The Best Coffee Books Of All-Time
Best Books, Cookbooks, Crafts & How-To, Education, Nonfiction

The Best Coffee Books Of All-Time

“What are the best books about Coffee?” We looked at 112 of the top books about Coffee, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 46 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Coffee” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 50+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

For more of the best caffeine related books, make sure to check out our Best Tea Books Of All-Time article!

Happy Scrolling!



Top 46 Coffee Books



46 .) Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover’s Soul written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Theresa Peluso

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

From meeting a blind date to sharing quality time with treasured family and friends, any expedrience is better served with coffee. In Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover’s Soul, you’ll laugh along with others who are obsessed with brewing the “perfect cup.” You might even recognize yourself in the confessions of so many who can’t–or won’t–live without their favorite daily blend!

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45 .) Coffee and Cake written by Rick Rodgers

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

Enjoy the perfect cup of coffee, complimented by delectable café treats. Coffee and Cake by Rick Rodgers—award-winning cooking teacher and author of more than 25 acclaimed cookbooks, including the Seasonal Gatherings and 101 series—has created a the perfect gift book for java lovers, combining the history and culture of coffee with essential information on how to best brew it in various machines, and delicious recipes for cakes to serve alongside.

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44 .) Coffee Creations written by Gwin Grogan Grimes

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

Coffee Creations puts a fresh Western spin on an old favorite flavor. With 50 recipes ranging from Coffee Fajita Marinade to Cowboy Pinto Beans to clever holiday gift ideas, Coffee Creations is a coffee lover’s dream.

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43 .) Coffee Gives me Super Powers written by Ryoko Iwata

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

If coffee is the foundation of your food pyramid, then this is your book. Inspired by Ryoko Iwata’s popular Web site, I Love Coffee (en.ilovecoffee.jp), Coffee Gives Me Superpowers is overflowing with infographics and fun, interesting facts about the most awesome beverage on earth written by Ryoko, a Japanese coffee-lover living in Seattle. The book includes the most popular pieces on the site, such as “Your Brain on Beer vs. Coffee,” “10 Coffee Myths,” “The Best Time of Day to Drink Coffee (According to Science),” and “10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Caffeine,” plus 25 percent new, original material that is available only in this book.

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42 .) Coffee Story: Ethiopia written by Majka Burhardt

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Sprudge

It’s the twenty-first century and Ethiopia, in the global consciousness, is shedding its history of drought, famine, and war. It’s doing so by embracing the heritage and potential of its defining crop, coffee, a plant first accounted for in legend more than three thousand years ago and that now ranks among the world’s ten most-valued commodities. Coffee Story: Ethiopia is the recounting of that process: a visual and narrative tale of opportunity, resources, education, and tradition.

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41 .) Coffee Talk: The Stimulating Story of the World’s Most Popular Brew written by Morton Satin

Lists It Appears On:

  • Gear Patrol
  • Goodreads

This entertaining yet comprehensive book describes how, in recent times, coffee has become the magnet that draws people together for spirited interchanges of information and ideas. In the intellectual capitals of the world, coffeehouses have been and continue to be the venues where the great minds flock to discuss the latest developments in the arts, sciences, and social philosophies. The author also traces the rich and intriguing history of coffee and even goes on to reveal the best techniques for home brewing. Moreover, he enlivens his narrative with stories of the fine art of the barista, which includes the World Barista Championship where rival barmen from around the globe display the highest artistry of coffee brewing. Lavishly illustrated, this delightful and informative book is the perfect complement for your next coffee break.

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40 .) Coffee With Tim Wendelboe written by Tim Wendelboe

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Sprudge

like red wine. like coffee. pay attention to producing. variety. processing method. the coffee roasting methods. brewing technology is constantly updated. And after the third wave of coffee. while leading the global wave of Taiwan’s most barista notable of Scandinavian style coffee. Scandinavian emphasis on demonstrating the natural fruit flavors of coffee. pay attention to sniff the aroma is consistent with the mouth flavor drink. drink to cool elegance and no heavy. This is how to produce coffee. baking. brewing out? Why let the world barista coffee gourmands and aspire to? To new style boutique coffee. new ideas have a better understanding. we absolutely can not miss in recent years in the global coffee industry trendsetting Norway …

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39 .) Coffee: A Comprehensive Guide to the Bean, the Beverage and the Industry written by Robert W. Thurston

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Kind
  • Goodreads

Coffee: A Comprehensive Guide to the Bean, the Beverage, and the Industry offers a definitive guide to the many rich dimensions of the bean and the beverage around the world. Leading experts from business and academia consider coffee’s history, global spread, cultivation, preparation, marketing, and the environmental and social issues surrounding it today. They discuss, for example, the impact of globalization; the many definitions of organic, direct trade, and fair trade; the health of female farmers; the relationships among shade, birds, and coffee; roasting as an art and a science; and where profits are made in the commodity chain. Drawing on interviews and the lives of people working in the business—from pickers and roasters to coffee bar owners and consumers—this book brings a compelling human side to the story.

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38 .) Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Enjoying written by Kenneth Davids

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Kind
  • Freshpresso

Now in its latest revised edition, Kenneth Davids’s comprehensive and entertaining Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing and Enjoying, remains an invaluable resource for anyone who truly enjoys a good cup of coffee. It features updated information and definitions, a history of coffee culture, tips on storing and brewing, and other essential advice designed to improve the coffee experience. Coffee lovers everywhere will welcome this lively, complete guide to the fascinating world of America’s national beverage.

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37 .) Coffee: Growing, Processing, Sustainable Production written by Jean Nicolas Wintgens

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Sprudge

“There’s more to coffee than that. Apart from being a beautiful tree with fragrant flowers, coffee is also a culture, practically a religion to a certain elite and certainly a source of income to millions of people, rich and poor alike.
Coffee professionals around the world will find the specific information they need in this lavishly illustrated and practical work designed to answer all their questions about the coffee plant and how it is grown, harvested, processed and refined.”

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36 .) Espresso Coffee, The Science of Quality written by Andrea Illy

 

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Sprudge

Written by leading coffee technology specialists in consultation with some of the world’s biggest coffee manufacturers, the second edition of the successful Espresso Coffee will once again comprehensively cover the current status of the chemistry and technology of espresso coffee. It comprehensively covers topics such as agronomy, green coffee processing, roasting/grinding, packaging, percolating and decaffeination techniques. It provides a comprehensive resource for those interested in the fundamental notions of coffee quality; with a point of reference given in the form of a detailed bibliography to provide direction to the wider literature.

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35 .) Espresso Coffee: Professional Techniques written by David C. Schomer

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • The Spruce

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34 .) Espresso Extraction: Measurement and Mastery written by Scott Rao

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • The Coffee Compass

Espresso Extraction: Measurement and Mastery is the highly technical follow-up to The Professional Barista’s Handbook. Baristi who have mastered Scott’s earlier work will enjoy this compact ebook’s new material and numerous original ideas. EEMM examines topics such as pressure profiling, portafilter basket design, and advanced use of the coffee refractometer. Scott also discusses the current popular topic of how to produce delicious coffee at extractions as high as 23%, an idea he pioneered in 2010.

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33 .) I Love Coffee! Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks written by Susan Zimmer\

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

In I Love Coffee! coffee connoisseur Susan Zimmer shares expert advice and techniques, from how to brew the perfect cup and how to make a basic cappuccino without a machine to a World Barista Latte Art Champion’s tips for making masterful latte art designs. It is brimful with a wealth of coffee understanding from the “ground” up, from bean to cup, including international coffees and brewing techniques best suited to a variety of preferences, all topped off with plenty of problem-solving tips and delectable full-color photographs.

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32 .) Setting The Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality In Business written by Danny Meyer

Lists It Appears On:

  • Sprudge
  • The Coffee Compass

Seventy-five percent of all new restaurant ventures fail, and of those that do stick around, only a few become icons. Danny Meyer started Union Square Cafe when he was 27, with a good idea and hopeful investors. He is now the co-owner of a restaurant empire. How did he do it? How did he beat the odds in one of the toughest trades around? In this landmark book, Danny shares the lessons he learned developing the dynamic philosophy he calls Enlightened Hospitality. The tenets of that philosophy, which emphasize strong in-house relationships as well as customer satisfaction, are applicable to anyone who works in any business. Whether you are a manager, an executive, or a waiter, Danny’s story and philosophy will help you become more effective and productive, while deepening your understanding and appreciation of a job well done.

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31 .) Setting Up and Managing Your Own Coffee Bar: How to Open a Coffee Bar That Actually Lasts and Makes Money written by John Richardson & Hugh Gilmartin

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Tea Club
  • Freshpresso

This book is a distillation of their experience of the many dozens of coffee and sandwich businesses they have opened both personally and for clients. It is based on the Great Formula they have created within their own businesses and their consulting practice, which focuses on: PASSION Believe that you will produce the greatest coffee and the greatest sandwich in your area. PRODUCT Create and refine star products that give people the ‘reason why’ to buy. PEOPLE Attract, train and retain great staff. MARKETING Become a marketer, with examples of great marketing in action. SYSTEMS Create systems so that you don’t end up doing everything yourself. MONEY Make a profit or your business won’t last. With advice on location, raising finance, and devising a clear marketing plan, this entertaining but highly practical and detailed guide will enable you to open a coffee shop or sandwich bar that actually lasts and makes money.

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30 .) Starbucks Passion for Coffee: A Starbucks Coffee Cookbook written by DAve Olsen, John Phillip Carroll, and Lora Brody

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

Offers recipes, brewing tips, and serving suggestions for coffee in all its forms, with facts on its history and cultivation

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29 .) The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop written by Gregory Dicum

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Phoenix New Times

A freshly updated edition of the best introduction to one of the world’s most popular products, The Coffee Book is jammed full of facts, figures, cartoons, and commentary covering coffee from its first use in Ethiopia in the sixth century to the rise of Starbucks and the emergence of Fair Trade coffee in the twenty-first. The book explores the process of cultivation, harvesting, and roasting from bean to cup; surveys the social history of café society from the first coffeehouses in Constantinople to beatnik havens in Berkeley and Greenwich Village; and tells the dramatic tale of high-stakes international trade and speculation for a product that can make or break entire national economies. It also examines the industry’s major players, revealing how they have systematically reduced the quality of the bean and turned a much-loved product into a commodity and lifestyle accoutrement, ruining the lives of millions of farmers around the world in the process.

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28 .) The Coffee Roaster’s Companion Book written by Scott Rao

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

The Coffee Roaster’s Companion is the world’s first professional-level how-to book about coffee roasting. Scott Rao has consulted for many of the world’s finest roasters, and now he has put his expertise in a book accessible to roasters everywhere. No serious coffee roaster should go without this book. Scott Rao is the author of several best-selling coffee books, including: The Professional Barista’s Handbook Everything But Espresso and Espresso Extraction: Measurement and Mastery

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27 .) The Coffee Trader written by David Liss

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Signature

Amsterdam, 1659: On the world’s first commodities exchange, fortunes are won and lost in an instant. Miguel Lienzo, a sharp-witted trader in the city’s close-knit community of Portuguese Jews, knows this only too well. Once among the city’s most envied merchants, Miguel has suddenly lost everything. Now, impoverished and humiliated, living in his younger brother’s canal-flooded basement, Miguel must find a way to restore his wealth and reputation.

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26 .) The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting and Running a Coffee Bar written by Susan Gilbert, W. Eric Martin and Linda Formichelli

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • The Spruce

This is a step-by-step guide to realizing what for many people is a cherished dream: opening a successful coffee bar. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting and Running a Coffee Bar includes the dirt on what it’s really like to work behind the counter and information on everything from how to build a business plan, to how to make the drinks and how to price them.

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25 .) The East India Company Book of Coffee written by Antony Wild

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Sprudge

Since history began, tea has been a much-loved and sought-after beverage. Its story is told here in fascinating detail, from its early discovery in China to its adoption in the West and final worldwide acceptance. The East India Company was a vital catalyst on the British nation’s love affair with tea, which has lasted to this day, but its influence was also felt in America where the Company’s tea was tipped into Boston harbour at the infamous tea party. The East India Company Book of Tea illustrates lavishly the tea story, as well as offering advice on the different varieties and the best ways of brewing tea from all around the world.

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24 .) The Joy of Coffee written by Corby Kummer

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

In this revised and updated edition of the most authoritative guide to coffee, Corby Kummer travels the country and the world to give you all the latest information you need to make a great cup at home: • The best beans and how to buy and store them • The grinder that’s essential for great coffee • Incisive reports on brewing and espresso-making equipment and tips on how to get the best from them, with photographs of current models • A complete, up-to-date list of sources for beans, equipment and Fair Trade organizations

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23 .) The Social Life of Coffee: The Emergence of the British Coffeehouse written by Brian Cowan

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

What induced the British to adopt foreign coffee-drinking customs in the seventeenth century? Why did an entirely new social institution, the coffeehouse, emerge as the primary place for consumption of this new drink? In this lively book, Brian Cowan locates the answers to these questions in the particularly British combination of curiosity, commerce, and civil society. Cowan provides the definitive account of the origins of coffee drinking and coffeehouse society, and in so doing he reshapes our understanding of the commercial and consumer revolutions in Britain during the long Stuart century.

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22 .) The Various Flavours Of Coffee written by Anthony Capella

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

Sensual, surprising, combining rich period detail with a deliciously playful touch, “The Various Flavours of Coffee” is another mouthwatering confection from the bestselling author of “The Food of Love” and “The Wedding Officer”. It is 1895. Robert Wallis, would-be poet, bohemian and impoverished dandy, accepts a commission from coffee merchant Samuel Pinker to categorise the different tastes of coffee – and encounters Pinker’s free-thinking daughters, Philomenia, Ada and Emily. As romance blossoms with Emily, Robert realises that the muse and marriage may not be incompatible after all. Sent to Abyssinia to make his fortune in the coffee trade, he becomes obsessed with slave girl, Fikre. He decides to use the money he has saved to buy her from her owner – a decision that will change not only his own life, but the lives of the three Pinker sisters…

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21 .) The World Encyclopedia of Coffee written by Mary Banks, Christine McFadden, and Catherine Atkinson

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso

Explore coffee’s many different uses from aromatic beverage to indispensable cooking ingredient. Learn the history of coffee while enjoying a cup of the brew and maybe a biscotti.

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20 .) Brewing Justice: Fair Trade Coffee, Sustainability, and Survival written by Daniel Jaffee

Lists It Appears On:

  • Book Riot
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

Fair trade is a fast-growing alternative market intended to bring better prices and greater social justice to small farmers around the world. But is it working? This vivid study of coffee farmers in Mexico offers the first thorough investigation of the social, economic, and environmental benefits of fair trade. Based on extensive research in Zapotec indigenous communities in the state of Oaxaca, Brewing Justice follows the members of the cooperative Michiza, whose organic coffee is sold on the international fair trade market. It compares these families to conventional farming families in the same region, who depend on local middlemen and are vulnerable to the fluctuations of the world coffee market. Written in a clear and accessible style, the book carries readers into the lives of these coffee producer households and their communities, offering a nuanced analysis of both the effects of fair trade on everyday life and the limits of its impact. Brewing Justice paints a clear picture of the complex dynamics of the fair trade market and its relationship to the global economy. Drawing on interviews with dozens of fair trade leaders, the book also explores the changing politics of this international movement, including the challenges posed by the entry of transnational corporations into the fair trade system. It concludes by offering recommendations for strengthening and protecting the integrity of fair trade.

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19 .) Coffee Flavor Chemistry written by Ivon Flament

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Phoenix New Times
  • Sprudge

This, the first comprehensive review of coffee flavor chemistry is entirely dedicated to flavor components and presents the importance of analytical techniques for the quality control of harvesting, roasting, conditioning and distribution of foods.

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18 .) Coffee Life in Japan written by Merry I. White

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Gear Patrol
  • Serious Eats

This fascinating book―part ethnography, part memoir―traces Japan’s vibrant café society over one hundred and thirty years. Merry White traces Japan’s coffee craze from the turn of the twentieth century, when Japan helped to launch the Brazilian coffee industry, to the present day, as uniquely Japanese ways with coffee surface in Europe and America. White’s book takes up themes as diverse as gender, privacy, perfectionism, and urbanism. She shows how coffee and coffee spaces have been central to the formation of Japanese notions about the uses of public space, social change, modernity, and pleasure. White describes how the café in Japan, from its start in 1888, has been a place to encounter new ideas and experiments in thought, behavior, sexuality , dress, and taste. It is where a person can be socially, artistically, or philosophically engaged or politically vocal. It is also, importantly, an urban oasis, where one can be private in public.

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17 .) Coffee: A Dark History written by Antony Wild

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

A European coffee trader traces the history of a leading global trade commodity. His bitter perspective encompasses coffee’s role in the slave trade, revolutions, Napoleon’s exile, the Starbucks phenomenon, and current global economics including the fair trade movement. An illustration shows coffee disrupting spiders’ web- weaving more than marijuana. Given his occupation, it’s surprising that Wild ignores research on coffee’s positive health effects.

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16 .) How to Make Coffee: The Science Behind the Bean written by Lani Kingston

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Tea Club
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

How to Make Coffee provides an in-depth look at the art and science behind the bean. Learn the anatomy of coffee; the chemistry of caffeine; the best way to roast, grind, and brew the beans to their peak flavor; and what gadgets you really need (versus what gadgets are for mere coffee dilettantes). With illustrated, step-by-step instructions, How to Make Coffee is for the person who doesn’t want to settle for anything less than the perfect cup.

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15 .) The Art and Craft of Coffee: An Enthusiast’s Guide to Selecting, Roasting, and Brewing Exquisite Coffee written by Kevin Sinnott

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Kind
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

There is no other beverage that gives you a better way to travel the world than coffee. You can literally taste the volcanic lava from Sumatra, smell the spice fields of India, and lift your spirits to the Colombian mountaintops in your morning cup of joe. The Art and Craft of Coffee shows you how to get the most out of your coffee, from fresh-roasted bean to hand-crafted brew.

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14 .) The Curious Barista’s Guide to Coffee written by Tristan Stephenson

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Tea Club
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads

The ultimate guide to the history, science and community behind coffee. Here, Tristan Stephenson explores the origins of coffee, its journey around the world and cultural influence. A section on Farming, Roasting & Assessing coffee takes an in-depth look at the growing and harvesting process, the evolution of the coffee roaster and the science behind the many flavours of coffee. There is also advice on buying coffee, understanding the differences between espresso blends and single origin coffee, packing and storing. We then move into Espresso and get to grips with grinding and making espresso-based drinks including the latte, cappuccino, flat white and macchiato, as well as pouring latte art and introducing chocolate, sugar and syrups. Other Brewing Methods showcases a selection of classic brewing techniques that bring the coffee to your kitchen table, from the mocha pot and French press to pourover and siphon brewers. Finally a section on Enjoying Coffee offers 25 recipes for coffee-based drinks and baked treats to serve them with. From iced to Irish, espresso martinis to coffee beer, this is an essential anthology for the coffee enthusiast.

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13 .) The Infinite Emotions of Coffee written by Alon Y. Halevy

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Phoenix New Times
  • Sprudge

The Infinite Emotions of Coffee provides a contemporary prism of the drink that so much of the world takes for granted every morning. Technopreneur Halevy’s travels to more than 30 countries on six continents shed light on how coffee has shaped and is influenced by different cultures through the bean’s centuries-spanning journey of serendipity, intrigue, upheavals, revival, romance and passion. With more than three years of field research, over 180 color photographs, and richly illustrated infographics, this book is an immersive experience that brings alive the enduring allure of coffee and the nuanced emotions of both tradition-bound and avant-garde café cultures. Written in an engaging narrative, this travelogue entertains through numerous coffee-related tales from around the world. It celebrates all parts of the inextricably linked global coffee ecosystem, from growers, importers, and roasters to baristas and consumers. Readers will learn about the rich, mysterious and often amusing history of coffee; discover the latest hotbeds of coffee and the complex issues facing the coffee industry today; and meet the worldwide network of inspiringly spirited and passionately committed professionals whose relentless pursuit of excellence are pushing coffee to unprecedented levels of quality.

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12 .) Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built A Company One Cup At A Time written by Howard Schultz

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Sprudge
  • The Spruce

The success of Starbucks Coffee Company is one of the most amazing business stories in decades. What started as a single store on Seattle’s waterfront has grown into a company with over sixteen hundred stores worldwide and a new one opening every single business day. Just as remarkable as this incredible growth is the fact that Starbucks has managed to maintain its renowned commitment to product excellence and employee satisfaction.

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11 .) The Birth of Coffee written by Daniel Lorenzetti, Linda Rice Lorenzetti

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Gear Patrol
  • Kitchn
  • Sprudge

“A simple cup of coffee: Millions of people greet the morning, take a break, or end a meal with this dark brew. In these brief moments, coffee’s rich flavor and deep aroma are simple pleasures unquestioningly accepted, although few of us ever consider the origins of this evermore popular beverage.

Yet 25 million people wake up thinking about coffee, not simply as a part of their morning routine, but as the whole of their workday. In The Birth of Coffee, Daniel Lorenzetti and Linda Rice Lorenzetti explore coffee’s profound impact on people in coffee-growing nations. Spanning four continents, the Lorenzettis’ eloquent text and evocative photographs capture the places where coffee is more than a popular beverage, but a force in politics, economics, and history.”

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10 .) The Devil’s Cup: A History of the World According to Coffee written by Stewart Lee Allen

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Signature
  • Sprudge

In this captivating book, Stewart Lee Allen treks three-quarters of the way around the world on a caffeinated quest to answer these profound questions: Did the advent of coffee give birth to an enlightened western civilization? Is coffee, indeed, the substance that drives history? From the cliffhanging villages of Southern Yemen, where coffee beans were first cultivated eight hundred years ago, to a cavernous coffeehouse in Calcutta, the drinking spot for two of India’s three Nobel Prize winners . . . from Parisian salons and cafés where the French Revolution was born, to the roadside diners and chain restaurants of the good ol’ U.S.A., where something resembling brown water passes for coffee, Allen wittily proves that the world was wired long before the Internet. And those who deny the power of coffee (namely tea-drinkers) do so at their own peril.

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9 .) The Professional Barista’s Handbook written by Scott Rao

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Joyride
  • Phoenix New Times

FROM THE AUTHOR: When I began in the coffee business fourteen years ago, I read every book I could find about coffee. After reading all of those books, however, I felt as if I hadn’t learned much about how to make great coffee. My coffee library was chock-full of colorful descriptions of brewing styles, growing regions, and recipes, with a few almost-unreadable scientific books mixed in. I would have traded in all of those books for one serious, practical book with relevant information about making great coffee in a café. Fourteen years later, I still haven’t found that book. I know many other professionals as well as some obsessive nonprofessionals would like to find that same book I’ve been looking for. This book is my attempt to give it to them.

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8 .) All About Coffee written by William H. Ukers

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Gear Patrol
  • Goodreads
  • Phoenix New Times
  • Sprudge

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7 .) Coffee Obsession written by Anette Moldvaer

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Coffee Tea Club
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Kitchn

In Coffee Obsession, we take a journey through the coffee-producing nations around the world, presenting the different styles, flavors, and techniques used to brew the perfect cup. We explore how coffee gets from bean to cup in each region, and what that means for the final product.

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6 .) Left Coast Roast: A Guide to the Best Coffee and Roasters from San Francisco to Seattle written by Hanna Neuschwander

Lists It Appears On:

  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Kitchn
  • Serious Eats
  • Sprudge

Left Coast Roast is a caffeine-fueled guide to 55 key companies in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California—from small artisan roasters like Heart, Coava, and Kuma and history-making icons like Peet’s and Starbucks, to rapidly expanding shops like Portland’s Stumptown and San Francisco’s Blue Bottle. Profiles describe each company’s background, roasting history, and style, and explain how to visit and order beans for home brewing.

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5 .) Everything But Espresso written by Scott Rao

Lists It Appears On:

  • Food & Wine
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Joyride
  • Kitchn
  • Phoenix New Times
  • Serious Eats

Scott Rao takes on all other forms of coffee brewing and gives them their day in the sun. Broken up into three main parts, and supported by a thorough reference bibliography for folks that want to read more, Everything but Espresso covers the following: Part One: Coffee extraction, measurement and methods on improving flavor by changing the brewing parameters Part Two: How to achieve optimal flavor via different brew methods (such as drip, pour over, press pot, steeping and vacuum pot) Part Three: Proper water chemistry and bean storage If you’re either an espresso aficionado who wants to spread their wings or someone who cherishes their old press pot, this book is the definitive guide to making the best possible brew at home.

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4 .) The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee: Growing, Roasting, and Drinking, with Recipes written by James Freeman

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Kind
  • Food & Wine
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Kitchn
  • Serious Eats
  • Sprudge

“Blue Bottle Coffee Company has quickly become one of America’s most celebrated roasters. Famous for its complex and flavorful coffees, Blue Bottle delights its devoted patrons with exquisite pour-overs, delicious espressi, and specialized brewing methods.

Yet as coffee production becomes more sophisticated with specialized extraction techniques and Japanese coffee gadgets, the new artisan coffees can seem out of reach. The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee explains this new world from farm to cup, exploring the bounty of beans available and the intricate steps that go into sourcing raw coffee from around the globe. Blue Bottle founder James Freeman coaches you through brewing the perfect cup of coffee, using methods as diverse as French press, nel drip, siphon, and more to produce the best flavor. “

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3 .) Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World written by Mark Pendergrast

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Sphere
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Kitchn
  • Phoenix New Times
  • Signature
  • Sprudge

Uncommon Grounds tells the story of coffee from its discovery on a hill in ancient Abyssinia to the advent of Starbucks. In this updated edition of the classic work, Mark Pendergrast reviews the dramatic changes in coffee culture over the past decade, from the disastrous “Coffee Crisis” that caused global prices to plummet to the rise of the Fair Trade movement and the “third-wave” of quality-obsessed coffee connoisseurs. As the scope of coffee culture continues to expand, Uncommon Grounds remains more than ever a brilliantly entertaining guide to the currents of one of the world’s favorite beverages.

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2 .) The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing – Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed written by James Hoffmann

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Tea Club
  • Food & Wine
  • Freshpresso
  • Goodreads
  • Joyride
  • Kitchn
  • Phoenix New Times
  • Signature

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.

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1 .) God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee written by Michaele Weissman

Lists It Appears On:

  • Coffee Kind
  • Food & Wine
  • Freshpresso
  • Gear Patrol
  • Goodreads
  • Joyride
  • Kitchn
  • Phoenix New Times
  • Signature
  • Sprudge
  • The Coffee Compass

Can a cup of coffee reveal the face of God? Can it become the holy grail of modern-day knights errant who brave hardship and peril in a relentless quest for perfection? Can it change the world? These questions are not rhetorical. When highly prized coffee beans sell at auction for $50, $100, or $150 a pound wholesale (and potentially twice that at retail), anything can happen.

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The 50+ Additional Best Books About Coffee



 

#BooksAuthorsLists
(Titles Appear On 1 List Each)
4733 Cups of CoffeeKitchn
48A Cup of Aloha: The Kona Coffee EpicGerald KenroSprudge
49A Good African Story: How A Small Company Built A Global Coffee BrandAndrew RugasiraBook Riot
50A History of the World in 6 GlassesTom StandageGoodreads
51A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & ColaRicardo Cortes
Freshpresso
52A Tree Grows in BrooklynSignature
53A-Z CoffeeLars K. Huse & Harald Johnsen VøyleSprudge
54Amazing Coffee Travels (Tales of a Coffee Expert, #2)Serge Remy
Freshpresso
55Beginners’ Guide To Coffee At Home: Coffee Basics For Coffee EnthusiastsA. Edward Gur
Freshpresso
56Billionaire BlendCleo CoyleGoodreads
57Black CoffeeSignature
58Black Gold: The Dark History of Coffee
Phoenix New Times
59Chelsea Market CookbookMichael Phillips with Rick Rodgers
Coffee Sphere
60Coffee – Philosophy For Everyone: Grounds For DebateScott F. Parker (Editor)Sprudge
61Coffee Nerd: How to Have Your Coffee and Drink it TooRuth Brown
Freshpresso
62Coffee Shop Conversations: Making the Most of Spiritual Small TalkDale Fincher
Freshpresso
63
Coffee- Philosophy for Everyone: Grounds for Debate
Freshpresso
64Dead to the Last DropCleo CoyleGoodreads
65Decaffeinated CorpseCleo CoyleGoodreads
66Espresso ShotCleo CoyleGoodreads
67Espresso!The Spruce
68Everything but the Coffee: Learning about America from StarbucksBryant SimonGoodreads
69French PressedCleo CoyleGoodreads
70God KaffeCasper Engel RasmussenSprudge
71Happy People Read and Drink CoffeeAgnès Martin-Lugand
Freshpresso
72Hiroshi Sawada’s Basic Barista Book
Phoenix New Times
73Holiday GrindCleo CoyleGoodreads
74Home Coffee Roasting: Romance and RevivalKenneth DavidsGoodreads
75How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone ElseMichael Gates GillGoodreads
76
How to Open a Financially Successful Coffee, Espresso & Tea Shop
The Spruce
77Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade CoffeeDean CyconGoodreads
78Kaffee In Wien publishedStadt BekanntBook Riot
79Latte TroubleCleo CoyleGoodreads
80Life Is Espresso BearPond EspressoSprudge
81Little Black Book of Coffee: The Essential Guide to Your Favorite Perk-Me-upKaren Berman
Freshpresso
82Max Havelaar: Or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading CompanyMultatuli, Eduard Douwes Dekker, Roy Edward
Freshpresso
83Modulating the Flavor Profile of Coffee: One Roaster’s ManifestoRob HoosGoodreads
84MurderCleo CoyleGoodreads
85Murder Most FrothyCleo CoyleGoodreads
86On What GroundsCleo CoyleGoodreads
87Once Upon a GrindCleo CoyleGoodreads
88Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its SoulHoward SchultzGoodreads
89Roast MortemCleo CoyleGoodreads
90Starbucked: A Double Tall Tale of Caffeine, Commerce, and CultureTaylor ClarkGoodreads
91Start and Run a Coffee BarThe Spruce
92Starting & Running a Coffee BarSusan Gilbert, W. Eric Martin and Linda Formichelli
Coffee Sphere
93Tea, Coffee, & ChocolateSignature
94The Book of Coffee: A Gourmet’s GuideRiccardo Illy
Freshpresso
95The Catcher in the RyeSignature
96The Coffee House: A Cultural HistoryMarkman Ellis
Freshpresso
97The Espresso QuestInstauratorGoodreads
98
The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul (originally published as A Cup of Friendship)
Signature
99The Monk of MokhaDave EggersGoodreads
100The Philosophy of Coffee
Coffee Tea Club
101The Restaurant Business Start-up GuideThe Spruce
102The Science of Good Cooking
Phoenix New Times
103The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into ExtraordinaryJoseph A. MichelliGoodreads
104The Stories of John CheeverSignature
105Through the GrinderCleo CoyleGoodreads
106Turkish CoffeeM. Sabri Koz and Kemalettin KuzucuBook Riot
107Uncommon GroundsSandra BalzoGoodreads
108Ursule MirouetSignature
109Wake up & Smell the ProfitThe Spruce
110Water For CoffeeChris Hendon and Max Colonna-DashwoodBook Riot
111What I Know About Running Coffee ShopsColin HarmonBook Riot
112Your Face Tomorrow Vol. 2: Dance & DreamSignature


16 Best Books For Coffee Lovers Sources/Lists



SourceArticle
Book Riot Books To Read If You’re A Coffee Freak
Coffee Kind THE COFFEE BOOKSHELF: SEVEN MUST-READ BOOKS ABOUT COFFEE
Coffee Sphere 14 Must Read Coffee Books for Coffee Lovers
Coffee Tea Club BEST BOOKS ON COFFEE: 6 ESSENTIAL BOOKS FOR COFFEE LOVERS
Food & Wine 4 Books Every Aspiring Coffee Nerd Should Read
Freshpresso 50 Must-Read Coffee Books Every Coffee Lover Should Add to Their Collection
Gear Patrol Grounded Literature: 5 Great Books About Coffee
Goodreads Popular Coffee Books
Joyride 4 Coffee Books all Coffee Lovers Should Own
Kitchn 9 Books That Will Teach You About Coffee
Phoenix New Times 13 Great Books About Coffee, According to Metro Phoenix Baristas
Serious Eats 4 Great Coffee Books for Beginners and Coffee Geeks
Signature Caffeine Dreams: 13 Books for the Coffee Obsessed
Sprudge 21 Great Books About Coffee: Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide
The Coffee Compass 3 COFFEE BOOKS EVERY BARISTA NEEDS TO READ
The Spruce Top 8 Business Books on Coffee