When you have the passion for coffee as we do at the Gourmet Coffee Zone, you simply can't read enough about it. Here's a selection of our favorite books and reading material on our favorite subject ... coffee, of course!
We are big fans of Kenneth Davids as you can tell. His books are a must read for anyone serious and passionate about all things coffee. And his amusing and edgy style always brings a smile.
And no coffee library is complete without the work of David Schomer, owner and master roaster of Espresso Vivace in Seattle, WA. Perhaps best known for introducing latte art to US, Schomer has been instrumental in advancing the standard of practice in world class espresso preparation and espresso bar operation. Through his books, videos and training curriculum, he has been educating the serious coffee community for over thirty years.
Our latest find, "God in a Cup - The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee" by Michaele Weissman, is a must read in-depth exploration of the specialty coffee industry from farm to cup.
On the fiction side, there aren't too many good reads that come along specifically about coffee, but when we find one, we'll talk about it here.
Coffee history is a particularly fascinating subject spanning over a thousand years of discovery, invention, commerce, trade, intrigue and culture. And there's no better way to enjoy the subject than with a well-crafted bit of fiction to bring the story to life. "The Coffee Trader" by David Liss is one such novel about the early emergence of the coffee commodity exchange in 17th century Amsterdam. See the selection below. If you love coffee and history, you will definitely enjoy this one!
God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee -
Michaele Weissman
Price: $16.47
Weissman follows industry leaders from some of the top specialty roasters including Counter Culture, Intelligentisa and Stumptown to explore and uncover a truly revealing inside perspective of today's specialty coffee industry and culture.
If you want an inside look at the specialty coffee trade end to end from the coffee farmer to the upscale coffee bars, you'll find this book a fascinating, totally entertaining and educational read.
Weismann takes you on a journey to the birthplace of coffee, remote coffee plantations, and international coffee competitions where the best coffees in the world are cupped, scored and where winners like Panamanian grower Hacienda La Esmeralda's revered Geisha coffee reaches $130 per pound at auction.
Exploring the producer-consumer relationship, Weismann sheds light on the partnership between those who sell specialty coffee and the impoverished who farm and grow coffee. And how this evolving partnership has defined specialty standards that enable better production, exceptional coffee beans, fair prices and improved income across the board.
We've been waiting for this book for some time. A great find and a must read for anyone who wants to learn more about our coffee culture.
Very entertaining, elegantly written historical suspense thriller about the early, 17th century coffee commodity market in Amsterdam.
The Dutch were influential in bringing coffee to Europe and the new world. This story brings it to life
Miguel Lienzo escapes the Spanish Inquisition in Portugal and seeks refuge in the somewhat more tolerant Dutch city of Amsterdam. He's a commodity trader, loses his shirt on a bad sugar trade, and discovers the emerging coffee phenomena.
If you love coffee and history, you'll enjoy this brilliantly crafted novel by David Liss.
Starbucked: A Double Tall Tale of Caffeine, Commerce, and Culture - Taylor Clark
Price: $17.15
Starbucked explores the meteoric rise of the Starbucks corporation and the caffeine culture behind the success.
Entertaining, provocative and methodical look into how Starbucks transformed America into a nation of coffee drinking gourmets (or so-called gourmets).
The book reveals the truth about many things you thought you knew about the coffee chain.
If you have any interest in Starbucks, or the transformation of American coffee culture, you'll enjoy this book.
We think of Starbucks as predominantly a seller of coffee drinks, but did you know that they spend more money on milk than coffee? Many more interesting revelations exposed.
Interesting background and information on the "fair trade" movement.
A serious book about Starbucks with a humorous treatment, Starbucked will keep you entertained.
Espresso Coffee: Professional Techniques - David Schomer
Price: $29.95
If you're not familiar with David Schomer, he is the owner, master roaster and barista extraordinaire at Espresso Vivace in Seattle, WA.
In so many ways, Schomer has set the standard for espresso technique and was instrumental in introducing latte art in the US many years ago.
He has also been an influential contributor in the industry around the challenge and need for understanding espresso machine temperature control. His techniques addressing this critical area result in substantially better and more consistent espresso.
Schomer is a champion for quality and promotes an impressive training program for all the employees at Espresso Vivace that consistently produces a standard of excellence setting the bar at the top.
In a series of books and videos including Espresso Coffee: Professional Techniques, David Schomer shares his knowledge, insight and invaluable expertise for anyone who wants to learn more about producing exceptional espresso coffee.
This is a must read for any aspiring barista. Schomer covers roasting methods, burr grinder settings, espresso machine temperature control, dosing, distribution and packing techniques, machine cleanliness, and more.
There could be more information on blending and bean selection, and there is not much information on latte art technique. In fairness, Schomer does cover some these subjects in more detail in some of his other work, including 'Techniques of the Barista" and "Cafe Latte Art".
