r/espressocirclejerk

I really like having a cup of joe every evening, but I don’t like the hassle of cleaning or tidying. I have also damaged several handles because of the effort I need to get rid of the waste.

I currently live alone somewhere in the suburbs; I love nature and also don’t like busy towns. This means I sometimes have to do a lot of things by myself. I think I got too comfortable because my beautiful wife has been the one always brewing our coffee.

She never liked it when I tried to do anything in the kitchen by myself. She’s very conservative, but she still has to live in the city because of her work demands. Sometimes I call her to ask for some tips, but for brewing, I really want to get on top of it.

I am trying to find a solution so I can protect my portafilters, and I also want to make my life easier. I checked Alibaba for knock boxes after my wife advised I buy one, but I have yet to get one. I am asking around because I don’t know which are good ones.

Every time I order an Americano, the barista (at some local coffee shops and especially named brand franchises) asks:

“Would you like room for cream and sugar?”

And every time my brain short-circuits.

An Americano is already espresso with extra water. The drink itself IS room. You already expanded the coffee. We’re operating on a liquid real-estate surplus.

I’m not even complaining anymore, I’m genuinely curious:
Is this just coffee shop autopilot, or is there some ancient espresso law I don’t understand?