11 inspiring books about coffee

The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffman
An encyclopaedia of all things coffee written by James Hoffman, owner of Square Mile Coffee Roasters, a multi-award-winning coffee roasting company in East London. This in-depth guide covers everything from where coffee comes from and how it’s grown and harvested, to how you can roast and make coffee at home. Not only is it packed full of fascinating historical content, you’ll also find plenty of useful tips and tutorials too, which is why we think this is one of the best coffee books available today.

Eager to know more about the distinctive taste of different coffees? ‘Coffee: A Global History’ explains how the world acquired a taste for coffee, and why coffee tastes so different throughout the world. This wonderful book also delves into who drank coffee, why and where, how it was prepared and what it tasted like. It identifies the regions and ways in which coffee was grown, who worked the farms and who owned them, how the beans were processed, traded and transported. Morris looks at the business structure behind coffee too. A truly fascinating book perfect for those long, lazy coffee mornings.

For those of us who aren't coffee scientists but will never say no to a good cappuccino and might appreciate having a pocket-sized encyclopaedia all about coffee, this little book is literally the perfect fit. How to Make Coffee lays out the scientific principles for the coffee-loving non-scientist; stick to these and you will never drink an ordinary joe again. Making good coffee relies on understanding the science; why water has to be at a certain temperature, what grinding method works best, how roast affects taste, what happens when you add cream, and which bean you start out with. If you want to be a clued-up casual cappuccino drinker, this is the book for you.

From the founders of Sprudge, one of the world’s biggest coffee publications, The New Rules of Coffee is a wonderfully light read that offers a jargon-free guide to the world of coffee. Perfect for those who aren’t big readers, the short book covers where coffee comes from, how it’s grown, and how to brew the perfect cup at home.

For those who love a bit of A-list name dropping with their coffee, this book might be to your taste. Coffee For One is an inside look into the modern business of making coffee focusing on the revolution that made single serve such a popular way to consume coffee worldwide, and the competition and conflict that got us here. Featuring A-list names, corporate intrigue, environmental controversy and much more, this revolutionary read is often as eye-opening as your strongest espresso!

Coffeeography: The Coffee Producers is a node to the importance of relationships in the coffee world, profiling some of the many amazing and inspiring coffee producers that the author has had the privilege of working with during his time at Hasbean. Speciality coffee isn't just about coffee and its flavours, but about the love and care that goes into it too.

Make your day more exciting with a cup of your favourite coffee and one of these top books about coffee.