“I have learned many things from this book. But above all I have learned thy it is scientifically wrong to order a ‘long’ expresso as I have always done – you cannot play around with physics and chemisty: if you interfere with important parameters like time and volume you will jeopardize the quality aspects of expresso.”
–Roberto Satolli, Director of Occhio Clinico

“In my 30 years working in the food service industry, I have rarely come accross a text that so thoroughly and yet so manageably treat its topic . . . Anyone who wants to truly understand the chemistry behind the process if brewung expresso should read this book.”
–Thomas J Kelly, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

“Trust the Illy family, with its decades of the vanguard of scientific research on coffee, to give us the reference book essential for anyone serious about expresso. The wealth of information seems doubly rich for being available in one source. it will guide anyone, amateur and especially professional, to the potent bliss of great expresso.
–Corby Kummer, Senior Editor, The Atlantic Monthly, and author, The Joy of Coffee

“I feel as though I have known and worked with the Illy family for years, having used their coffee and their machines in my restaurant. I also had the opportunity to visit the factory in Italy and to see the care take over quality in the whole process os transforming coffee into expresso. Their knowledge not only of espresso, but also of all culinary and gastronomic arts, is an excellant indication of the quality of this book.
–Sirio Maccioni, owner of Le Cirque, New York

“Overall this book serves as a complete overview not only of espresso coffee but also of coffee in general. With its comprehensive overview of the parameters important to coffee quality and coffee consumption on human health it becomes a good reference book for both food scientists and nutritionists in the field.”
- Massimo Marcone, University of Guelph, Canada for FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL (2005)”A vital resource for anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of coffee and its production, this book, with its industrial and historical perspectives, manages to combine the delivery of complex scientific data with pure enthusiasm for the product.”
- CAFE CULTURE (July 2005)

“.the book’s precision with the details of coffee science is unparalleled. It balances scientific prowess and readability without overwhelming the reader, whether new to the coffee world or a veteran.”
- FRESH CUP (June 2005)

“Kenneth Davids writes with authority and panache. There’s no one I’d rather read and learn from. He’ll turn your kitchen into the espresso bar of your dreams-and the more aspiring baristas who read this book, the safer the country will be for the new world of lattes sweeping the nation.” –Corby Kummer, The Atlantic Monthly

“Kenneth Davids’s new book blends the myths and history with the technology and culture that create this nouveau art form we call ‘espresso.’ It’s the perfect companion while enjoying the pleasures of this magnificent beverage.” –Ted R. Lingle, director of the Speciality Coffee Association

Coffee in America has undergone a revolution in the last decade, and here is the book that both chronicles the change and offers state-of-the-art information on everything from the bean itself to the aesthetics of brewing and appreciating the perfect cup. The book features sections on the world’s specialty coffees, the best methods for brewing coffee, tips on buying coffee, and over two dozen recipes featuring coffee.

“An amusing and informative book that is the best available guide.” –Corby Kummer, The Atlantic Monthly

“Coffee drinkers will perk up…after reading Kenneth Davids’s book.” –UPI
– Review

“A powerful link between the coffee professional and the coffee consumer. The technical information is presented clearly and “smartly,” the humor is professional…and the recipes and photos are extraordinary.” — Miles Small, Editor CoffeeTalk Magazine

“Coffee recipes or references, coffee facts or fun – whatever your reason for pouring into the vast world of coffee, Susan Zimmer teaches it all in this “how-to” coffee handbook.” — SAECO Canada Ltd

“Indispensable new coffee book…filled to the brim with 111 recipes and a wealth of information from bean field to barista.” — The Gourmet Retailer

“Susan Zimmer shares information about exotic coffee drinks…for all occasions, with easy-to-read instructions. Her knowledge and passion for the drink are evident throughout.” — Library Journal

“The BEST book on coffee on the market, for all occasions. Susan’s profound knowledge…makes it a very interesting and a most enjoyable coffee read. It’s a must for everyone who likes or loves coffee!” — Espresso Canada Inc.

“The definitive resource for anyone who loves coffee. This book explores the intricacies of serving the perfect cup; enjoying the various flavors, textures and aromas of coffee in all of its glorious forms.” — P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc.

Now coffee lovers can make delicious cappuccinos, cold coffee quenchers, decadent coffee desserts, and classy coffee martinis year-round using simple techniques with gourmet results in this indispensable coffee guide and cookbook.In I Love Coffee! coffee connoisseur Susan Zimmer shares expert advice and techniques, from how to brew the perfect cup and how to make a basic cappuccino without a machine to a World Barista Latte Art Champion’s tips for making masterful latte art designs. It is brimful with a wealth of coffee understanding from the “ground” up, from bean to cup, including international coffees and brewing techniques best suited to a variety of preferences, all topped off with plenty of problem-solving tips and delectable full-color photographs.

Since its discovery in an Ethiopian rainforest centuries ago, coffee has brewed up a rich and troubled history, according to Uncommon Grounds, a sweeping book by business writer Mark Pendergrast. Over the years, the beverage has fomented revolution, spurred deforestation, enriched a few while impoverishing the many, and addicted millions with its psychoactive caffeine.

Coffee is now the world’s second most valuable legal commodity, behind oil, according to Pendergrast, who is also author of For God, Country, and Coca-Cola.”A good cup of coffee can turn the worst day tolerable, can provide an all-important moment of contemplation, can rekindle a romance,” he writes. “And yet, poetic as its taste may be, coffee’s history is rife with controversy and politics.” For example, coffee bankrolled Idi Amin’s genocidal regime in Uganda and the Sandinistas’ revolution in Nicaragua. Uncommon Grounds provides some fascinating tidbits. Did you know that coffeehouses helped spawn the French and American revolutions? Or that coffee supplanted alcohol as a favorite breakfast drink in Britain in the late 1600s, and later became a patriotic American beverage after the Boston Tea Party?

Pendergrast also details the rise and fall of regional coffee brands in the United States, the role of advertising in the industry, the global economic impact of coffee prices, and the recent emergence of specialty-coffee retailers–Starbucks, for example. Finally, he explores the social and environmental ramifications of coffee and highlights recent attempts to encourage a livable wage and environmental protection in coffee-producing nations such as Brazil. Pendergrast also includes an appendix on “how to brew the perfect cup.” This wide-ranging book is a good read for those curious about the history and context behind that morning cup of coffee, as well as for those strictly interested in the business side of the industry. –Dan Ring

Caffeinated beverage enthusiast Pendergrast (For God, Country and Coca-Cola) approaches this history of the green bean with the zeal of an addict. His wide-ranging narrative takes readers from the legends about coffee’s discoveryAthe most appealing of which, Pendergast writes, concerns an Ethiopian goatherd who wonders why his goats are dancing on their hind legs and butting one anotherAto the corporatization of the specialty cafe. Pendergrast focuses on the influence of the American coffee trade on the world’s economies and cultures, further zeroing in on the political and economic history of Latin America. Coffee advertising, he shows, played a major role in expanding the American market. In 1952, a campaign by the Pan American Coffee Bureau helped institutionalize the coffee break in America. And the invention of the still ubiquitous Juan Valdez in a 1960 ad campaign caused name recognition for Colombian coffee to skyrocket within months of its introduction. The Valdez character romanticizes a very real phenomenonAthe painstaking process of tending and harvesting a coffee crop. Yet the price of a tall latte in America, Pendergrast notes, is a day’s wage for many of the people who harvest it on South American hillsides. Pendergrast does not shy away from exploring such issues in his cogent histories of Starbucks and other firms. Throughout the book, asides like the coffee jones of health-food tycoon C.W. PostAwho raged against the evils of coffee and developed Postum as a substitute for regular brewAprovide welcome diversions. Pendergrast’s broad vision, meticulous research and colloquial delivery combine aromatically, and he even throws in advice on how to brew the perfect cup.