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/

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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/

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