As part of my most recent ambition — a commitment to minimizing both social media use and news consumption — I turned to a more old school form of entertainment: Reading! It turns out that I have a lot of time in a day to devote to learning if I stop endlessly scrolling.
While I’ve loved blowing dust off of my Goodreads account and diving into some fiction, a thought also struck me: I drink coffee every day, so why not learn a lot more about it?
Down a rabbit hole I went.
Needless to say, I’ve read a lot of books about coffee lately, so I’m here to share with you the favorites I stumbled upon along the way. Coffee and books just go together, and I’m happy to be the third wheel.
Another plus: This stack of books looks cute in my home office! These would make great Christmas gifts for coffee lovers, or you can find other ideas here.
What We Mean by “Coffee Books”
When we say “coffee books” here, we don’t mean coffee table books in general or novels you might happen to read while sipping a latte. We mean books about coffee itself — its history, culture, brewing methods, origins, and the people who grow, roast, and serve it.
Whether you want to master your pour over, explore global cafe culture (in which case, tpack our travel coffee gear), or dive into coffee’s complicated past (as a former econ major, I’m here for this), these reads put coffee front and center.
Without further ado… a deep dive into two of my favorite things, books and coffee!
Overview of Recommended Coffee Books
If you want the TL;DR version of our selected coffee literature, see below.
| # | Title | Recommended For | Purchase Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The World Atlas of Coffee | Serious coffee nerds | Amazon |
| 2 | Craft Coffee, a Manual | Home brewing beginners | Amazon |
| 3 | The Coffee Book: Barista Tips, Recipes, Beans from Around the World | Espresso fans + visual learners | Amazon |
| 4 | The Monk of Mokha | Narrative nonfiction readers | Port of Mokha |
| 5 | How to Make the Best Coffee at Home | Aspiring home baristas | Amazon |
| 6 | Coffee: A Dark History | History buffs | Amazon |
| 7 | Coffee Dictionary: An A-Z of Coffee | Coffee reference lovers | Amazon |
| 8 | Coffee Life in Japan (Volume 36) | Culture enthusiasts | Thrift Books |
| 9 | Lonely Planet’s Global Coffee Tour | Travelers | Amazon |
| 10 | The New Rules of Coffee | Curious home brewers | Amazon |
| 11 | The New Art of Coffee | Awesome coffee drink recipe book for weird coffee connoisseurs | Amazon |
We also just picked up a copy of James Hoffman’s latest collaboration, The Book of Coffee: A philosophy (written with Julian Baggini). We can’t wait to give this one a read and think it may earn a spot on our top list of coffee books!
Already in love with the illustrations from Mariya Suzuki.
1. The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing — Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed
By James Hoffmann
Get this for: Comprehensive coffee nerdery
The quintessential choice, no list of the best books about coffee is complete without a hat tip to one of modern coffee’s most brilliant minds, James Hoffman.
James Hoffman’s Youtube channel was one of the first coffee-related content I followed and to this day, I never miss a video of his. This man has single-handedly fueled my coffee obsession, leading me to invest significant time and money in a diverse range of coffee brewers, exotic beans, and quirky coffee accessories.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way. :-)
This is his original book, and it explores coffee history, varieties, growing methods, roasting, and preparation with a focus on origin, cataloging the coffees grown in 29 countries.
Pro tip: *Real* coffee nerds would probably like to add a copy of Hoffman’s limited run book, The Best of Jimseven, to their coffee book library. Hoffman has no plans to reprint, and physical copies are hard to get your hands on — some sell on Ebay for hundreds of dollars.
2. Craft Coffee, a Manual
By Jessica Easto
Get this for: This coffee recipe book includes ideas for nearly a dozen brew methods
Start here if you’re looking for a how to make the best coffee at home book. There are recipes, some (accessible) theory and plenty of tips to improve your skills. That said, the book is a bit repetitive, and feels lengthy given its high-level overview.
In the end, I found it to be a worthwhile intro to brewing coffee at home. Plus, it ends with a very handy set of recipes for 10 different brewing methods.
Update: I snagged this follow-up edition from the same author, How to Taste Coffee. In short: I liked it! I think it would make a great gift to someone who aspires to have a better coffee palette.
It’s not overly snobby in its recommendations and actually has good pointers for ways to understand flavor, aroma, and brew nuances in everyday terms. David, as an aspiring “super taster,” really enjoyed it too.
» Learn more: How do you make good coffee at home?
3. The Coffee Book: Barista Tips, Recipes, Beans from Around the World
By Anette Moldvaer
Get this for: Weird and wacky espresso recipes — and cool maps
This coffee recipe book is chock-full of awesome, fantastical, mind boggling concoctions; for example, how about some rum-flavored ice cubes or soy ice cream? I love that it pushes the boundaries of traditional coffee drinks, like adding apples to coffee. One blip is that its recipes are mostly geared towards espresso machine owners. A few more recipes for drip, filter, French press, and kettle coffee would have been a great addition.
I do love how the author included a couple of global coffee brewing methods and equipment, like the Vietnamese phin and Turkish ibrik, which are less common in the West. It adds a diverse (and fun!) international perspective.
I’m planning to use it to trace our coffee beans back to the area of the country of which they’re grown, too. It has interesting maps that highlight where say, Yirgacheffe, is grown in Ethiopia.
It’s a particularly good coffee table book about coffee, if you ask me, as it’s more of a skimmer and a reference book.
4. The Monk of Mokha
By Dave Eggers
Get this for: Inspiration!
The Monk of Mokha is a narrative nonfiction book by Dave Eggers and is a real life, modern, rags-to-riches adventure story. The author reminds us that Yemen was the birthplace of the coffee plant, and that four hundred years ago, the Dutch smuggled coffee plants out of Yemen. These plants were later distributed to places in the coffee belt where the climate led to a better yield.
So in just a few centuries, Yemeni coffee was forgotten about. In 2014, at the time of this story, coffee was still grown in Yemen, but not as an export. So Mokhtar Alkhanshali, a young Muslim Yemeni-American and the story’s protagonist, sees an opportunity to bring Yemeni coffee to the U.S. — even amidst the political turmoil of Yemen.
The book offers a glimpse into the country’s history, the evolution of coffee culture, and the ethical considerations surrounding fair trade and worker compensation. It is a fun way to learn both about coffee’s history and its future — and a page turner, with a couple of philosophy bombs along the way, too.
“Money is ephemeral, moving from person to person, it’s a tool. Don’t let it get into your heart or soul.”
― Dave Eggers, The Monk of Mokha
5. How to Make the Best Coffee at Home
By James Hoffman
Get this for: A beautiful book for an aspiring coffee nerd
This book gets kudos for just ~looking~ really, really good. I’m a sucker for gold foil, hard covers, and shades of green that remind me of fir trees.
This is a well-structured, compact guide to brewing great coffee, and is surprisingly detailed for its length. And, despite the author’s prestige in the coffee space, he does a great job of keeping it accessible (and without a snooty attitude). He can make even the most technical subjects interesting and easy-to-understand.
That said, he still hates on Starbucks, haha.
“As an extreme example, Starbucks’ lightest roast (their Blonde Roast) is darker than anything most speciality companies will ever roast.”
― James Hoffmann, How to Make the Best Coffee at Home
Beyond that, it’s a fantastic exploration of the fundamentals of filter and espresso coffee, peppered with historical tidbits.
6. Coffee: A Dark History
By Anthony Wild
Get this for: The history buff
This is my choice for someone wanting a history of coffee book. Coffee: A Dark History has way less application to home brewing but discusses some fascinating realities of coffee production nonetheless, including the modern-day impact of coffee on global politics, colonialism, economics, slave labor, and the environment (spoiler: it’s not great).
The book meanders quite a bit. It’s not a quick read, but it offers serious food for thought for anyone deeply committed to building their coffee knowledge. The last few chapters, in particular, were intriguing, as the author talks at length about how the free market system (supported by organizations like the IMF, WTO, and World Bank) have ruined the economies of coffee-producing countries.
I did enjoy an early passage of the book, when Wild theorized that the forbidden fruit that tempted Adam and Eve in the Bible might have been coffee beans. It makes sense since the story goes on to claim that the pair had more awareness and were able to think better and faster, no? Ha ha ha
» Learn more: What are the best coffee brewing methods and their differences?
7. Coffee Dictionary: An A-Z of Coffee
By Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, and illustrated by Tom Jay
Get this for: The amazing illustrations (I might hang some in our coffee bar!)
From Arabica to Zambia, I found this reference book a real page-turner.
It contains more than 200 entries, and features lots of little illustrations and artwork throughout. Each subject goes a little in depth (I’d say the longest entries are around 250 words), but not to the point where it becomes long and boring to read.
There are some repetitions, but that’s hard to avoid in the A-Z format. Overall, the book moves briskly and remains focused; I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of small, personal anecdotes.
8. Coffee Life in Japan (Volume 36)
By Merry White
Get this for: Anyone into coffee + Asian cultures
We had to have a book that celebrates Asia on our best coffee books list.
This book is fairly dense, but it makes the case for how coffee came to be a part of the Japanese cultural identity. Starting with the 1800s with traditional tea ceremonies, the author takes us on a delightful journey through time to the trendy cafes of today, exploring the role of coffee in shaping Japanese society.
“The drink that characterized these new spaces quickly became a ‘normal’ beverage: like the café itself, coffee subtly lost its foreignness. Providing what one café historian in Japan calls “dry inebriation,” it was also seen as the drink of thoughtfulness, of solace, and it became associated more than any other drink with being ‘private in public.’”
― Merry White, Coffee Life in Japan
9. Lonely Planet’s Global Coffee Tour
By Lonely Planet Food
Get this for: The traveler in your life
As a self-proclaimed travel AND coffee nerd, it took me all of .000423 seconds to purchase this book for our coffee table.
Each chapter dedicates itself to a different region of the world, exploring its cafe culture by country. Due to its wide scope, this book prioritizes breadth over depth, including only a few spots in each city. This occasionally led to surprising omissions.
Still, if i was going on the world coffee tour of my dreams, I would definitely save room in my suitcase to bring this guide along (despite its large size). If you have a traveler who loves coffee in your life, this would make an awesome gift — especially paired with an AeroPress Go.
This can also scratch the itch for anyone on the hunt for books about coffee shops, as it includes recommendations for your bucket list around the world.
» Learn more: How to build your own travel coffee kit
10. The New Rules of Coffee
By Jordan Michelman, Zachary Carlsen
Get this for: Its size (it packs a punch)
The founders behind Sprudge are cool in my book!
This is an informative guide for anyone who’s ever wondered why their home brew just doesn’t quite hit the spot. From the basics of bean selection to the nuances of brewing methods, the authors cover a lot of ground — and even leave room for colorful illustrations.
IMO, whether you’re looking to elevate your home brewing game or simply satisfy your curiosity, “The New Rules of Coffee” is a worthy addition to your bookshelf.
» Learn more: Shop other great gifts for coffee lovers
11. The New Art of Coffee
We were able to visit the author’s coffee shop, Discourse, in Chicago, IL, a few weeks ago and let’s just say — it super wow’d us! The quality was next level, and they had fun things on their menu like corn milk and sous vide cold brew that is brewed at 140 degrees.
It also had… a ramen (yes, that ramen) latte. And another awesome smoked latte we loved called Channel Orange. We’re delighted we can make this drink at home thanks to this awesome book about coffee!
Other Great Coffee Books
- The World Atlas of Coffee – 3rd edition, by James Hoffman (You can buy a signed copy here)
- The Book of Coffee: A Philosophy by Julian Baggini, James Hoffmann, and Mariya Suzuki (available for pre-order)
- The Coffee Chronicles: A Deep Journey into the Alchemy, Obsession, and Global Empires of Coffee by Josh Lee
- Coffee Art by Dhan Tamang
- How to Taste Coffee: Develop Your Sensory Skills and Get the Most Out of Every Cup by Jessica Easto
- Coffee Lovers, A Coffee Photography Book: by Christopher L. Smith
- Coffee for Here: The Ultimate Handbook for At-Home Coffee Enthusiasts by Morgan Eckroth
Bonus: Consider a Coffee Booklet
We love this colorful, coffee-patterned lined notebook for taking notes about the different coffees we try—or even just to take notes about life. (Though I must admit, my penmanship is getting harder and harder to read!).
If you want a more luxury version, something more akin to a keepsake, consider this leather-bound coffee tasting journal on Etsy.
What Books About Coffee Did We Miss?
So there’s my list of favorite coffee books, each offering unique insights into the history, culture, and science of coffee.
If you’ve come across a book about coffee that you love and want me to see, please get in touch!
Here’s a recap:
- For legit coffee nerds, nothing beats The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffmann
- Craft Coffee, a Manual by Jessica Easto is a great starter coffee book
- The Coffee Book: Barista Tips, Recipes, Beans from Around the World by Anette Moldvaer
- For a good coffee table book that works overtime: Coffee Dictionary: An A–Z of Coffee by Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood
- The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers
- How to Make The Best Coffee At Home by James Hoffmann
- For books on history of coffee, consider Coffee: A Dark History by Anthony Wild
- Coffee Life in Japan by Merry White is close to ~coffee literature~
- Lonely Planet’s Global Coffee Tour by Lonely Planet Food
- The New Rules of Coffee by Jordan Michelman & Zachary Carlsen
- To make epic craft lattes or coffee cocktails at home, check out the New Art of Coffee by Ryan Castelaz
The Home Barista by Tom Saxon. I’m a little biased as I’m his business partner :) However it’s a great read and is a perfect book for – well – home baristas. Let me know if we can send you a copy!
Hello! I would like to offer for your consideration my novel, The Trier. I call it a novel which it surely is, but I also weave in coffee facts and history in a way the entertains and informs the more casual coffee lover. Since the novel, and those to follow, defy simple categorization, I came up with the term coffee magic realism. If you would like a copy to see for yourself, I can send you a free copy via media mail. Just need a mailing address. Thanks! Jerry