How to make really good coffee is a book for coffee lovers who want to know more and make even better coffee. It gives a brief outline of how and where coffee is grown and processed and then ‘spills the beans’ on how to get the best cup your chosen equipment can provide — whether you use a plunger, filter, stovetop or full-blown espresso machine.
Caffe L’affare first produced this book for the baristas who take a short training course with them. Then the book was developed for the general market and the home user. Now it has been expanded to add further info on coffee tasting, production sustainability and the roasting process, along with hot tips, new step-by-step preparations, an all-encompassing glossary and a bright new look.
I’m liking
This is a real book that’s made to be used, knocked around, have coffee spilled on it and keep referred back to over and over it. It’s artfulness and neat photography doesn’t limit it to being one of those that live only on a coffee table.
It has stacks of information for those who want to start from the very beginning, or might like a little more detail for how they’re already doing things.
There were “aha!” moments throughout in how they explain things with clear steps alongside photos. It’s modernised to incorporate new techniques (and their specifics) but still emphasises the importance of the traditional. Hot tip: many years ago it was the original version that taught me to leave plunger coffee to stand for 4 minutes before pressing.
The conclusion
Heartily recommended. The book has improved well over the years and is one of the best coffee making books out there. It continues to offer a robust handbook while still fizzing with inspiration and ideas.
Cafe L’affare are a home grown success story. They continue to make themselves known as some of the best on a bigger scale- and in a real life, helpful “how to” way. I see this becoming a favourite next to kettles and in messy kitchens, thumbed through for ideas like Edmonds cookbooks. I know I’ll be buying future copies as gifts, especially for friends and family overseas.
