I finally get why the old guys at Josephine's on 4th pay $7 for a cup they sip for an hour
Stopped in at Josephine's on 4th Street last Tuesday around 3pm, mostly because my usual spot was closed for some repair work on their espresso machine. I ordered a plain drip, $2.75, and sat near the window. This older guy next to me had a $7 pour over, and he spent a full hour on it. Tiny sips. Reading a paperback. No phone. I used to think paying that much for coffee you stretch over an hour was silly, like you're just renting a seat. But he let the barista pick the bean, asked her two questions about where it came from, and when I finally asked him about it he said the point is to taste it while it's hot, then taste it again when it cools, and it's basically two drinks. I tried it with my $2.75 cup and yeah, it changed flavor on me too, got sweeter somehow. Now I'm thinking a slow cup is worth more than three fast ones, at least when I have the time. Does anyone have a roast that actually tastes better cold than hot? Mine usually just goes bitter.
I used to slam my coffee in like 4 minutes flat so reading about a guy sipping one cup for an hour made me feel personally attacked. But you're right about the flavor thing, I've noticed my cheap drip gets sweeter as it sits too. Cold brew is my go to for the cold side, that stuff actually tastes better after a day in the fridge.