Coffee Resolution Series #5: Learn More About Coffee
We're wrapping up our Coffee Resolution Series with a look at the many other fascinating aspects of the coffee world and ways that you can educate more than just your palate. Coffee holds a unique place in the world. It is one of the most-traded commodities in the world markets, second only to oil. Commerce in the noble bean is the economic mainstay of dozens of countries and millions of families. Coffee trade was one of the banner industries in the Fair Trade movement and is still the most recognized of the Fair Trade products around the world. Throughout history, coffee houses have served as gathering places for the leaders of thought, industry and revolution. Lloyds of London -- and the modern insurance industry -- and the New York Stock Exchange were both born in coffee houses, as were numerous revolutions. It's not for nothing that many governments -- and even the Catholic Church -- have banned coffee and coffee houses at various points in history. These are just a few of the many places you can learn more about where coffee comes from, how it affects the world -- and how to enjoy it even more.
Some of our favorite reads star coffee in all of its various guises. These are some of our favorites.
You've probably heard about the Ethiopian goatherder and his dancing goats, but you'll never find it told in a more entertaining way than in "Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World". Originally published in 1999, the book was updated in 2010 to reflect the influences of third wave coffee roasters and expanding research into the nature of coffee. Mark Prendergrast focuses on the influence of coffee in the Americas, but it's an entertaining read with a lot of information, making it one of our favorites.
For a lighter read with a travelogue feel and a side-serving of the politics of coffee and a worldwide focus, we highly recommend "The Devil's Cup: History of the World According to Coffee," a highly entertaining read by chef and travel enthusiast Stewart Lee Allen, who journals his trek throughout the world in search of the origins and history of coffee from seed to cup.
Interested in what makes the world of specialty coffee tick? Then you'll love "God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee," in which journalist Michaele Weissman takes a deep dive into the modern-day world of specialty coffee. It includes interviews with shining luminaries in the coffee industry as well as accounts of Weissman's travels to coffee-growing nations. You'll come away with a greater understanding of how the coffee you enjoy is grown, sourced, imported and marketed.
While most coffee periodicals are aimed at professionals in the coffee industry, many of them feature articles that are of general interest to people who simply love coffee. Some of the more popular (and accessible) trade journals include Roast magazine, Fresh Cup magazine and Barista Magazine.
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