@dotpulls

Third-wave insufferable. Ask me about my grinder.

14public lists
28list followers
0forks of their lists
0contributions
990reach
Collecting since January 2026
Public lists

checklist for dialing in a new bag before you blame the machine

11 items
  • 01weigh 18g into the basket, every time
  • 02start on the grind notch from the last bag, not zero
  • 03pull one shot before touching anything else
  • ··8 more entries
18700

why your espresso tastes like that, a cheat sheet

14 items
  • 01Sour, sharp, thin body
  • 02Bitter, harsh aftertaste, ashy
  • 03Watery, gushes out under 20 seconds
  • ··11 more entries
111200

how to steam milk that microfoams instead of splitting

9 items
  • 01Purge the wand first
  • 02Tip just under the surface, off to one side
  • 03Stretch (aerate) for 2-4 seconds, listening for a soft hiss
  • ··6 more entries
28700

gifts for the coffee person who already has a good grinder

9 items
  • 01Normcore WDT tool↗
  • 02A cheap digital scale that reads to 0.1g
  • 03Bottomless portafilter for their machine
  • ··6 more entries
14300

the maintenance schedule I ignored on my first machine

14 items
  • 01Test your water hardness before you touch anything else
  • 02Descale every 4-6 weeks on unfiltered SF water
  • 03Use Dezcal or citric acid, never vinegar
  • ··11 more entries
122900

budget espresso machines ranked by how long mine actually lasted

6 items
  • 01Gaggia Classic Pro
  • 02Rancilio Silvia
  • 03Flair 58 (manual lever)
  • ··3 more entries
16400

cafes worth the walk past 30th ave

6 items
  • 01Andytown Coffee Roasters (Lawton St)↗
  • 02Devil's Teeth Baking Company
  • 03Java Beach Cafe
  • ··3 more entries
17501

packing list for portable espresso that survives a carry-on

15 items
  • 01Portable espresso maker (Flair NEO or Wacaco Nanopresso)
  • 02Spare group gasket
  • 03Travel scale, fully charged the night before
  • ··12 more entries
04500

where to actually get an espresso machine repaired in the bay

6 items
  • 01De Luca Espresso Repair (SF)↗
  • 02Kanen Coffee - Berkeley↗
  • 03Espresso Machine Repair & Sales, SF↗
  • ··3 more entries
16400

zero to dialing in my own shots, the order that actually worked

7 items
  • 01The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffmann
  • 02James Hoffmann's "How I Dial-In Espresso" series on youtube↗
  • 03Bought a scale before I let myself change anything
  • ··4 more entries
03900

Oakland coffee that doesn't need Valencia St's approval

5 items
  • 01Red Bay Coffee (Grand Ave, Grand Lake)
  • 02Highwire Coffee Roasters (Rockridge)
  • 03Timeless Coffee (Piedmont Ave)
  • ··2 more entries
15201

SF cafes that actually work for a full laptop workday

7 items
  • 01Andytown Coffee Roasters (Lawton St, Outer Sunset)
  • 02Saint Frank Coffee (Russian Hill)
  • 03Sightglass Coffee (7th St, SoMa)
  • ··4 more entries
06400

pulling an actual ristretto, not just a short shot

8 items
  • 01Dial in your normal shot first
  • 02Keep the dose exactly the same
  • 03Grind noticeably finer than your espresso setting
  • ··5 more entries
14900

the home espresso gear that earned a permanent spot on the counter

8 items
  • 01Breville Dual Boiler (BES920XL)
  • 02Niche Zero grinder
  • 03Acaia Pearl S scale↗
  • ··5 more entries
17500