Barista explains that the cup is actually a vessel for intention
You Are Not Paying for Coffee
NEW YORK — A Williamsburg coffee establishment called Pause has introduced a $22 single-origin pour-over that owner Sable Westbrook describes as “less a beverage than a conversation between the bean and the drinker,” a conversation, observers note, that costs roughly the same as a doctor’s office copay and takes longer to complete.
“The price reflects the full chain,” Westbrook explained, gesturing at a wall of text describing the coffee’s origin, altitude, processing method, and, inexplicably, the farmer’s philosophy. “You are paying for ethics, craft, sourcing, the roaster’s relationship with silence, and the cup, which is handmade in Vermont.”
The Experience, Described
A reporter who ordered the pour-over waited eleven minutes while the barista, a man named Dust, weighed the grounds on a scale calibrated to 0.1 grams. Dust did not speak during this process. He did nod once, slowly, in what Westbrook later described as “acknowledging the water’s readiness.” The resulting coffee was, by objective measure, very good. It was also, by objective measure, coffee.
“I felt something,” admitted the reporter. “I think it was the eleven minutes of silence. Or possibly the caffeine. The experience made it hard to separate the two, which I suspect was the point.”
The Market Agrees
Pause is fully booked through September. A second location is planned for Park Slope, where $22 is considered a reasonable entry point and the phrase “vessel for intention” will face less resistance. The Specialty Coffee Association declined to comment on pricing, noting that its membership includes people who have paid more and felt fine about it. Dust could not be reached, as he was mid-nod.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com