Don't Discount Small Wins
I have a new espresso grinder and the dosing cup is big enough that you can’t pour it into the portafilter without spilling. Pas de problem I’ll just fire up the 3D printers and print a dosing funnel when I have time after work (famous last words).
So I added it to my to do list (Find a 3D print file for a 54mm dosing funnel compatible with Breville Barista Express.) and when on with my day. Except the night before, I had wired up an agent to my todolist that automatically looks at each task and tries to do the task and move it to review… or adding clarifications/suggestions and move it to human needed.
Much to my surprise when I checked the todo list, the agent came back with four options, already vetted:
- Simbungu’s Dosing Funnel (Printables) — Most popular, attaches to 54mm portafilter, still allows built-in grinder trigger to work but not what I needed
- Starker3’s Dosing Funnel (Printables) — Easy to print friction fit design, works with 54mm portafilters with 3 tabs
- Dosing Funnel 54mm (Cults3D) — Sits perfectly on portafilter rim, firm push fit
- DogsBollocks Design (Thingiverse) — Free download, classic design
I spent about 30s looking at the options. I picked the second one and sent it to the printer.
Total time spent: 30s to write the task, thirty seconds to pick an option, 77 minutes of unattended print time.
This wasn’t a massive time save. I would’ve found a file on my own in 5-15 minutes, but there’s a difference between “I could do this” and “this is now frictionless.” That’s the useful part. Not replacing work I couldn’t do myself. Removing the small points of friction that makes simple tasks sit on the list for weeks.
Small win but the task is off the list.