The World Atlas of Coffee

2nd edition

By: James Hoffmann

Narrated by: James Hoffmann

For everyone who wants to understand more about coffee and its wonderful nuances and possibilities, this is the book to have.


Coffee has never been better, or more interesting, than it is today. Coffee producers have access to more varieties and techniques than ever before and we, as consumers, can share in that expertise to make sure the coffee we drink is the best we can find. Where coffee comes from, how it was harvested, the roasting process and the water used to make the brew are just a few of the factors that influence the taste of what we drink. Champion barista and coffee expert James Hoffmann examines these key factors, looking at varieties of coffee, the influence of terroir, how it is harvested and processed, the roasting methods used, through to the way in which the beans are brewed.


Country by country - from Bolivia to Zambia - he then identifies key characteristics and the methods that determine the quality of that country's output. Along the way we learn about everything from the development of the espresso machine, to why strength guides on supermarket coffee are really not good news. This is the first book to chart the coffee production of over 35 countries, encompassing knowledge never previously published outside the coffee industry.

©2021 James Hoffmann (P)2021 Octopus Publishing Group

Textbook-like, but pleasant

I can certainly see why many people enjoy this author's narration. It is certainly structured in an encyclopedic fashion but it's pretty light fare. It was interesting to learn the history of different producing regions, and it certainly encourages further reading on many of the topics presented. Pretty good overall.

An excellent introduction to the coffees of the world

The World Atlas of Coffee is an excellent guide to specialty coffee, both how to make it and a guide to the various flavors and varieties coffee beans produced around the world.

A great book for lovers of coffee

I have been a fan of James Hoffman for several years. Shamefully, I hadn’t read this book. (Partly this is due to the fact that we have a Chinese language edition in our home — I always said I’d read it once I learned enough Mandarin.) But now I’ve rectified the situation with this fine audiobook. I learned quite a bit about the countries where my coffee is grown and the producers who grow it.

One concern I have about the book is that some of the information is outdated; I suspect the conditions in some coffee-producing countries have changed. I would also like to see a greater emphasis on the effects of climate change, a topic I know Hoffman cares deeply about.

A superb insight into the world of coffee

It’s james Hoffman, what’s not to like. The man could read a shopping list and it would still be great. As it happens this is much more interesting. I’d love it to be more in depth but it’s still great.

Amazing!

Great storytelling, great narrator, everything you love about coffee and James Hoffman and more, the perfect pour-over for your ears. ☕️