Coffee For Dummies

Get the skinny on your morning joe

Do you swear by your morning jolt of caffeine but are hard-pressed to tell a siphon from a slow dripper? No problem: just order a fresh copy of Coffee For Dummies for a smooth blend of fun facts and practical advice to give an extra shot of flavor to your appreciation of the second-most valuable commodity on planet Earth?and filter out all that excess grind in your knowledge.

This warm and welcoming serving from passionate coffee guru Major Cohen?a Specialty Coffee Association certified instructor, and now retired highly respected former Starbucks coffee educator and program manager?takes you on a rocket-fueled journey from the origins of the liquid bean?s popularity to best ways to prepare and enjoy coffee in your own home. You'll learn how to evaluate the advantages of different coffee styles and makers, and how even the smallest detail?varietal, roast type, texture?can influence how good that cupped lightning tastes on your tongue.

• Evaluate different roasts or brews
• Navigate menus for the best deals
• Learn how to speak ?coffee? and order your half-cap-low-fat-no-sugar-add-whip with confidence
• Save money with the best store apps
• Meet some of the unknown pioneers of coffee that have made our coffee world of today
• See how you might think bigger about your coffee spend changing the world

The average American spends over $1000 on their daily brain juice every year: why not hire Coffee For Dummies as your personal barista and get more for your money?and from each invigorating sip.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Coffee 5

Chapter 1: Demystifying Coffee: Just the Basics 7

Chapter 2: Figuring Out What Coffee Is 21

Part 2: The Story of Coffee 39

Chapter 3: Familiarizing Yourself with Some Coffee History 41

Chapter 4: Taking a Closer Look at Brewing Today 51

Part 3: Taking a Trip around the World 59

Chapter 5: Sourcing Coffee — Digging In to Where Coffee Comes From 61

Chapter 6: Considering the Western Hemisphere 71

Chapter 7: Discussing Africa 97

Chapter 8: Addressing the Eastern Hemisphere and Asia Pacific 111

Part 4: Roasting Coffee 123

Chapter 9: The History of Roasting 125

Chapter 10: Roasting for Flavor 131

Part 5: Preparing Coffee and Espresso 141

Chapter 11: Exploring the Brewing Methods and Mastering the Tricks 143

Chapter 12: Making Espresso Easier 159

Part 6: Perusing Today’s Coffee Business 177

Chapter 13: Meeting Some Coffee Trailblazers 179

Chapter 14: Looking at Where Coffee Is Today 197

Part 7: The Part of Tens 215

Chapter 15: Ten (or So) Myths about Coffee Debunked 217

Chapter 16: Ten (Plus One) Places to Find a Great Cup of Coffee 225

Part 8: Appendixes 237

Appendix A: Glossary 239

Appendix B: Timeline of Key History of Coffee 251

Index 257

Major Cohen, a certified Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) licensed trainer, recently retired from Starbucks. He is a passionate coffee guy who has a unique knack for making the complex and confusing coffee world easily understood.