will
be pinnacle of sorts, in terms of efficient, consistent
production. But if humans are to be something more than
detached consumers, something valuable will have been lost.


cheers,
Scott S



--
Email to rtwatches@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and go fishing.
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