Espresso (Quick Read)

Create condensed summaries of scribes in 10, 20, or 30 minutes

Overview

Espresso (Quick Read) scribes are condensed versions of existing scribes. Choose a reading time and the AI creates a summary that captures the key points in a fraction of the original length.

How It Works

Quick Reads can be created three ways:

From the Create slideshow (Card 1 — Title & length)

  1. From the Create page, pick AI Create (or Guided Creation) → "Fill out a form".
  2. On Card 1 — Title, enter a title and pick a target length tile: 10 min / 20 min / 30 min / 60 min (Quick Read) or Full scribe (full-length book).
  3. Step through the rest of the slideshow.
  4. On Review, click Create Scribe — you'll land on the Structure Review page where the AI proposes chapters and sections sized to your chosen length.
  5. Edit if you want, then click Proceed to Writing — the AI generates a condensed scribe at the chosen length.

Picking Full scribe on Card 1 produces a full-length, multi-chapter scribe rather than a Quick Read.

Note (E67, May 2026): Target length moved from Card 4 to Card 1 so it sits next to the title. AI Quick Fill uses the chosen length to calibrate audience / style / tone — without it, every fill would feel generic. Card 4 now shows the chosen length read-only.

From an existing scribe

  1. Open any scribe (yours or a public scribe in the library).
  2. Look for the Espresso or Summarize option in the scribe toolbar.
  3. You'll be taken to the Quick Read creation page at /brew/create.
  4. Choose your preferred reading time:
    • 10 min read — Key highlights only
    • 20 min read — Main points with some detail
    • 30 min read — Comprehensive summary
    • 60 min read — Long-form summary
  5. The AI generates a condensed version of the scribe.

From the Brew section directly

Navigate to /brew to use Simple Mode — the quickest way to a scribe. Just a topic and a length tile, then submit. There's also an entry button on /create (the amber Simple Mode card on the right of the secondary band).

What You Get

A new, standalone scribe that:

  • Captures the essential content from the original (when seeded from another scribe)
  • Is structured for the reading time you chose — total word budget ≈ 250 wpm × N min (10-min Quick Read ≈ 2,500 words; 60-min ≈ 15,000 words)
  • Has variable section counts per chapter — the AI picks how many chapters and sections fit, rather than a uniform N × M layout
  • Can be read, exported, and shared like any other scribe
  • Links back to the original scribe (when seeded from one)

Use Cases

  • Preview before reading — Get the gist of a scribe before committing to the full version
  • Study aids — Create quick reference summaries of longer educational content
  • Time-limited reading — When you need the key points but don't have time for the full scribe
  • Sharing highlights — Share a condensed version with someone who wants the summary

Good to Know

  • Creating an Espresso counts toward your scribe creation limits (3/week on Free, token-based on paid tiers)
  • Espresso scribes are separate scribes — they don't modify the original
  • You can create Espresso scribes from any public scribe, not just your own
  • The quality of the summary depends on the length and complexity of the original scribe