Coffee Basics

A coffee lover's guide to the best brews-written by two industry insiders Coffee Basics is a brief, no-nonsense guide to coffee products, appreciation, and brewing. It demystifies coffee's origins and history, explores the overwhelming amount of different varieties and explains exactly how to brew the best cup. The authors describe the regional character of coffee beans from around the world and discuss a variety of roasting equipment and brewing methods for both home and restaurant. * Lists mail-order sources for the best beans, plus great coffee drink recipes, tasting tips, and a complete coffee taster's glossary KEVIN KNOX (Boulder, Colorado) is a Vice President and coffee buyer for Allegro. As a beverage specialist for Starbucks he was responsible for appraisals, quality standards, recipes, training procedures, and brewing equipment. JULIE SHELDON HUFFAKER (Portland, Oregon) writes for Cafe Ole and Coffee Matters magazines.

Table of Contents

What Is Coffee? A Brief History of the Bean. The Name Game: Reading Coffee Labels. A Taster's Guide to Cupping Coffees. Regional Character. Roasting and Blending. How to Brew Great Coffee at Home. Espresso: A World Unto Itself. Putting Restaurants to the Test. Customizing Your Coffee. Issues in the Marketplace. Appendices. Index.

About the Author

KEVIN KNOX, Vice President and coffee buyer for Allegro and former coffee specialist for Starbucks, is the country's leading coffee expert. JULIE SHELDON HUFFAKER is a writer and editor who works with the specialty coffee industry.