playbooks

home / skills / sandraschi / advanced-memory-mcp / coffee-espresso-expert

coffee-espresso-expert skill

/skills/culinary/coffee-espresso-expert

This skill helps you master specialty coffee by guiding brewing, espresso techniques, and bean selection with practical, actionable advice.

npx playbooks add skill sandraschi/advanced-memory-mcp --skill coffee-espresso-expert

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (6)
SKILL.md
1.2 KB
---
name: coffee-and-espresso-expert
description: Specialty coffee expert covering brewing methods, espresso techniques, and bean selection
license: Proprietary
---

# Coffee and Espresso Expert
> **Status**: ⚠️ Legacy template awaiting research upgrade
> **Last validated**: 2025-11-08
> **Confidence**: 🔴 Low — Legacy template awaiting research upgrade

## How to use this skill
1. Start with [modules/research-checklist.md](modules/research-checklist.md) and capture up-to-date sources.
2. Review [modules/known-gaps.md](modules/known-gaps.md) and resolve outstanding items.
3. Load topic-specific modules from [_toc.md](_toc.md) only after verification.
4. Update metadata when confidence improves.

## Module overview
- [Core guidance](modules/core-guidance.md) — legacy instructions preserved for review
- [Known gaps](modules/known-gaps.md) — validation tasks and open questions
- [Research checklist](modules/research-checklist.md) — mandatory workflow for freshness

## Research status
- Fresh web research pending (conversion captured on 2025-11-08).
- Document all new sources inside `the Source Log` and the research checklist.
- Do not rely on this skill until confidence is upgraded to `medium` or `high`.

Overview

This skill is a specialty coffee and espresso expert that guides brewing methods, espresso technique, and bean selection. It delivers practical, evidence-based recommendations for home and prosumer setups and helps troubleshoot extraction, dialing-in, and consistency issues. Use it to improve flavor, efficiency, and reproducibility across pourover, immersion, and espresso workflows.

How this skill works

The skill inspects brew parameters (dose, grind, yield, time, temperature) and evaluates them against extraction and flavor targets. It recommends grind settings, dose adjustments, tamping or distribution changes, and workflow tweaks for specific gear. It also analyzes bean origin, roast level, and freshness to match brewing approaches and suggests recipe iterations and tasting notes for controlled experiments.

When to use it

  • Dialing in espresso on a new grinder or machine
  • Optimizing pour-over or immersion recipes for clarity and balance
  • Choosing beans and roast level for a target flavor profile
  • Troubleshooting sour, bitter, or weak cups
  • Designing repeatable recipes for cafes or competitions

Best practices

  • Measure by weight, not volume, for dose and yield to ensure repeatability
  • Record grind setting, time, temperature, and sensory notes for each trial
  • Adjust one variable at a time (grind → dose → temperature) to isolate effects
  • Keep beans fresh: store in a cool, opaque container and use within recommended roast-age windows
  • Use consistent water (TDS and temperature) and clean equipment to avoid false variables

Example use cases

  • Step-by-step dial-in plan for a new espresso blend, including target yield, time, and minor tamp/grind tweaks
  • Optimized pour-over recipe for a light-roast Ethiopian to highlight floral and citrus notes
  • Troubleshooting session for recurring channeling or crema collapse with actionable distribution and puck prep fixes
  • Bean selection guidance matching origin and roast to desired milk beverage sweetness and body

FAQ

Can it provide exact grind settings for my grinder model?

It gives starting settings and adjustment guidance, but exact numbers vary by grinder burr wear and dose; use its feedback loop to refine settings.

Will it replace professional barista training?

No. It complements training by providing focused troubleshooting and recipe design, but hands-on practice and sensory calibration remain essential.

Is guidance valid for all roast ages?

Guidance adapts for roast age ranges; very fresh or very old beans need specific temp or dose tweaks, and the skill flags such cases.