There is an amazing amount of literature online about the how to's and what's and where's of coffee, but there is something special, in our humble opinion, about curling up with a hard copy book and learning something new or being inspired. Here are a few from our library that stuck with us...
By James Hoffmann
An excellent beginners guide to coffee origins (and a sprinkling of everything else) by YouTube phenom James Hoffmann. From the texture of the cover that looks and feels like the hessian sacks that transport our beloved coffee across the seas, to the attention to detail in each origin overview, you will definitely learn something new!
By Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood & Christopher H. Hendon
Grab your notebook and pen and get ready to learn some science! You will never be able to think about the water you use to make coffee the same again. There are so many variables, that's why there are professionals to help coffee lovers through this process, but it was very enlightening to begin to have a clearer understanding of how and why coffee needs better water. Water for Coffee 2 is in the works, we look forward to it!
Please note the image above contains two of only three non-science illustrations in the entire book. Do not be misled ;) It is mostly very informative graphs and equations!
From Nerd to Pro: A Coffee Journey
By Patrik Rolf
A personal journey of a highly driven individual who started out in coffee as many people do, as an avid consumer. Patrik is a very straightforward human and his retelling of his first 10 years in coffee is refreshing and honest. It's well worth the read for anyone who has ever considered that coffee might be their future.
Coffee Life in Japan
By Merry White
With the rise of Omakase style (Omakase is a form of Japanese dining/service in which guests leave themselves in the hands of a chef) experiences in the specialty coffee world like the one crafted by Hidenori Izaki 2014 World Barista Champion, I was reminded of this book I read before I travelled to Japan in 2018. Written by a professor of anthropology, the book outlines the history and very unique culture of coffee in Japan. A fascinating in-depth study of a force in global coffee culture.
By Jeremy Torz and Steven Macatonia
The Founders of Union Hand-Roasted Coffee put their collective knowledge together for this little bit of everything coffee table book. We especially love their visual representations of all the coffee jargon (like the different grind sizes) we use everyday and the awesome recipes that are a fantastic starting point for any budding coffee lover. Their connection to South Africa is that Union Hand-Roasted has a Cape Town footprint and roasts all the coffee for beloved brand, Seattle Coffee Co.
