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Review

Timemore Sculptor 078: My 1 Year Later Review

I shared my early thought on the Timemore 078 a year ago. Here’s my updated review.

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Asser Christensen

Licensed Q Arabica Grader, M.A. Journalism

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The Timemore Sculptor series of grinders has been making waves in the coffee community, since they launched on Kickstarter back in March 2023.

I’ve been using the 078 coffee grinder regularly for well over a year now, as one of the few people who got a test unit directly from Timemore during the Kickstarter campaign (sidenote: the brand has had absolutely zero influence on this or my previous review).

This means I’ve had enough time for the honeymoon phase to definitively be over.

My original YouTube review did create a bit of controversy…

So now it’s with some trepidation that I revisit my early thoughts on the Timemore 078. If you’re curious about this grinder – and perhaps a different perspective than the mainstream one – then this review is for you.

Timemore Sculptor 078

A unique grinder for pour over aficionados

078 vertical image

The Sculptor 078 is a unique single-dose coffee grinder with a smooth workflow. It lets you zoom in on individual flavor notes to an almost scary degree.

However, the cup profile might not be for everyone.

Prima Coffee Timemore USA Timemore EU

✅ Pros:

  1. Unique flavor profile, especially good for very light roasts and natural processed coffee
  2. Powerful motor suitable for home and light commercial use
  3. Quiet operation
  4. RPM control to allow for experimentation
  5. High build quality with premium materials
  6. Low retention – almost zero.
  7. Detachable cord

❌ Cons:

  1. Large size may not fit all kitchen counters
  2. Polarizing design aesthetic
  3. Singular “cup journey” may not appeal to all coffee drinkers
  4. Less effective for medium roasts and traditional flavor profiles
  5. Higher price point compared to some competitors
  6. Only one other burr set in 78 mm size available

About the Brand

We all know Timemore by now, so I won’t bore you with a history lesson. Long story short, Timemore started as a bit of a startup brand, but over the last three to four years, they’ve given established players in the coffee industry a run for their money. They’ve made their mark in the manual brewing space with grinders, scales, and brewers, and now they’ve ventured into the electrical coffee grinder arena with the Sculptor series.

The Sculptor series really hit the spotlight when it launched on Kickstarter in March 2023. Interestingly, the 078 grinder, which became one of the most talked-about models during the Kickstarter phase, wasn’t part of the original campaign due to some technicalities. The 078 had already been sold in Asia for a while, and only new products are allowed on crowdfunding platforms. Initially, it was just the 078S (the espresso version), along with the two smaller grinders, the 064 and 064S.

Timemore, recognizing the buzz around the 078, cleverly offered users the option to switch from the 078S to the filter coffee version after the crowdfunding campaign ended. This move, although a bit tricky, made many users happy.

The crowdfunding campaign happened during a tumultuous time in the (coffee) world. We were still in that post-pandemic phase where people were spending a lot of time online, diving into rabbit holes, and getting excited about small details. Perhaps too excited.

The Timemore Sculptor tribe grew big and had its own momentum – and this was before anyone had even had the grinder in their hands.

With high expectations and a very competitive price point, many people who previously didn’t own a premium grinder saw an irresistible opportunity. They could pledge either $300 or $500 and attain coffee nirvana – aka “endgame”.

I published a blog post about the 064S and a video comparing the 064S and the 078 last year. These reviews were generally in line with the common perception that Timemore had produced two grinders with a great user experience and the ability to make tasty coffee. However, I did present some small criticisms in my original review that went against the grain.

Today, I want to revisit my early thoughts, expand upon them, and update you on how the quality of the Timemore 078 has held up after one year. It’s been quite a journey.

Design

The Timemore 078 is part of the Sculptor series, which also includes the smaller 064s model. While they share some design DNA, the 078 stands out with its larger size and more powerful motor.

The first thing you’ll notice about the 078 is its imposing presence. It’s significantly bigger than its 064s sibling, which might be a consideration depending on your kitchen space. However, if you compare it to other popular domestic grinders such as the DF83V, it’s still relatively nimble.

The white color on my test unit might be your thing, but I’m not a huge fan. The white is actually slightly creamy, and might not match some of the other white gear on your coffee station.

I’m just speculating here, since most of my other coffee gear is kept in a matte black, which goes a lot better with my smaller 064s test unit.

064s vs 078 size comparison
The design is elegant, but still quite a bit larger than the 064s

Timemore has gone for a modern look with the 078. Some online comparisons have likened it to various household appliances, a sewing machine for instance. Personally, I find the design quite refreshing, but feel like it’s better executed on the small version, where the hopper blends in more with the rest of the design. On the 078 the hopper is made out of a shiny, translucent plastic material that I don’t find aesthetically pleasing.

After one year of use, all parts hold up pretty well. The only sign of use is two rubber dots inside the hopper that have taken on a slightly unappetizing brown hue from coffee oils. But besides that everything is pretty much in mint condition.

Unique features

The chute has a special twisting knocker feature that gets rid of static and retention. This works well and is very satisfying to use. Compared to knockers on other grinders, it feels easier and faster to use on the Sculptor grinders.

fines cleaner 078 timemore sculptor
The Sculptor grinders have a unique fines knocker that works via a twisting motion.

Many 078 users actually see this as a “fines collector” (a sort of feature that catches dusty particles) and tend to discard everything that gets expelled. I’ve had mixed experiences doing this – with certain beans, you can get rather high retention here, and I wouldn’t want to discard 0.2-0.3 g of coffee for no good reason. Most times, however, most of your dose will come out in the first go, and you’ll only get a bit of dust.

And then finally, sometimes you’ll get tiny clumps of firmly compressed fines. It’s a bit unpredictable, but in general retention is very low.

Since the 078 is already a grinder that produces very few fines, I actually think it might be beneficial to include any that may be left.

Sculptor hopper 078

The hopper is also on the smaller side. This isn’t a problem if you’re brewing coffee for one or two people, but try to get 40-60 grams of beans in there and it will be problematic.

The lid has a clever magnet design, so it can both lock nicely into place or be half open; this feature is made so you can do a so-called “hot start” and load in your beans while the motor is running.

However, the 078 has a major issue with popcorning, and this gets more pronounced when you run the unit on its highest RPM. So even with a slightly open lid, some shrapnel will get popcorned out of the grinder. To avoid this, I’ve resorted to only doing cold starts.

I believe it should be easy for Timemore to design a new version of the hopper and anti-popcorning screen that fixes the flaw. Just look at the thin grid below. Something a bit more beefy. Perhaps some slopes. That should do the job.

sculptor antipopcorn grid
The antipopcorn wire/grid inside the hopper is not working optimally.

The powerful motor is another standout feature. It feels more than capable of handling daily use, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for light commercial applications. This is a step up from the 064s, which is more geared towards home use. By the way, Timemore also labels this as a “commercial” grade product, and I’ve seen coffee stands use it for pour over on several occasions.

Grinder Adjustment

The 078 follows a stepped adjustment system, but with a twist – you have an additional half step between each setting for more precise control.

This adjustment wheel is a pleasure to use. With the 078, however, I tend to only use a small range of grind sizes – I’ve mostly been living between setting 6 and 9 – and I think that’s the case for most users. That feels a bit strange for a grinder that has settings from 0-18, but the 078 is a grinder with a small sweet spot. Since it produces so few tiny dusty particles, you have to grind relatively fine to get the best tasting extractions out of it.

078 adjustment dial
You’ll probably mainly use setting 6-9. The of that big, sleek adjustment wheel is wasted on the filter version of the Sculptor.

Whether you’re brewing Aeropress, pour over or French press, you’ll probably be in the same neighborhood grind size-wise. I don’t think you’ll be grinding coarser than setting 10.

On the espresso-focused Sculptor siblings (078s and 064s), you tend to use a wider range.

The steps provide a nice tactile feedback, which I appreciate. It’s easier to keep track of your settings compared to stepless systems, while still offering the flexibility to go in-between settings if needed.

Noise level

One aspect that impressed me is the quietness of operation. The 078 can compete with some of the best grinders out there in terms of noise levels, making it a good choice if you’re grinding early in the morning or in an office setting. When it’s running empty, it’s around 65-70 dB, and with beans, it’s somewhere around 82-87 dB.

sculptor 078 decibel meter

Of course, RPM also plays a role here. On the lowest RPM, the grinder sounds a bit more subdued, but on the flipside, it’s also slower. On the highest RPM, the noise increases a bit.

RPM control

Speaking of RPM: You adjust it via a knob on the backside. I don’t have a problem with it being located there. It’s pretty easy to reach and adjust even if you can’t see it. With a little bit of experience, you can change it from lowest to highest, or in-between, without seeing the actual knob. Also, I tend to leave it at the highest RPM, since I’ve found that this gives me the most vibrant cups.

sculptor 078 RPM and detachable cord
Adjustable RPM and detachable cord. That should be standard on most grinders.

The detachable cord is also something I appreciate. But I might be a special case here. Since I have so many grinders, I’m doing a lot of testing and moving stuff around. In that scenario, a detachable cord is an appreciated touch.

Inside the burr chamber

Opening up the Timemore 078 is a mixed bag compared to other popular grinders like the Fellow Ode and the DF64. It’s a bit trickier to disassemble and reassemble correctly. But here’s the upside: the 078 is built with higher quality components and tighter tolerances. This likely reduces the chance of misalignment due to user error. As long as you follow the steps precisely (there are some solid YouTube tutorials out there), you should be able to access the burrs without much hassle.

After many months of use, I finally cracked open my 078. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found – or rather, what I didn’t find. There was minimal coffee buildup inside the burr chamber and almost no residue outside it. This is quite rare. Usually, those ultra-fine grounds get everywhere. But the 078’s tight tolerances and clever design keep all the grounds where they should be. I would say there is just much less buildup compared to most other grinders. In fact, the 078 is one of the most neat grinders in this regard in my whole collection.

The 078 falls into that small category of grinders where the label zero retention has some merit. It usually only holds onto a negligible amount of coffee grounds.

While grinders with very little “exchanged retention” or a high dose consistency are considered admirable, the 078’s design is really the ideal. It just has very little dead space where coffee can build up.

Is cleaning necessary?

Given its design and performance, there’s actually no reason to disassemble the 078 more than necessary. The grinder has almost no buildup and, to a certain degree, coffee grinding is a self-cleaning process.

The idea that rancid coffee oil flavors will transfer to the next coffee you grind is somewhat overblown, especially with the 078.

sculptor 078 burr chamber
The 078 is almost a true “zero retention” grinder. This is before cleaning, not after.

Sure, if you use the same grinder for both very dark roasted espresso and very light roasted filter coffee, you might consider cleaning more often. Darker roasts used for espresso tend to have more buildup, whereas lighter roasts ground for pour over have less, since it’s easier for any grinder to evacuate coarse grounds (they don’t clump and leave negligible oil residue).

Since the 078 is primarily a single-dose grinder intended for coarser grind sizes and light roasts, frequent cleaning simply isn’t necessary. Cleaning once a year is probably okay. I’m certainly not going to report you to the coffee police if that’s your cleaning schedule.

Unless you’re curious or need to change the burrs, I see little reason to opening up your grinder.

(Currently, there aren’t any burr options available in the 78mm size besides Timemore’s own espresso burr, making this a somewhat hypothetical scenario for now.)

Grind Quality and Taste

Now, let’s dive into the most crucial aspect for any grinder – how does the coffee taste?

When I first released my YouTube review of the 078, it sparked some controversy. Some viewers misunderstood my perspective, thinking I disliked the grinder. That was never the case. I had questions about certain aspects of the cup profile, which I find quite different from many other grinders.

In the coffee world, we’re accustomed to conical and flat burr profiles, each with their distinctions. The 078 presents a third profile due to its unique burr geometry, resembling a blend between ghost burrs and flat burrs. Although, still closer to the former.

Timemore calls these burrs “Turbo Burrs”.

sculptor 078 turbo burrs
Turbo burrs have more in common with ghost burrs than traditional flat burrs

Since the burrs look very different from regular flat burrs, they also “cut” or “chop” the beans in a different way.

Unsurprisingly, if you look at the grounds produced from a 078, they also tend to look different from most other grinders – they are somehow more spherical and quite uniform with a rather low level of fines.

I’m not sure if it’s the level of fines, the lack of boulders (very big particles) or the uniformity in the middle range that’s responsible for 078’s unique flavors. Could it even be the way the beans are crushed instead of cut as with a typical grinder? It’s hard to say. I have tried to study the question with DiFluid’s particle analyser “Omni,” but it doesn’t provide data that can exhaustively explain the flavor difference. When comparing to, for instance, the Gevi Grindmaster with Lebrew Filter burrs, there doesn’t seem to be a significant difference in fines. Visually, however, it seems that the mid-sized grounds are more uniform with the 078.

Another intesting thing I have noticed is that coffees ground via the 078 tend to have a more intense dry aroma than other grinders.

And I mean, wouldn’t it be strange if the difference in cutting technology and the resulting particle shape didn’t somehow influence the taste?

In my opinion it does. The 078 produces a unique flavor profile that is different from regular flat burr grinders.

At its best it can be mesmerizing and spellbinding… and at its worst… be a bit lackluster.

sculptor grind size (big)
The grind consistency is impressive (click to see big)

During the last year of using the 078, I’ve found it excels with certain coffees. Natural and anaerobic coffees can be elevated by the 078 in a way no other grinder in my collection can match.

On the other hand, I tend to prefer washed coffees with other (high end) grinders. When I do blind taste tests, I can almost always predict which coffees will do very well with the 078 in advance.

078 vs Gevi Grindmaster with Lebrew burrs
078 (on the right) vs Gevi Grindmaster with Lebrew filter burrs. (Click to enlarge)

With washed coffee, I often find that I’m lacking the “cup journey” that I tend to get with the best flat burr grinders. In the round of testing leading up to this review I have pretty consistently preferred washed coffees with the Gevi Grindmaster equipped with the new Lebrew filter burrs.

I have tried to illustrate the difference with this graphic below. I don’t miss flavor notes per se with the 078 – it really has those in abundance. But sometimes I miss some textural and especially temporal elements that I get with other grinders.

If I take a sip of coffee, I expect that the next 5-20 seconds will take me on a journey; that different notes and impressions will be presented to me in a spatial and temporal sense. And with certain coffees, especially washed ones, that journey tends to leave me a bit unfulfilled with the 078.

Below is an example of what I frequently experience with washed coffees and 078.

Cup journey comparison with a washed Peruvian coffee.

Sculptor 078: I taste rhubarb and grapefruit as the main flavor notes. These flavor notes carry on into the linger. Aftertaste is similar, but just turned down to 20% intensity. This finish is what people sometimes refer to as “juicy”.

Typical clarity flat burr grinder: I get rhubarb and grapefruit. Then they morph into apricot and orange for a brief moment. Then I get a hint of the rhubarb again before the coffee leaves me with a slightly tart caramel finish. This finish might have less flavor clarity, but more flavor separation and more “cup journey”.

In this instance, you could argue that the 078 is the “better” grinder because it just hits the flavor notes and stays with them. On the other hand, you could also make the case that the other grinder takes you on a journey, and is more interesting, because there is more progression in the taste notes. From first sip to aftertaste, you have progression. You have brightness early on, then you get the flavor notes, and finally you have aftertaste and an “echo” that can reveal completely new things.

To really grasp what makes the 078’s flavor profile so unique, it might help to think about other sensory experiences you’re familiar with. Take perfume, for instance. You’ve got top notes that hit you right away, then the middle notes that come in a bit later, and finally the base notes that stick around. It’s this whole journey of scents that makes a perfume interesting.

I find in the most extreme cases, the 078 tends to focus too much on the midnotes, while forgetting the rest. But when it’s at its best, it can really zoom in on the main flavor notes. While other grinders might just give you a hint or brief moment of “peach” the 078 can transfix it and hold it in front of your face. This is perhaps what people means when they refer to the 078 as being “juicy”.

But the other side of the coin is that the juice to a certain degree replaces aspects like “flavor separation and “cup journey”.

However, I have come to realize that the RPM of the grinder also influences the cup profile to some degree. Higher RPMs tend to blend flavors more, adding complexity and a bit more of a “cup journey” or aftertaste.

Low RPMs, on the other hand, emphasize clarity but also tend to make the cup journey more monotonous with a less interesting aftertaste. During my last months with the 078, I have mostly kept the RPM on 1200-1400, and that has given me more of what I’m looking for in the cup.

Have I changed my mind?

When I released my initial YouTube review of the Sculptor grinders, I tried to explain the “cup journey” idea as clearly as possible because I knew many people believed that the 078 was the ultimate/best grinder for all types of coffee, similar to the demigod status the EK-43 has enjoyed for a decade.

While the 078 might be one of the most capable grinders for certain coffee types and roasting styles, I saw forums and Reddit discussions where many people without a deep understanding of specialty coffee and grinders suddenly were planning to back the 078 in the hope that it would be their “endgame” grinder.

There were instances of people planning to upgrade from entry-level Capresso and Baratza grinders to the 078. My concern was that this type of person would be drinking medium roast washed coffees and not have the subtle understanding of brewing that high-end grinders sometimes require. This includes knowledge of brew water chemistry and extraction.

Today, the Kickstarter campaign is over. Now many people have the grinder on their kitchen counter, and while some share my mixed feelings, there seem to be many more who are perfectly satisfied with it. While I’m sure many people genuinely love the 078, I also think there’s some confirmation bias at play. If you have been waiting a year for a grinder that is 3 times more expensive than your Baratza Encore, you have good reasons to love it.

I also see people stating that the grinder is better than the Ode with SSP MP burrs. Again, I’m not too surprised about that as I have detailed the capricious nature of this burr recently both here and on YouTube. As well as in my original review, where I said that both the 078 and SSP MP represent outliers compared to a “standard” representation.

But I actually do agree and think that on average 078 probably is better than a 64 mm grinder with MP burrs.

But is it also better than an Ode with SSP Cast or Brew burrs on average? Or a hand grinder in the hands of the right home-barista? I’m not so sure about that. The highs will probably be higher, but the lows might also be lower.

My experience is that coffee with the most typical flavor notes, for example, nuts, dark chocolate, and hints of stone fruit, tend to leave you a little bit wanting. And this is just not my experience, but also a sentiment I have heard from a few other baristas as well as readers/viewers.

My Testing Methodology

I want to add a little side note about how I go about testing coffee grinders. I think it’s useful to know my process.

First and foremost, I drink coffee like a regular person, enjoying it every morning and afternoon. This is one component of the testing. But then there’s the more rigorous side-by-side comparison.

For the comparison, I generally brew at a standard ratio of 1:16 or 1:17. Generally, I aim for standard extractions around 19-21 percent. I use two or three grinders at the same time, usually with the Hario Switch, either with the regular cone or the Mugen cone inserted. I set up three scales, three identical carafes, and three identical tasting cups. I brew the coffee side-by-side with about 15 seconds of delay between each cup; so between the first and the last cup, there’s a 45-second delay. Temperature differences is less of a concern this way.

Using the Switch and a a 2-pour technique ensures consistency from brew to brew. I then taste the coffees blindly, and if possible, I get another taster to assist me.

3 hario switch Mugen version on a table
A rigorous testing methodology backed up by refractometry is essential if you want to avoid random results.

Finally, I use a refractometer to compare the cups side-by-side and ensure the validity of the test. When is a test invalid?

For instance, if one cup measures 1.50 TDS, another measures 1.40 TDS, and the last one measures 1.30 TDS, I won’t accept it as a valid test. Significant deviations in extraction mean that I’m comparing grind sizes rather than the grinders themselves. In such cases, I adjust the grind settings to get closer results next time.

I look for cups to be within max 0.02 TDS of each other. At that point, I consider the test valid.

It’s incredibly hard to compare grind sizes by eyeballing. So if you want to compare two grinders in a fair assesment, you need some kind of objective standard, which the refractometer provides. As someone who has run hundreds, if not thousands, of these comparisons, I have often seen how an objectively worse grinder, can outshine a better one due to differences in extraction. So if a grinder test is to make sense, it should compare the grinders and not the grind size

Also – one test is not conclusive. I look for patterns over several tests with different types of coffee. For this article, I have been running dozens of tests using 6 different coffee types from Gardelli, Lippe, as well as home roasted beans.

User Experience

In day-to-day use, the 078 is a nice grinder to use. The sound level is relatively low, the UX is pleasant, it grinds quickly. It also boasts low retention and has an easily accessible adjustment mechanism.

However, the hopper is somewhat shallow, which can be a drawback. When starting the grinder at a high RPM, you may encounter significant popcorning, so I prefer to start it cold.

sculptor hopper mess
The hopper is often messy and has leftover bean bits and pieces.

The grinder has an auto-off feature, but it only kicks in after about one minute with no beans inside the burrs. This delay isn’t the most efficient, so I usually turn it off manually, even though you could let it shut off on its own.

Regarding external cleanliness, I would rate the grinder above average, but still with room for improvement. Despite having a catch cup that extends close to the lip of the chute, stray coffee grounds often end up around the grinder. This is manageable but could probably be better.

The combination of popcorning and the hopper’s shallow angle will often result in partially ground beans getting popcorned out and then stuck in the hopper. When measuring your coffee grounds, you might think there’s retention, but it’s actually due to these fragments. You need to take a look inside the hopper every time you grind in order to avoid this issue.

Overall, these small things are not exactly deal breakers. The 078 still provides an above-average user experience.

Who it’s for & Alternatives

So, who would I recommend this grinder for? If you’re already deep into the grinder rabbit hole, have either a high-clarity conical or flat burr grinder, and are seeking something to complement it, then I’d highly recommend the 078. Its unique profile offers a new dimension for those looking to expand their pour over experience.

On the other hand, if you’re newer to coffee and unsure about your preferences, then the Sculptor is not for you.

If you don’t know the difference between natural, washed, and anaerobic coffees, then your palate and brewing technique likely aren’t refined enough to appreciate an instrument like the 078.

For those at a more elementary level, I suggest starting with a good conical grinder like the 1Zpresso K-Ultra. Alternatively, consider a 64mm flat burr grinder, which will allow you to use SSP Cast or Brew burrs, both of which are excellent for brewing coffee. Or perhaps even the new Lebrew filter burrs, which I have been thoroughly enjoying over the last month or so.

There are also some grinders that come with excellent pour over focused flat burrs from stock while retaining a low price – Ode Gen 2 and even DF54 comes to mind as good choices here.

Obviously, the 078 is best suited for filter coffee, so if you’re an espresso lover, you’ll need to look elsewhere. And if you prefer moka pot, AeroPress, or french press over pour-over, then you probably value body/texture over extreme clarity. In that case, the 078 is probably not the right grinder for you. Also, in case you don’t like the flavor profile, you currently won’t have any burr upgrade options besides Timemore’s own 78 mm option.

If you like the Sculptor design but want something more versatile, the logical step is, of course, the Timemore 064s – or perhaps even the 064 – the small turbo version. Those will allow you to swap burrs and will provide a similar user experience to the 078.

Sculptor 078 Coffee grinder verdict

After having used the 078 for well over a year, I can say that the Timemore 078 is a grinder that carves out its own niche in the coffee world. It’s not trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, but rather excels in specific areas while potentially disappointing in others.

If you primarily enjoy very light roasts, especially naturals or experimental processed coffees, brewed via pour over, the 078 could be your dream grinder. Its ability to bring out subtle flavors in these types of coffees is impressive.

However, if you’re a fan of more traditional coffee flavors (like dark chocolate and nuts), and enjoy a wide range of roast levels and brewing methods, there are much better options for you.

I think the build quality, UX and design are generally excellent, besides the hopper being less than ideal.

Price-wise, the 078 sits in the premium category. Whether it’s worth the investment depends largely on how well its characteristics align with your coffee preferences. It’s not a grinder I’d recommend as a blind purchase – if possible, try to taste coffee ground with the 078 before committing.

For me, the 078 is a fascinating addition to the grinder market. It has challenged some of my old ideas and dogmas and opened up new possibilities for flavor exploration. While it wouldn’t be my only grinder due to its specialized nature, I do understand the cult status it has obtained.

➡️ Check the current price via Prima Coffee

➡️ Check the current price via Timemore Official Shop

➡️ In Europe? Check the current price via Timemore EU

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Asser Christensen

Hello, and welcome! I'm the editor & founder of this site.
I have been a coffee geek since I started home roasting more than a decade ago. Since then, coffee has taken me on countless adventures: From ancient coffee ceremonies in Ethiopia to the volcanos of Sumatra.
My background is in journalism, and today I'm also a licensed Q Grader under the Coffee Quality Institute.