Oh, good lord.

Oh, good lord. Now, not only are there "official" "Neapolitan" pizza and pizza places (generally not in Naples), there is something called "Third-wave espresso", or, I guess, third-wave coffee in general. Somebody please shoot me. It's not that I can't understand the people who have a genuine philosophy, here, it's just the ridiculous pretension of the titles and then pretending it's not pretentious.

See, apparently there's a whole "thing" about "genuine" Italian espresso culture versus (what I gather is basically Western) "third-wave" espresso culture. So, instead of having, let's say, authentic Italian-style espresso, and American or Modern or Small batch or (gods help me) Artisanal espresso culture, you're either right or wrong. And mostly, apparently, third-wave is "right", around here anyway.

Oh, and I will be completely shocked if the originators of the term are referencing Plato. Unless they are trying to make some very oblique analogy with a philosopher-king and espresso and how this is critical to an ideal society. Or maybe they read Alvin Toffler while drinking their ridiculously expensive pretentious beverage.

And in case you #spreadsheet care, while I totally get appreciating all the nuances of agricultural produce, it's social and economic impacts, and the interconnectedness of humanity, if you force me to pick a side, I am all Team #ItalianEspresso .