Our topic today is the best coffee books of all time. They are exciting books for you to brew a pot of coffee knowledge – from its history to recipes to make different types of coffee: craft, expresso, latte, etc.
Let’s become a home brewer is less challenging!
Contents
Why Should You Read Books About Coffee?
If you are a coffee lover, you already know that there are hundreds of coffee variations worldwide. Each of them has different characteristics and ways to brew.
Undoubtedly, exploring the complex history of coffee is fascinating, discovering the differences and common variations you drink daily: French press, Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, cold brew, and more. Believe us, reading coffee books take your love of this beverage to a whole new level.
There are also coffee guide books that teach you how to make the right coffee at home so that you can enjoy your favorite brews at any time. Read on to discover our list!
Top Our 5 Best Coffee Books
We have read a hundred books about coffee and cannot get enough of them. Here are the best coffee books we recommend for beginners and baristas – brew a coffee and digest them now!
Uncommon Grounds – The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World
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Get started with reading the history of coffee books by Mark Pendergrast. The author brought you back to the initial birthplace of coffee on an Abyssinia hill to the Starbucks revolution that dramatically transformed the coffee culture ever.
Mark told us the coffee history by grinding through the old stories and myths that coffee was first found by the Ethiopian goat herder Kaldi and his goats.
Then, coffee beans took their journey to Europe to Java, Brazil, Haiti, and many other countries. During that time, coffee was perceived by different cultures and religions across the globe, as well as the economic inequalities behind every brew.
In modern times, the author gave a classic example of Starbucks to showcase how the history of coffee changed due to PR and marketing techniques. Although the company took market domination, there were inevitable downturns, backlashes, and complaints about the loss of coffee quality.
We appreciate how Mark Pendergrast brewed up a blend of anecdote, social history, market analysis, and character study, making the book rich and thick.
However, it could be even better if the reader could go into more details about coffee production, for example, the process from cherry to roast to the coffee cup.
Our grade:
Still, “Uncommon Grounds” is one of the best books about coffee; we know that we mark it 8 out of 10.
Book reviews by other readers:
“The book happens to be a personal favorite resource … an encyclopedia to the craft coffee world.” Or “it is a comprehensive summary of the discovery and history of coffee … introduced and expanded over time.”
>> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<
Craft Coffee: A Manual – Brewing a Better Cup at Home
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“Craft,” by its definition, refers to a skilled manual labor activity that requires specialized skills. So does craft coffee – Every barista must pay close attention and take extra care through the steps to make an inherent craft, from beans to brewing.
Fortunately, Jessica Easto and Andreas Willhoff published a craft coffee book to help beginners start with the crafting process.
There are six chapters for your reference.
The first one covers the basics of brewing and provides a brewing ratio chart so you can control the extraction perfectly. Next, chapter two discusses various pieces of coffee hardware suitable for different brewing methods.
Meanwhile, chapter three gives insight into differences in coffee beans, processing, and roasting methods before the authors explain the usual information on commercial craft coffee labels and their storage in chapter four.
Jessica and Andreas also emphasize the importance of tasting skills to optimize the flavors of coffee. The final chapter finishes the exploration of craft coffee by instructing typical brew methods and recipes.
Within 272 pages, this coffee guide book successfully gives a well-rounded and digestible presentation of coffee knowledge illustrated by images, helpful sidebars, and convenient tables.
Our grade:
Overall, 9 out of 10 for this coffee manual.
Book reviews by other readers:
The book is “a beautifully written guide for home coffee” and “a great place to start” in learning about making your morning coffee cups.
>> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<
The Coffee Recipe Book – 50 Coffee and Espresso Drinks to Make at Home
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Whether you are finding a recipe for a classic cappuccino, an American expresso, or a specialty latte, you can find it in The Coffee Recipe Book by Daniel Lancaster.
There are 50 recipes divided into four chapters. “Day to night” coffee formulas to wake up your mind in the morning or at night, such as Coffee Old-Fashioned or Coconut Coffee Smoothie.
Also, explore the second chapter, “Use your bean,” to steal perfect roasting techniques for specific brews. The “In the details” last chapter, meanwhile, explains components such as bean style, water, or serving method.
The book has simple recipes that hardly require equipment, yet there are also complex recipes to create actual art coffee and improve your brewing skills. It is lovely to mention that all recipes are illustrated with adorable drawings such as beans, spice leaves, honey, or cozy cups.
It is time to go beyond the regular cream and sugar and create different coffee cups at home. We did take notes of some recipes and tried them, such as Vanilla lattes, Cream Soda Cold Brew, or Frappes. They were all successful!
Our grade:
The book earns 7.5 out of ten since we wish to have more new specialty recipes. Daniel seems to gather many traditional methods prevalent in the days of yore.
Book reviews by other readers:
“With this cookbook, it is fun trying all new recipes to mix your coffee fix easily“; or “this book for all coffee lovers whether they like sweet and foamy or strong and black.”
>> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<
Home Coffee Roasting: Romance and Revival
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Books about coffee roasting are only for a dedicated coffee geek since we all know the home roasting process is an inexact science that requires skills and combinations of commercial machinery.
Take the Home Coffee Roasting: Romance and Revival by Kenneth Davids, for instance. Coffee lovers had read this book for years before home roasting beans became mainstream, considering its author – Kenneth Davids is a famous home roaster in the industry.
Accordingly, the author imparts tons of experiences and knowledge in this book and even adds an exciting history of coffee roasting. There are up to six chapters for you to digest: Why Home Roasting?; From Spoon to Fluid Beds; From Cinnamon to Charcoal; What to Roast; Getting Started; and Afterwords.
Although many readers have complained that there is hardly any new information in this book, we still appreciate its efforts of Kenneth to put it in one place – in comprehensive and understandable details.
We particularly like the second chapter, in which Kenneth tells us the history of roasting coffee and roasting machines in very detail and with visual illustrations. This part somehow inspires us more to make home-roasting coffee.
Our grade:
We give the book 8 out of 10 for its dedicated information and structure of Kenneth Davids.
Book reviews by other readers:
The book is “inspiring when I began my roasting adventure,” and it is also “a good beginners’ guide to roasting.“
>> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<
Coffee Art: Creative Coffee Designs for the Home Barista
Latte art conveys a passion for coffee and meticulousness. It serves as a visual finishing touch and a declaration that the beverage you are holding has been lovingly crafted.
Like any other “art,” latte art can be studied and practiced to perfection using the best latte art book: Coffee Art: Creative Coffee Designs for the Home Barista of Dhan Tamang.
You might not know, but Dhan Tamang was a finalist at the 2016 World Latte Art Championship and the UK Latte Art Champion from 2013 to 2018. In addition, he co-founded Coffee Lab UK, which now has 8 locations and provides beginner-level to advanced-level home and professional barista and latte art classes.
His ability to create beautiful art is not double. Interestingly enough, you can now self-study his famous drawing techniques right at home by digesting his book.
There are more than 60 art designs for your reference. We recommend practicing basic patterns in the first chapters to learn how to draw the crema and the basic shapes such as rosettas, hearts, or tulips. You can also find nine stencil patterns in the book that help you trace and try making your later art.
Over time, level up for latte acting skills by free pouring to stenciling and complicated designs – for example, black belt barista or The Swan, forty 3D babyccinos, or The Unicorn. Follow the instructed steps; you can even create multiple-colored designs.
Our grade:
We also give it an 8 out of 10 for the book because the author provides detailed instructions for our later creative arts.
Book reviews by other readers:
“Packed with different options for how to do those fun with coffee designs“; and “I just keep having fun with the book even after buying it one year ago.“
Other Recommends Books about Coffee
After digesting all the five coffee books mentioned above, you can continue with the following books.
- “The New Rules Of Coffee: A Guide For Everyone” by Jordan Michelman
- “I Know Coffee” by Jessica Simms
- “Coffee Gives Me Superpowers” by Ryoko Iwata
- The Craft and Science of Coffee” by the author Britta Folmer
- “The World Atlas of Coffee” by James Hoffman
- “Coffee Obsession” by Anette Moldvaer
- “The Devil’s Cup” by Stewart Lee Allen
- “I Love Coffee! Over 100 Easy …” by Susan Zimmer
- “The Professional Barista’s Handbook” by Scott Rao
- “Brewing Justice” by Daniel Jaffee
- “The Daily Grind” by Andrew J. Bowen
- “God In A Cup – The Obsessive Quest For The Perfect Coffee” by Michaele Weissman
Wrapping Up
Look at the best coffee book reviews above and even the recommended list. Then, you should pick up some books to read through and make delicious cups of coffee, following those books.
If you still do not know which book to choose from, we highly recommend Craft Coffee: A Manual – Brewing a Better Cup at Home. This book contains all essential information in a very understandable style.
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