The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing - Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed - Hardcover

Hoffman, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1770854703 ISBN 13: 9781770854703

Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd, 2014

Synopsis

Professionals and enthusiasts alike will love this beautiful book by James Hoffmann. From overviews of the world's most vibrant coffee-growing regions, to step-by-step brewing tutorials, the content is educational, thought-provoking, and substantial. I've already recommended this book to Barista Magazine readers countless times.
-- Sarah Allen, Editor
Barista Magazine

A beautiful world guide to the brown bean.

Taking the reader on a global tour of coffee-growing countries, The World Atlas of Coffee presents the bean in full-color photographs and concise, informative text. It shows the origins of coffee -- where it is grown, the people who grow it; and the cultures in which coffee is a way of life -- and the world of consumption -- processing, grades, the consumer and the modern culture of coffee.

Plants of the genus Coffea are cultivated in more than 70 countries but primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa. For some countries, including Central African Republic, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Honduras, coffee is the number one export and critical to the economy.

Organized by continent and then further by country or region, The World Atlas of Coffee presents the brew in color spreads packed with information. They include:

The history of coffee generally and regionally

The role of colonialism (for example, in Burundi under colonial rule of Belgium, coffee production was best described as coercive. Every peasant farmer had to cultivate at least 50 coffee trees near their home.)

Map of growing regions and detail maps

Charts explaining differences in growing regions within a country

Inset boxes (For example, what is the Potato Defect? Is Cuban coffee legal in the United States?)

The politics of coffee and the fair trade, organic and shade grown phenomena

Beautiful color photographs taken in the field.

Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day, equivalent to 146 billion cups of coffee per year, making the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the world. The World Atlas of Coffee is an excellent choice for these coffee lovers.

About this title

Review:

This beautiful hardcover book does a thorough job of cataloging all aspects of modern coffee varieties, growing methods, importing and trading concerns, roasting techniques, and coffee preparation methods. If you are interested to learn more about the fascinating world of coffee, The World Atlas of Coffee is a great place to start. The book begins by introducing the reader to coffee itself including its anatomy, genetics, and varieties. It then moves into a detailed description of growing, harvesting, and processing techniques. From there, the reader is taken along the journey of trading and importing. With these basics established, Hoffmann takes us into an overview of roasting, buying and storing, tasting, and preparation methods... The real heart of this book, though is in the Coffee Origins section. The origin of the coffee we drink can dictate so much about the social impact of our coffee buying decisions, the potential flavor of our coffee, and the overall quality of the final prepared cup. Roughly half of the book is dedicated to describing the various countries and regions in which coffee is grown. The regions cataloged cover three continents and 29 different countries... As you enter the world of specialty coffee, this book can be an excellent high level guide to help you navigate the different varieties, origins, and production methods used in the industry... It will make a beautiful edition to any coffee table and offers some interesting reading that will surely enhance your morning cup.-- (02/24/2015)

Nothing like a good cup of coffee! Coffee tasting bars are springing up everywhere along with coffee tourism--learn where it comes from and why it tastes a certain way. This last word on coffee provides maps, beautiful photography, taste profiles and great new ways to enjoy coffee! Aficionados will enjoy reading this along with their morning "shot"!-- (12/01/2015)

Exploring the origins, growing regions, harvesting and every step of the production process author James Hoffmann provides a fascinating look at the world of coffee. Starting with an examination of the coffee plant, the varieties, how it is harvested, Hoffmann clearly explains each stage. The second part of the book presents details on the journey from bean to cup, with information on every option for roasting and brewing. The last section examines all of the 29 coffee-growing countries. Colour photographs fill the pages and bring to life the diversity of locations and the people involved.-- (11/16/2016)

For those interested in all-things java, author Hoffmann -- a world-champion barista and CEO of a British roasting company -- has written the definitive guide. If you love coffee, then you'll love this book. Hoffman focuses on specialty coffees: those "defined by their quality and by how good they taste" and discusses in fascinating detail how different varieties of coffee produce their own unique flavors, aromas, and commercial value. The book is divided into three beautifully illustrated sections that cover the process of growing and processing coffee, the numerous ways to grind, roast, and brew it, and the geographical and historical origins of the many types of drinkable black gold. Readers will find a bevy of informative tidbits throughout the book. For example, American G.I.s created Americano by watering down Italian espresso... The book's design also warrants praise: it's loaded with hundreds of full color photographs, maps, and illustrations. It is well-written, informative, and a must-have for general readers who want to know more about their favorite morning brew.-- (11/17/2014)

This single-volume "all you want to know about coffee"book fills a gap in the popular reference literature. Though the title uses the more academic word atlas, this is actually a readable work on coffee, albeit arranged by continent and then by region. It seeks to provide information on where coffee is grown, the people who grow it, and the coffee culture at large. The book begins with an introduction to coffee and the process of getting from the bean to the cup. The atlas portion contains 30 pages covering Africa; 22 pages, Asia; and 68 pages, the Americas. As seen in other Firefly books, it is profusely illustrated with color plates. Recommended for circulating collections at libraries where interest in coffee is high.-- (12/15/2014)

For the coffee geek if you don't know the difference between the coffee varieties Arabica and Robusta, if you're wondering how coffee cultivation in Ethiopia differs from that in Costa Rica, if you're confused about the myriad methods of brewing coffee, you won't find a better resource than "The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing--Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed." Even confirmed coffee geeks will benefit from this volume, at once encyclopedic and approachable.-- (12/30/2014)

Professionals and enthusiasts alike will love this beautiful book by James Hoffmann. From overviews of the world's most vibrant coffee-growing regions, to step-by-step brewing tutorials, the content is educational, thought-provoking, and substantial. I've already recommended this book to Barista Magazine readers countless times.-- (07/01/2015)

The World Atlas of Coffee...takes ambitious as its starting point and then shoots for exhaustive. It doesn't hit that crazy a level of detail, which is lucky for us because it remains at once packed and approachable. Just one example: in the section on Burundi, Hoffmann details fourteen growing regions. It's a book coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike should not just add to their libraries but dog-ear and highlight. Opening with the history, production, retail, and brewing of coffee, Hoffmann spends more than a hundred pages at origin, giving special attention to traceability. Designed with gorgeous photography and an eye to draw readers through the sometimes bewildering process of brewing a simple cup of coffee, The World Atlas of Coffee is a book you'll spend as much time looking at as reading.-- (11/05/2014)

One of the world's favorite beverages is dissected in this encyclopedia that introduces the coffee plant and its harvesting, processing, and trade and discusses the buying and preparation of the drink before embarking on a world coffee tour. This voyage takes up most of the title and includes information on the history and current state of coffee growing, processing, and consumption in sections on Africa, Asia, and the Americas. A strength of the book are the numerous, often full-spread photos, of coffee at every stage from fruit to cup. An unusual offering that will be of value in collections serving agriculture, business, and nutrition students.-- (12/01/2014)

Book Description:

This ultimate guide to coffee contains comprehensive details on the beans and brews of more than 35 countries.

About this edition

• Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1770854703
• ISBN 13: 9781770854703
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256