Warning: my regular at the counter told me something about our cold brew that stung

Had a chat with a guy who comes in every Tuesday, and he flat out said our cold brew tastes like 'bitter water' compared to the spot down the street. He wasn't mean about it, just honest. I've been using the same 18-hour steep time for three years, never questioned it. But hearing that from a customer who actually likes us? It hit different. Made me realize I've just been on autopilot with our biggest seller. Anyone else have a regular drop a truth bomb that made you change a recipe?

3 comments

3 Comments

west.henry1mo ago

Three years on the same steep time is a long run. Maybe that guy just prefers a darker roast from the other place. I've had customers swear our drip coffee is too strong while the next person says it's perfect. Sometimes it's just one person's taste, not a sign you're doing it wrong. Could be worth a small test batch with a shorter steep, but I wouldn't overhaul everything over one comment.

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reesemoore1mo ago

Totally agree with @west.henry here. I ran a small test batch with a 30 second shorter steep once after a similar comment and honestly couldn't tell the difference. You'll drive yourself nuts trying to please every single person's taste. If your sales are solid and most folks are happy, that one guy is just an outlier. Maybe he had a bad day or his taste buds were off.

black.pat1mo ago

Ever think some people just want to complain to feel heard? Sounds like you already did the work to check and it's fine.