Customer Reviews

Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing and Enjoying, Fifth Edition

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

COFFEE : A Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Enjoying. Fifth Edition. By Kenneth Davids. 279 pp. New York : St. Martin's Griffin,
2001. ISBN 0-312-24665-X (pbk).

This is a book for those who, after years of slurping what all too often passes for 'coffee,' and what far too many establishments continue to pretend is 'coffee,' have been blessed by a coffee epiphany. It is for those, in other words, who have finally realized what a sensuous, ravishing, and complete experience a perfect cup of _real_ coffee is, and who would like to learn how to duplicate that experience at will in the comfort of their own home. Brewing up a cup of coffee may seem to most of us to be a relatively simple matter, but what we quickly learn from this book is that, far from being simple, selecting the right type, form, and state of coffee and correctly employing the methods that will produce that perfect cup demand real knowledge and skill; we learn, in short, that a true understanding of coffee opens up an area of connoisseurship every bit as big, or even bigger, than that of wine itself.

Davids' book is truly comprehensive. Besides giving us a fairly detailed history of coffee, from its origins in Arabia (or Ethiopia) through to its latest manifestation in the flavored espressos of the modern mall, the book includes chapters on Buying It, Tasting It, Roasting It, Grinding It, Brewing It, and Serving It. Detailed information is given on the special qualities and characteristics of all coffees of the many regions of the world which produce it (Guatemala; Honduras; Costa Rica; Jamaica; Puerto Rico; Haiti; Colombia; Peru; Brazil; Yemen; Ethiopia; Kenya; Uganda; India; Sumatra; Java; New Guinea; Hawaii, etc.), and on the merits and demerits of the many different methods of brewing and the best utensils for each of them (Open-Pot; French Press or Plunger; Drip Brewing (both with and without filters); Flip-Drip or Neapolitan Macchinetta; Pumping Percolator (now passe and the best way to ruin coffee); Filter-Drip, automatic and otherwise; Concentrate; Middle Eastern or Turkish; Soluble or Instant, etc.). There is also a very full discussion of espresso and just why it produces the ultimate cup.

If you are anything like me you'll quickly realize that you have been doing many things wrong and will be seized with the urge, not only to start using better coffee, but also to start brewing it properly. Although acquiring your very own roasting machine or espresso machine may be a little too ambitious for most of us, you may decide that bringing your coffee at least one stage closer to perfection by buying a grinder and grinding the beans yourself is probably a good idea. If you do so decide, Davids will inform you just why a manual is preferable to an electric grinder (it generates less of the heat that disperses the volatile substances that give flavor to coffee), and where you can buy a good grinder if one isn't locally available. His book, besides containing much else (coffee chemistry, maps, photographs, coffee glossary, etc.), concludes with a list of companies which sell a wide range of the best coffees and coffee paraphernalia and equipment.

There are few perfect pleasures in life. Davids is to be thanked for teaching us how not to spoil one of them.

I WAS a TEA drinker! until I read this book. It was ordered BY MISTAKE in order to qualify for free shipping (thought it was a cup warmer!). I was so annoyed and was about to send it back but - READ it anyway and once started was so intriqued and hankering for real coffee I could smell the aroma right out of the book.
If an author can do that to an avowed tea drinker, and make you run out and buy the best coffee beans and grind them and pour boiling water over the grounds in a strainer with coffee filter until buying a coffee machine when convinced... and DRINK the stuff that does NOT taste like tea but something AMAZING - wow! and bow wow!

Buy this book - whatever you drink now. Read not only all the directions from buying to brewing to drinking, then the history culture and everything connected to Coffee - you're getting the full scope from a first class story teller. (I think I'll go back and read it again, and brew some coffee!)

Through his three books and informative website (...), Ken Davids is a leading expert on coffees of the world. He is also the green bean guru to home coffee roasters everywhere and it is primarily for them this book was designed. For anyone exploring the many pleasures of roasting their own beans, Davids is the only comprehensive guide available, which makes it particularly maddening that the book hasn't been updated in five years. When Davids wrote the book in 1996, home coffee roasting was beginning its rebirth. Today, the sorts of inexpensive, easy-to-use home roasters he long for in the book are finally available but not covered. A quick update could correct information on roaster availability (it's easier than you think, and easier than he says), and sources for unroasted beans (some of his are out of date, and some good ones aren't noted at all). Still, if you want to get started with home roasting, this remains the best book to own. And if you just love coffee, it's a fine second or third book to put on the shelf. But if you love coffee enough to buy a book about it, you really should explore roasting your own beans -- the flavors and fun of it are incomparable.

I bought this book based on the rave reviews, and I wasn't disappointed. If you're a relative newcomer to coffee, or you're bewildered by all the choices of beans and different roasts, then this book is for you. The author clearly has his own opinion of which coffees are best, but he also makes it clear that coffeelovers are different and therefore have different tastes.
This book will explain the difference between coffees from different places, different roasts, methods of processing, methods of grinding and brewing, as well as buying and storing coffee. He details how to make espresso and cappuccino, French press coffee, drip-brew coffee, and many other common and not-so-common methods of brewing. He will tell you how to determine what kind of coffee to get to fit your taste in regard to origin, roast, grind and brew method, as well as teach you about the history and origins of coffee.
I came into the coffee world knowing nothing, and, after reading this book, I now know more about what I'm looking for in coffee than several of the coffee places I've visited. I'm making my own espresso and cappuccino. Overall, my experience with this book has been all positive. I can think of nothing negative to say about it.

I love coffee. I especially love good coffee. This book taught me a lot about how to select and brew good coffee. It is a great resource that I go to often when I want to know the answer to questions such as "what is the difference between a cappacino and a latte?"

This book probably has more information about coffee than most people need, but for coffee geeks it is essential.

For anyone who imbibes coffee on a ritualistic basis, and worships their coffee-pot, Kenneth David's book is your bible. Originally written in 1976 (I have the 1979 third printing which I found for $1 used!), and apparently now on its fifth printing, "Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing and Enjoying" has become quite popular. Previous reviewers have commented on its being slightly out of date, and one even complained about the brown ink print on tan paper! First off, with regards to modern equipment such as high quality grinders and coffee makers, and some information on where to buy coffee, David's guide may be in need of updating (I can't tell you what's in the newer editions). However, none of the important information in the book will ever be obsolete, and in any event, you can satisfy all your modern coffee equipment needs right here on Amazon.com -how convenient! Secondly, I have to say that the brown ink on off-white paper is ideally suited for the topic and quite pleasing to the eye. Since the 1970's gourmet coffee has swept the USA, and every shopping mall, city, and town has at least two or three gourmet coffee shops nearby (often within the same block), and so finding good quality coffee shouldn't be a problem at all. For mail order or retail outlets, I highly recommend Peets Coffee - www.peets.com - which in my opinion is by far the best gourmet coffee available on the market.

Coffee culture is timeless and I think you'll be pleased with the quality of information contained in this book. Each chapter is a "how to" guide on such subjects as the history, purchasing, tasting, roasting, grinding, brewing, serving, and growing of coffee. There is also a section about caffeine, and if you're looking for more in-depth reading about coffee as a "drug", than I suggest finding a copy of Dale Pendell's incredible poetical discourse on "Stimulating Plants, Potions & Herbcraft" entitled, "Pharmako/Dynamis" (Mercury House, 2002). For general reference, or historical curiosity, "Coffee" is both delightful and useful to have laying out on your coffee table, its soon to be tattered and stained pages faithfully awaiting your next coffee ceremony.

Most of the things I said in my review of "The Joy Of Coffee" can be repeated here. The books are similar, but the 2 authors have slightly different information & in some cases different views. For instance one says that reheating with a microwave is OK, the other says no, minor things like that. The print is brown, but is easy to read. As with the other book, the emphasis is on specialty coffee & both authors seem to frown on canned or supermarket coffee. Either book is a very good reference. I like some the drawings, such as the old "general store" type of coffee grinder. I hope Mr. Davids will come out with further editions, as the world of coffee keeps changing. For instance Starbucks made news in 2009 as some of its stores closed because of the recession. As to which book would be better, if you have the money get both of them.

Ken Davids offers a concise, no-nonsense entry into the world of coffee. Of the several dozen coffee books I own (yes I am a junkie), this is the one that I suggest to anyone wanting to really understand all of the basics. Davids has an amiable wit and easy to read style that are very appealing. For more thsn 2 decades earlier versions of this book were a basic training tool for staff in the coffee stores-cafes that we operated (Fantes).

This book is very informative and entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud at certain times. The author discusses every aspect of coffee including the best equipment to buy. Being a coffee roaster and brewer of coffee. I found myself agreeing with most of what the author said. I found myself also feeling a wee bit guilty about being lazy and not truly experiencing the best coffee I could by grinding my beans the night before and setting the timer on the coffee pot. I will definitely be changing how I do things in the future. I will definitely be grinding my coffee beans the morning I drink the coffee from now on. Thank you to Mr. Davids. I can't wait to read his next book. Coffee: The Romance and Revival.

Well organized information about coffee, preparation and pure enjoyment. This would make a great coffee table book! It's written without pretense or snobbishness. After reading the book, I was able to make more informed decisions about the coffees I purchased and how I prepared them.