Salt, time, temperature
Three dials, endless bread. The only variables you actually need to understand.
Forget the gadgets. Bread has three dials: how much salt, how much time, how much heat. Learn what each one does and you can bake anything; ignore them and no amount of equipment will save you.
Salt slows and seasons. Time builds flavour and structure. Temperature decides the crust. That is the whole science, minus the parts you can feel with your hands.
