What No One Tells You About Learning To Taste

While not exactly like this, I'm reminded of something that always stuck in my head. I'm not going to get too in-the-weeds about where this comes from (though feel free to call it out if you recognize it), but I once read a comic where a character talks about how/why he appreciates bad coffee. To paraphrase: When you drink a good cup of coffee, you're able to appreciate that cup and all of its lovely qualities. But when you drink a bad cup of coffee, you can't help but compare it to better coffee you've had -- and so, when you're drinking a truly bad cup of coffee, it brings to mind all of the good coffee you've had before and helps you appreciate that coffee by contrast.

This applies to everything, not just coffee.

Drinking bad coffee helps you remain “grounded” 😉

Have been about a month into making better coffee like yours and was contemplating this very subject (the “highs” being further apart), and what a video to see. Thank you for this, James

wait you’re in my favourite park. You mean you’re a near neighbour??!!

Be a coffee lover, not a coffee hater

Same goes with relations :-)

I didn't realize I didn't know how to taste until this guy told me 🙄

I’ve never been able to finish a cup of Philz coffee

Don't just stop at the product judgement. We can do much more, Signage, level of decor, vibe, equipment, furniture, dust, floors, cleanliness, bathrooms, music artwork, uniforms. The whole eco system has a plethora of issues too be scorned or appreciated. A)Coffee in the mouth, B)Can you stand to sit inside if A is good C) Can you enjoy the Customers D) Can you you stand the Staff. IF only Coffee and it is $4+ & up to $8 that is perhaps an issue; a bridge too far for you. Cheaper Free Dining Experience exists at Mc Donalds. One brings their own(prepared) in a fixed container, not bearing a competitor's brand. One sits outside au plein air. I have eaten many a Breakfast Jack at Starbucks, having bought their Drip. Etiquette is a issue for some or many, but not all. As well as loudness, phones, and personal hygiene. The experience of being among humans who enjoy coffee regularly is a long tradition, sometimes hindered by plagues, wars and recently covid, health code shut downs or no electricity. How ever was it done in Vienna before 1850, what did they do? Be willing to have experience, sometimes a place can be great and only lacks a better bean.

🙏🙏🙏
I have same problem now with audio/ Hifi… can’t stand crap..😂 and I’m an ex smoker .. so god help smokers around me😂

My coworkers and boss always wondered why I drank every bad shot that was pulled in the shop, and my answer was always "so I don't forget what it tastes like." Helps keep me aware of what our beans were supposed to taste like(according to the shop standard), and what they could taste like in both good and bad ways.

So heart warming

Living in a time of rapid inflation can make this all the more easy!

Channeling Alan Watts here.

I find this all to be very true. A few years ago I started taking cooking much more seriously and I got quite snobby about flavour. I got really judgemental about other people's cooking and technique and especially became very critical of my own cooking. I have since come to a happy medium where I can appreciate things for what they are, not judge other people's cooking at all and be nicer to myself, take what is good about my own cooking and use it to learn instead of judging so harshly. I've also just learned to just appreciate things I used to really enjoy, like the occasional fast food burger. It's important to be critical but to also be appreciative and not everyone needs or wants critique.

You’ve framed something I guess I’ve always known. Living an average life without the ability to exclude that which may be awful I’ve always enjoyed the occasional burst of greatness. And I’ve discovered that most people in my world are unaware of the difference, the subtlety. And my desire to make them aware usually falls on a deaf palate.

This is the best of the best of James Hoffmann videos!
"You need to taste terrible things to enjoy the great things; to be reminded of what makes them special."

Light needs darkness to exist
Good needs evil to exist
Noise needs silence to exist
Good coffee needs bad coffee to exist

With this video, you're touching the essence of Zen. Thanks!

This is philosophical!! Great attitude!!

I love how much this guy loves coffee, I got here after typing in on Google why does coffee taste good.

I went through this process with music. I enjoyed music as a child, joined band and all that. Then I went to school for music and got my degree and found it harder to enjoy listening in general. I complained about the vapid nature of today's popular music and refused to listen to music on bad headphones/speakers, all that. It wasn't until recently, when I stopped performing professionally, that i allowed myself to step away from the self-imposed snobbery and begin enjoying music without immediate judgement. All that to say: Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen is a masterpiece.

I used to be able to taste and then I moved to Denver where the pollution took that all away for me.

Damn, I thought only I was going through this. Every single point is spot on! And yes, even I took the same route of just enjoying other things (time with friends, family etc.) when eating mediocre stuff, because in that moment that other thing is the principal subject, not the food.

It took a little searching, but now I finally have a reason to drink anaerobic naturals.

great words!

Well, using Windows has definitely made me appreciate Linux. Same for Java/kotlin making me love C even more.

Well I got plenty of room for upside then!

You are the David Attenborough of coffee. 🤌🏼

OMG! This is so profound. Dare I say, life saving? "If everything you drink is special, then nothing you drink is special." No WONDER my life has been so ordinary! I've worked for 70+ years to make life special, and now realize I actually spoiled everything. Thank you, thank you, thank you James.

You don't need bad experiences in order to have good experiences. This logic is flawed. Contrast can aid in the appreciation of good things, but it is NOT a necessary part of enjoying goodness.

If you want to solve the issue of disliking bad coffee while you're around friends, you should just focus on the good of the situation you're in, ie your friends. Observing doesn't necessitate speaking ill of what you observe. Furthermore, in deeper friendships, they will care just as much about your less positive opinions as they do the more positive ones. As long as you're not dwelling on the negativity, you won't drag others down with you.

Once I learned how to make delicious espresso at home, I became exasperated with the espresso everywhere else. It’s a problem.

this why my daily driver first cup is good not great most days stay slightly humble

😮

omg i just love you, this video is a whole plot twist i wasnt expecting this!!! you really blessed me with something that goes beyong coffe and even food: perspective.

I had the opposite experience with music, in high school I was in choir so I became really analytical about music. At the time it was fine but it really started to drag on me as an adult, my life became measurably better when I finally learned to stop analyzing everything and just enjoy the thing. I still have that knowledge but it became a substantially more useful tool when I learned when it wasn't useful if that makes sense

Absolutely wonderful!

This is how i date 😂

TRUE

Thank you for this!

I really enjoy these kinds of reflective videos of you. They give also a good insight into other things that we are passionate about

Reminds me of some of my favorite advice from Alan Moore. He said if you want to be a writer don't just read good books but read terrible books. Great advice that is applicable to all pursuits, really. Everything has something to teach you!

You just described gratitude. And yes most people don't have any

In a sense, that is the best video and advice that I heart about tasting. Thank you for making people understand that present enjoyment is what count over search for the best that could never arrive or so rarely. Food is made to enjoy personally but also to share. If I loose the sharing now, life will be very short and very disappointing. Thanks again.

This is not just about coffee

Thanks!

“Stop and smell the dog turds”

See also, music.

Oh. My. gosh. So simple yet so true. The amount of sense this makes has me upset I didn't realize it sooner. thank you for literally spelling out what i am going through and how to get over it!

The danger of being an aficionado, disappointment. Seneca was one of the people who said, "Hunger is the best sauce."