What Books Should You Read to Learn About Coffee? Which Book is Most Useful for Barista Beginners and Advanced Learners?

When it comes to learning about coffee, you can actually find entry points everywhere in daily life. You can search for information online, such as reading FrontStreet Coffee's articles, or you can go to coffee shops to interact with baristas, or watch a coffee-related movie. Of course, if you want to achieve a "quick learning" effect in a short time, it's also possible to directly pay for a class to learn.

But no matter which path you choose to get started, as long as you hold the ambition to become a professional barista one day, reading is indispensable. A good coffee book can not only lead us more easily into the interesting world of coffee but also answer the difficult questions encountered during hands-on operations. A suitable good coffee book is more helpful for us to efficiently consolidate the basic coffee knowledge framework and more scientifically understand the delicious beverage in our hands.

Below, FrontStreet Coffee, based on our exclusively curated book list, from entry to advanced levels, will introduce those books suitable for coffee lovers to read carefully and worth learning.

Basic Coffee Book List

"You Don't Know Coffee"

Author: Tomohiro Ishiwaki

This is a picture book that FrontStreet Coffee read before becoming a barista. The content is quite suitable for beginners and is known as a "must-read classic for coffee enthusiasts." The author relatively comprehensively introduces the origin and production of coffee. The knowledge in the book is simple and easy to understand, and it's accompanied by many hand-drawn illustrations, making it more relaxed to read.

"The World Atlas of Coffee" (Second Edition)

Author: James Hoffmann

Coffee shop explorers should often see this book. It was written by James Hoffmann, the 2007 WBC champion. The book comprehensively describes knowledge related to coffee beans and also covers introductions to major coffee-producing countries across three continents. It's a reading material that can be consulted at any time and is suitable for people who already have a certain basic understanding and knowledge of coffee to fill in knowledge gaps.

"Maruyama Coffee's Specialty Coffee Studies"

Author: Shibata Shoten

As the founder of Maruyama Coffee, Kentaro Maruyama has proactively delved into coffee planting origins since entering the industry, contacting the source of specialty coffee, and pioneered a business model of direct trade with coffee farmers. This book is not thick. It mainly introduces how Maruyama Coffee implements the "seed to cup" philosophy, from coffee bean procurement to roasting, brewing, serving, sales, and other aspects of participation. Reading it is like watching a movie that leaves a lasting impression.

"Craft Coffee: A Manual"

Authors: Jessica Easto & Andreas Willhoff

This is a practical guide mainly focused on coffee brewing. The book is not thick and can provide answers to many extraction problems. Compared to other coffee reading materials, this book is more lightweight and portable.

"How to Make the Best Coffee at Home"

Author: James Hoffmann

Actually, FrontStreet Coffee acquired this book not long ago. Author Hoffmann introduces the current mainstream coffee brewing methods from the perspective of a professional barista, allowing you to more efficiently unlock various high-quality daily coffees at home. The language in the book is close to conversational style, very much like his previous video style, so it won't feel boring to read.

Essential Reading List for Entering and Advancing in the Industry

"Coffee Bean Hunter" & "Coffee Bean Hunter 2"

Author: Xu Baolin

I believe you can feel from the title that the content of these two books must be inseparable from the cultivation origins of specialty coffee beans. They record the author's observations and insights during bean hunting in Africa, Central and South America, providing readers with a close-up view of coffee farmers' operations, experiences, and the stories behind them. The content is interesting without lacking professionalism and can completely serve as travel reading, suitable for every coffee practitioner and enthusiast to read.

"Specialty Coffee Studies" (Upper and Lower Volumes)

Author: Han Huaizong

This book is divided into upper and lower volumes, both quite thick, known as the "coffee encyclopedia." It not only contains strong professional content but also has a considerable amount of coffee-related knowledge, making it a must-read for practitioners. The upper volume mainly introduces the origins of the three coffee waves, a brief history of coffee, as well as common varieties and main origins of coffee beans. The lower volume explains in detail a series of industry content such as coffee tasting, cupping, flavor wheel, and basic extraction techniques, worth repeated reading and understanding.

"Coffee Equation"

Authors: Mamoru Taguchi & Yoshihiro Tanabe

This is a professional coffee book co-authored by coffee theorist Mamoru Taguchi and another scientist specializing in microbiology and genetics. It explains how a good cup of coffee is extracted in the form of "scientific evidence + empirical rules." The only drawback is that since this book adopts vertical printing, it can be somewhat strenuous to read.

"Falling in Love with Pour-Over Coffee"

Authors: Mamoru Taguchi & Koichi Yamada

This book focuses on explaining the logic and techniques of pour-over coffee, very suitable for coffee lovers who plan to make coffee at home or improve their brewing skills. It also uses vertical printing, so friends accustomed to horizontal printing will need to spend some time adjusting.

"The Science of Coffee Aroma"

Author: Cui Luoyan

Many people fall deeply in love with coffee, inseparable from the aroma it emits. This book systematically explains the secrets of aroma using scientific principles, exploring thousands of aromatic compounds in coffee beans, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of how aroma is produced, operates, and changes, making the flavor of specialty coffee no longer "mystical."

Coffee Professional Extension Book List

"Fourth Wave Specialty Coffee Studies"

Author: Han Huaizong

This should be the thickest book mentioned in this article, and also a high-value professional coffee book. The only drawback is that it's too heavy to hold while reading. At a time when the fourth wave of coffee has taken shape, the author provides in-depth interpretations from four modules: new varieties, new origins, new post-processing methods, and roasting & gold cup. It can be said that the entire book is full of valuable content.

"The Coffee Roaster's Companion" & "Espresso Extraction: Measurement and Mastery" & "The Professional Barista's Handbook"

Author: Scott Rao

Known as the "master roaster" and also an author, Scott Rao is a household name in the coffee circle. These books interpret the principles behind coffee roasting and brewing processes from a scientific perspective, concisely explaining coffee brewing systems. The content is concise, highly professional, and aimed at all coffee enthusiast groups. However, among these three books, some chapters were edited years ago, and some details might have certain discrepancies with current industry practices, so we need to judge objectively when reading.

"The Physics of Coffee"

Author: Jonathan Gagne

The author of this book likes to think about the principles of coffee brewing. From the perspective of physics and water chemistry, he deeply explores issues related to coffee osmosis, extraction, grinding, and other practical aspects of brewing. It's a coffee brewing reading material based on scientific logic, suitable for friends transitioning from enthusiasts to professional players.

Of course, besides the book list compiled by FrontStreet Coffee this time, there are many other good books about the coffee industry and brewing knowledge, which won't be elaborated on one by one here. Finally, happy reading to everyone.

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