
The World’s Best Barista Plays Espresso Smash or Pass | COFFEE BREAK!
Does better espresso require more gear, or just better puck prep? Reigning World Barista Champion Jack Simpson is back. This time, we’re skipping the victory-lap interview and putting the world champ to work. Jack reveals the most common mistake he sees baristas make, why distribution is king and how he dials in espresso by taste instead of blindly chasing the perfect shot time. We break down coffee machines versus grinders, conical versus flat burrs and when freshly ground coffee from a café might actually beat using a bad grinder at home. Then it’s espresso smash or pass. Naked portafilters. RDT. WDT. Blind shakers. Puck screens. Spring-loaded tampers. Single dosing. Co-fermented coffee. Extract chilling. Jack rates the lot before walking us through his own puck-prep routine, including the vibrating table sitting in his house. Plus, what coffee influencers get wrong, which World Barista Championship trends are coming to cafés and why coffee farmers shouldn’t be blamed for rising café prices. If you want to make better espresso without buying every tool you see on the internet, this one’s for you. COFFEE BREAK! is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on-the-fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered café reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gatekept coffee secrets. CHAPTERS 00:00 Reigning World Barista Champion Jack Simpson 01:39 The Biggest Espresso Mistake 04:33 Coffee Grinder vs Espresso Machine 06:45 Conical vs Flat Burr Grinders 08:26 When Should You Upgrade Your Grinder? 11:12 How to Dial In Espresso 17:38 Coffee Market Report 19:51 Espresso Gear Smash or Pass 22:35 Jack Simpson’s Puck Prep 24:58 RDT and Water-Damaged Grinders 27:38 Coffee Influencers and Bad Advice 31:30 WBC Trends Coming to Cafés 33:16 Why Coffee Prices Are Rising 34:44 Iced Coffee Trucks? Find Jack Simpson here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacksimpson32/ Axil Coffee Roasters: https://www.instagram.com/axilcoffeeroasters/ Want more coffee content? IT’S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com with your questions, comments or hot takes. Proudly sponsored by: APAX LAB: https://apaxlab.com/ Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/ Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


















