haha not hardcore until use thermometer,
used to use electronic balance to measure coffee bean to water ratio (1:18) something like that
but after a few times, i find that abit too troublesome... so stopped using electronic balance
my lecturers does use electronic balance tho...
(was exposed to the world of drug addicts (coffee) by some lecturers where they gave a mini lecture session about coffees...
asked them for a "lab" session few weeks later )
electronic balance i got from my mom who doesnt use it for baking anymore, it was a gift from some family friends i think
p.s. still in college haha
but all the money that goes to coffee equipments/beans are from my own savings/part time money from interning... still manage to save up enough for new coffee beans every 2/3 months
u don't have to use thermometer, in fact most baristas rely on feel of the heat as the milk steams to get the right foam for latter art