That idea from @shanec61 about a story is cool, but it makes me wonder what story a brand new smoker tells. Like, it's all about hope and the first cook, right? A beat-up one has history, but a shiny one has all this potential. Maybe the best gear is whatever gets you excited to fire it up, no matter how it looks. A clean one or a rusty one, if it makes good food, that's the real point.

That shaky hands detail is pretty telling. I watched the clip on a news site and noticed he kept looking down at his lap. Makes you wonder what wasn't in the official apology.

My local spot did the same thing last year. It's definitely a wider trend, cafes are trying to stand out with better quality control. The gear makes a real difference in taste, way more consistent than a regular drip pot. I find myself going there more often now just for the coffee.

Ugh, been there, what about using a low-impedance meter?

Yeah, that "patience to chip away" part is what got me too, @emma455. I've been there with old house projects that just drag on forever. The day it finally gives way is the best feeling.