5M's: The Odds Are Against You

1. Mano dell'operatore (the hand) 
2. Miscela (the blend) 
3. Macinadosatore (the grinder) 
4. Macchina Espresso (the espresso machine) 
5. Manutenzione (maintenance) 
6. Aqua (Water: upside down M) 

2^6=64 

     One of the time tested axioms of espresso is the 5 M’s (plus Water) which each contribute to the creation of a perfect espresso. It is understood that a fatal fault in any of the 6 contributing factors necessarily leads to a flawed beverage. Treating each factor as a binary, and declaring it as either acceptable or unacceptable, we can confidently identify through simple mathematics that there are 64 possible unique results each time a barista attempts to make an espresso. 

2 represents the binary (acceptable/unacceptable) 
6 represents the 5 M’s plus Water 
2^6=64

 The perfect shot occurs when each of the 6 variables are determined to be acceptable. Any determination that one or more of the factors is unacceptable automatically makes the beverage fall somewhere on a scale from less than perfect (1 factor unacceptable) to horrible (all 6 factors unacceptable). It is understood that assigning a grade of acceptable/unacceptable is decidedly diplomatic in an industry replete with specialty coffee partisans, however it is productive and helpful to know how badly the odds are stacked against you when you approach the machine and how hopelessly unfair they are if your equipment and materials are sub par.