Got a real coffee nerd on your hands? Send 'em to the books with James Hoffmann's atlas of the world's most famed bean-growing regions. Don't be surprised when they start planning a trip to coffee hot spots in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Cosmopolitan Magazine Online - Madeline Boardman
This book is an atlas, but it's not like the boring, outdated ones... It's about something interesting: coffee.
Selection, Traveler Gift Guide... This is the definitive handbook to all things coffee. In addition to step-by-step guides for every home-brewing method imaginable, the atlas details the history and taste profiles of the world's best coffee-producing regions.
Conte Nast Traveler - Jessica Puckett
James Hoffman is my go-to professional for all things coffee, from equipment reviews to brewing techniques to drink recipes. His YouTube channel is starred on my browser menu, and his advice has expertly carried me through a myriad of coffee conundrums. His book, The World Atlas of Coffee, is the perfect geek-out read for anyone interested in learning more about the wide world of coffee. It covers how coffee is produced, from harvest through roasting, and includes step-by-step guides for all the core home-brewing methods.
Inlander - Michal Bennett
The CEO of Coffee YouTube... Hoffmann offers a knowledgeable, sometimes cheeky, and always entertaining approach to coffee that encourages his fans to find joy, and more than just a caffeine boost, in their daily cup.
TasteCooking.com - Ashley Rodriguez
Selection, 2018 Coffee Compass Holiday Gift Guide... We think James Hoffmann's magnum opus is the single most important book about coffee that's been published to date.
The Coffee Compass - Michael Butterworth
[Review of previous edition:] 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 BrewingCoffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed". Even confirmed coffee geeks will benefit from this volume, at once encyclopedic and approachable.
The Tampa Bay Ledger - Erica Marcus
[Review of previous edition:] 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.
With a full breakdown of the world's 35 coffee producing nations, this atlas will ensure you know how to tell your Burundi beans from those grown in Bolivia. The World Atlas of Coffee is the perfect gift for that person in your life who takes their coffee seriously, or is looking to take their caffeinated drinks to the next level.
Geek Dad Blog - Anton Olsen
[Review of previous edition:] 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.
North Shore News - Terry Peters
James Hoffmann is a former World Barista Champion, roaster owner, coffee consultant and, most recently, a successful YouTuber. More importantly, he knows more about the past, present and future of coffee than most human beings, and his writing is clever enough to make reading fun.
If they actually want to know the difference between Columbian, Ethiopian, and Puerto Rican beans, then this will serve as their Rosetta Stone for coffee.
This hardcover book boasts gorgeous photography and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look into the world's biggest coffee-producing regions.
Health Magazine - Leslie Barrie and Kathleen Mulpeter
[Review of previous edition:] 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.
Barista Magazine - Sarah Allen
[Review of previous edition:] Nothing like a good cup of coffee! Coffee tasting bars are springing up everywhere along with coffee tourismlearn 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"!
Annual Holiday Gift Guide List 2015 - Ann Coombs
[Review of previous edition:] 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.
Fresh Cup Magazine - Cory Eldridge
11/17/2014 Coffee fuels the world. Millions rely on the aromatic bean for their daily caffeine jolt, and millions more depend on it for their livelihoods. 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. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee as well as humanity. 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. (Nov.)
This is the first book to chart the coffee production of over 35 countries, encompassing knowledge never previously published outside the coffee industry. For everyone who wants to understand more about coffee and its wonderful nuances and possibilities, this is the book to have.
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.
Flattop Coffee Roastery Blog
12/01/2014 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. VERDICT An unusual offering that will be of value in collections serving agriculture, business, and nutrition students.—Henrietta Verma, Library Journal