Hit 150 coffee shops visited this year and now I question my whole approach

I started off just grabbing whatever drip coffee was cheapest at local spots, but after hitting 150 shops last week I realized I've spent over $600 on drinks I barely enjoyed. Do you guys focus on quantity to try as many roasts as possible or save up for a few premium cafes and really savor the experience?

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jamieburns3mo ago

Honestly, quality over quantity is the move here. I started capping myself at one "splurge" shop a week where I'll try a pour-over or something special, then stick to my usual $3 drip at a reliable spot the rest of the time. Ngl, you can actually track which roasts you liked best that way instead of just burning through a list. Saves money and you end up remembering the drinks way better.

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cameron3183mo ago

I hit 110 shops last year and was exactly where you are now, but @jamieburns nailed it. I used to think more shops = more experience, but after a month of just tracking which ones I actually remembered the taste of, it was maybe 20 of them. The rest were just a blur of mediocre coffee and wasted money. Now I do one high-end spot a week and fill the rest with my usual cheap drip from a place I know is solid. It's way better, you actually look forward to the good ones instead of just checking a box.

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