Top 10 Books About Coffee Updated 04 /2024

There are a lot of people out there who share our passion for the health benefits of coffee. It's hard to drink coffee and not fall in love with the farming, roasting, flavors, recipes, craft, buzz, and everything else about it. Coffee is both simple and complex at the same time.

You can learn new things about your favorite drink, even if you're just a simple fan or a well-trained barista, by reading these best books about coffee. We looked at many books and tried the best coffee in the world to find the best ones. You can read about sociology, business, fair trade and how to make the best cup of coffee at home in these good books.

The Craft and Science of Coffee by Britta Folmer

In this book, Dr. Britta Folmer, the Coffee Science Manager at Nestlé Nespresso, talks about the history of coffee, how it's grown, and how it's made. It's an in-depth look at the world of coffee, and it will change the way you think about a simple cup of joe. From the farmer to the consumer, baristas to academics, hear from people whose lives revolve around coffee and get a real-world look at how it's made and how it affects the world around us. Because this book costs almost $100, keep that in mind. Think of it as a book you'll want to read from start to finish.

Craft Coffee: A Manual by Jessica Easto

Our favorite thing about manuals is that we love them. At home, they tend to make us more skilled at things we can do with our hands. If you love coffee because you can make a great cup of it at home, not because you want to learn about the whole industry, this guide is for you. It doesn't include espresso, so you can't make it in your underwear at the kitchen counter. As a matter of fact, this book is all about how to make coffee, not how beans grow.

The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffman

A lot of different types of coffee are true to the old adage, "Variety Is the Spice of Life." A good flavor snob is always willing to teach us about the different types. There are so many different kinds. The World Atlas of Coffee celebrates the little things that make each coffee unique by looking at how each country grows, roasts, and tastes its coffee. From Bolivia to Guatemala, to Zambia, and more than 35 other countries, author James Hoffman looks at the key characteristics and production methods of each country. If you want to learn about coffee's many different types and history, this is one of the best books. It's also very cheap for how much information it has.

The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee by James Freeman

For people who are new to coffee and want to learn more about it and become better baristas, this book is a must-have. It was written by the Blue Bottle Coffee roasters in Oakland, California. Everything you need to know about coffee, from its history to how to make it, is in the "do-it-all" guide. When Blue Bottle founder James Freeman writes, he's both passionate and approachable. He shows you how to make pour-overs, French press coffee (called "Nel Drip"), siphon coffee, Turkish coffee, and espresso coffee.

Coffee Obsession by Anette Moldvaer

Coffee Obsession is the best-named book on this list. It is the most cost-effective coffee codex that covers everything from A to Z, so it's the best value. Anette Moldvaer, a World Cup Tasting Champion and International Coffee Judge, says that "sitting in a cafe with a good cup of coffee is one of life's great pleasures." She points out that coffee has spread across the world and reminds us that we are part of the global brew crew (along with 150 million other Americans). Professional baristas and people who drink coffee at home both love and learn from one of the best coffee books on the market today. It's full of information about how to store, grind, and store coffee, as well as information about coffees from around the world, equipment, recipes, and more.

The Devil’s Cup by Stewart Lee Allen

In The Devil's Cup, there are fewer recipes and more anthropology. The book's main question is: Is coffee the substance that drives history? Stewart Lee Allen is an author who travels the world, retracing history, finding iconic cafes, and visiting small villages that helped shape the evolution of joe in small towns and cities around the world. This is what he tells us. The hot bean water served at roadside restaurants is a descendant of the coffee served in Paris salons during the French Revolution. In the book, we learn that tea drinkers are in denial about how bad coffee is for us.

I Love Coffee! Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks by Susan Zimmer

Our favorite thing to do with coffee is drink it. We love coffee, too. Susan Zimmer has put together more than 100 coffee-based drink recipes for us to try. Most of them are wild, sweet, and fun to make. An espresso martini, please Check. Cognac and Mochachino? Check. The Irish Coffee? Yup. Cafe Cola Libre in ice cube form? Because: Why not? Zimmer tells us that everyone should know how to make espresso whipped cream, and that everyone should know how to make it. Adds a section on seasonal and holiday coffee drinks to the mix as well, as well (for you pumpkin spice people).

The Professional Barista’s Handbook by Scott Rao

Professional barista Scott Rao wrote this book because he was tired of scientific coffee books and "glorified roasting encyclopedias." He set out to write a book on how to make great coffee in a cafe. Aspiring baristas should pick up this manifesto, which is short but full of industry terms and methods only used by experts. Rao talks about how to cupping, roast, and what factors make a cup of coffee taste good. Beginners should not do this.

Brewing Justice by Daniel Jaffee

Trade that is fair. You look for the moniker on your coffee, but you don't know what it means. As an alternative market, Fair Trade aims to bring better prices and social justice to coffee farmers all over the world through better prices and fair wages. It sounds great, but does it work? In this book, you'll learn about the social, economic, and environmental realities of Fair Trade, down to the human level. As written by a sociologist, Brewing Justice makes you love your morning cup of coffee more than ever.

You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense by Charles Bukowski

A full cup, it's early in the morning, and you want to read a book while you drink your coffee. Charles Bukowski, a gruff poet and cult favorite, is here. He wrote the book of poems, You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense. There is, of course, a poem called Coffee in the anthology. But the whole book is a good match for a strong cup of coffee, with over 130 quick-hit poems that are both tender and rough, just like a good cup of coffee should be.

Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz

How did Howard Shultz, the President and Chairman of Starbucks at the time, make a "bizarre" decision to come back after eight years as CEO? He did this to change Starbucks and make it a huge success during the 2008 recession. If you already like Starbucks, you're going to love them even more after reading this. This is the story of how Shultz shaped Starbucks in terms of culture, money, and the world. There is more to this book than just coffee. It talks about how to be successful at work, as well as how to make good coffee.

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