Coffee
The universal construction fuel. Also a software dependency. Non-optional.
Overview
Coffee is, in Burbridge's practice, load-bearing. It is consumed black or occasionally with a splash of milk, at temperatures ranging from "acceptable" to "you left it in the truck." The Council of Builds has declined to issue a ruling on coffee, citing "diplomatic concerns."
The Morning Cup
Every build day starts with one. The ritual is simple: make it carefully, drink it while reviewing the day's plan, and do not start cutting anything — lumber or code — until it's finished. The discipline of the first cup is the discipline of the first hour.
The Afternoon Cup
Not every builder takes one. The ones who do tend to have better finish work. This correlation has not been formally studied but is universally believed.
Burbridge's Preference
Pour-over at the kitchen counter. Job-site drip when on site. Espresso at a certain cafe that the talk page has asked about and that the editor will not disclose. Cold brew in the summer, reluctantly.
"The first cup is infrastructure. The second is productivity. The third is a mistake." — Burbridge