DROP #2 MARCH 14, 2025 @ 12:00 PM EST
r/espresso Is an Awful Representation of the Coffee Community
If you’ve spent any time lurking on r/espresso, you know it’s… a lot.
What’s supposed to be a community of coffee enthusiasts feels more like a frat house for espresso gatekeepers. The culture is elitist, the advice is full of half-baked theories, and if you don’t own a $5,000 setup, prepare to be subtly (or not-so-subtly) judged.
Don’t get me wrong yall...There 100% are passionate coffee lovers on r/espresso who genuinely want to help others improve, but they’re drowned out by an overwhelming wave of pretentiousness and bad advice that turns what should be a welcoming community...into an unfunny joke.
Let’s break down why this subreddit is such a trainwreck.
Table of content
The Pretentious Culture
There’s no nice way to say this: r/espresso is oozing with pretension. It’s like they handed out an “espresso snobbery starter kit” at the door. While coffee culture has always had its share of know-it-alls, r/espresso takes it to another level.
Instead of fostering an open, curious environment for people to learn, it feels like a competition to see who can flex their knowledge (or their gear) the hardest.
- You’ll find people insisting that if your shot doesn’t fall into a perfect 1:2 ratio in 30 seconds, you’ve failed.
- If you dare to say you enjoy medium or dark roast espresso, you’ll be metaphorically burned at the stake...and also the opposite. If you like light roast espresso...there is a whole other crew waiting for you.
Sure, coffee is subjective, and different people have different tastes—but don’t tell that to these folks. In their world, there’s one right way to do things, and if you’re not following it to the letter, you’re a noob.
This culture of superiority isn’t helping anyone. It discourages experimentation, locks people into rigid habits, and alienates newcomers who just want to enjoy a decent shot of espresso without all the judgment.
Lack of Competence
Here’s the kicker—many of the same pretentious folks pushing their advice on r/espresso don’t actually know what they’re talking about. The confidence-to-competence ratio is off the charts.
There are users out there handing out brewing advice like it’s gospel, yet they’ve barely scraped the surface of understanding how espresso actually works.
Examples:
- Blind worship of the 1:2 ratio in 30 seconds. This outdated idea ignores how different beans, roast profiles, and brewing methods demand different parameters.
- Misunderstanding extraction science. You'll see people blaming equipment for their bad shots, not realizing that they're grinding too fine or using 7 month old stale beans from Costco.
It’s like the Dunning-Kruger effect in full swing—people with minimal knowledge overconfidently preaching to anyone who will listen.
Equipment, Equipment, Equipment
If you don’t have a $5,000 espresso machine paired with a $2,000 grinder, this subreddit will make you feel like you’ve already lost the game. It’s all about gear. While I’m all for upgrading and investing in quality equipment, there’s a fine line between encouraging others to improve and making them feel like they’re not part of the club unless they’ve dropped a small fortune.
Here’s the truth—good espresso doesn’t require a spaceship-grade machine. Sure, nice equipment makes it easier to control variables and extract great shots, but that doesn’t mean entry-level setups are worthless. Unfortunately, r/espresso tends to prioritize hardware over skill.
This constant gear obsession can leave new coffee lovers discouraged and thinking they’ll never brew good espresso without selling a kidney for a La Marzocco. That’s simply not true.
r/espresso vs. Reality
You know things are bad when there’s an entire subreddit dedicated to making fun of r/espresso—r/espressocirclejerk. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a place where people go to poke fun at the absurdity and elitism of r/espresso.
Sometimes it gets a little out of hand, but the truth behind the jokes is hard to ignore. Just scroll through r/espressocirclejerk, and you’ll quickly see how delusional some of the r/espresso community can be.
- People posting videos of their "perfect" espresso shots while asking why their espresso tastes awful
- Users shaming others for using machines they don't "approve" of
- Endless threads of pseudo-scientific advice delivered with way too much confidence
The wild part is that r/espressocirclejerk feels more grounded in reality than its uptight counterpart.
Conclusion
Coffee is supposed to be enjoyable. Communities like r/espresso have the potential to inspire and educate, but when the culture becomes more about status and gear than about taste and learning, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes espresso special.
To me, It's sad because, so many good and kind people are overshadowed by this lame behavior.
Here’s a revolutionary thought...brew coffee the way you like it!!!
Experiment with ratios, roast profiles, and brewing techniques.
Ask for advice from real experts, not self-proclaimed gurus in a Reddit thread.
Most importantly, ignore the noise and focus on what makes your coffee experience meaningful.
Is r/espresso really that bad?
It’s not all bad. There are helpful members who genuinely want to share knowledge. Unfortunately, the loudest voices are often the most judgmental and misinformed, which can make the community feel toxic.
What’s wrong with using a 1:2 ratio?
Nothing, if it works for you. The problem is treating it as the only “correct” way to brew espresso. Different beans and brewing styles thrive with different ratios.
Do I need expensive equipment to brew good espresso?
No. While high-end gear helps with consistency, you can brew great espresso with entry-level equipment if you pay attention to variables like grind size, water temperature, and extraction time.
Should I check out r/espressocirclejerk?
If you want a more laid-back, self-aware take on coffee culture, it’s worth a look. Just don’t take it too seriously—it’s a parody space meant for laughs.
Where should I go for real espresso advice?
Look for credible sources like industry professionals, trusted YouTube channels (e.g., James Hoffmann or Lance Hedrick), and specialty coffee communities that prioritize learning over flexing.
