The Art of War the Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee
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The brewing instructions were pretty skilful, but they might daunt a reader who'southward simply curious about making better coffee and isn't yet willing to invest a lot of time and money. I think The Joy of Coffee is both more useful and more than accessible. Come back to The Blue Bottle Craft if and when y'all're ready for more than.
Some of the stories about Blue Bottle's business organization we
This book is a mix of general education about coffee, advice on how to make java, the history of Blue Bottle, and baking recipes.The brewing instructions were pretty good, but they might daunt a reader who's simply curious about making better coffee and isn't yet willing to invest a lot of time and coin. I call up The Joy of Coffee is both more useful and more accessible. Come dorsum to The Bluish Canteen Craft if and when y'all're ready for more.
Some of the stories about Bluish Bottle's business organisation were interesting, but they come up across as kind of total of themselves. There's a long paragraph that treats beingness awake at 5:30 AM to get-go roasting java as some kind of of import philosophical deed. Puh-lease.
...more thanThis book turned out to exist a testament neither to James Freeman, (self confessed hero of his own story in this volume) nor to the Bluebottle enterprise, (his tweaky / high-end java chain), but --- to the ability of the cyberspace, the kind of
Warning, this is about obsessive, extreme caffeine practices, and might non audio entirely reasonable to the occasional passerby. Just if you grind and mash your ain java, fresh for every cup you lot brand, if you've maybe even roasted your own, come up along . . .This book turned out to be a testament neither to James Freeman, (self confessed hero of his own story in this book) nor to the Bluebottle enterprise, (his tweaky / high-end coffee chain), but --- to the ability of the net, the kind of person that uses it, and its obsessive user groups acting independently. Who turn up and turn out more than data-- at no cost or obligation-- than whatever 'enthusiast' book, store or scene tin can possibly compete with.
Over the years, I've come up around in my own coffee brewing, to a very happy and simple conception of what makes great coffee happen in my kitchen. But information technology hasn't been a simple solution. Since the onset of the coffee-drinking era equally a teenager, I've been following new developments and old-schoolhouse renaissance movements in coffee culture; this wasn't because I'1000 then very progressive in outlook, but because the level of java quality in America is then drastically uneven. Anyone who ever got a glimpse over and above the grim, faded façade of the Maxwell House . . . knew there could be a better future. The odds of getting proper coffee in this country, outside of hipster sanctuaries, and even in 2013, is at best a 5o/5o proposition. Anyone who's had a long wait at the trouble has had to take the procedure into their own hands, or flip the coin.
Long before there was a starbucks on every corner, the Italian methods came to the States by way of the Footling Italys of the country, and the urban hip-zones, going dorsum to the fifties. If you were outside of that loop y'all got sparse, objectionable, burnt coffee. For me the answer has been a long journey of invested resources and time. Cut to the present, and after hundreds of dollars in espresso machines (okay, more than), thousands of hours of happy practice, and uncounted pounds of coffee . . . some interested nosing-around on the internet led to something where y'all didn't fifty-fifty utilise a motorcar.
Rather than outlining my search, I'd suggest googling "blossom" or pour-over brewing, and paying attention to anything that references the Japanese methods, like the 'Hario' or 'Nel' ways of doing coffee. For me the flower came early on, long earlier the Hario, simply it is largely the same thing, a careful, slow conception of what is basically a "drip" methodology. And without steam, chrome machines, timers, valves, pressure-gauges or cocky-important baristas pulling levers and looking imitation-casual.
(Worth it here to annotation, I'chiliad not suggesting that a Flower or Pour-Over is the same as an Espresso or Cappuccino, or necessarily fifty-fifty replaces those archetype java types. I'm simply saying that for me, the concept of "Cup Of Coffee" is taken to considerable, subtle new heights via the basic blossom thing, even to the extent of non caring if I ever get near those frothy icons ever again. Anybody's mileage varies, only this fundamentally primitive method takes h2o, coffee, and a bit of paper or flannel --and makes something unbelievably sophisticated.)
Having gone down all that road I rarely fifty-fifty option upwards books about coffee, and if it weren't for Blue Canteen's renown in the Pour-Over earth, would not take cracked this ane either. And funny affair. Other than a few odd factoids, I kind of already knew just nigh everything on offer hither in The Blue Bottle Arts and crafts Of Java. It should be emphasized that in that location is valuable info here, and some of information technology may fifty-fifty exist startling for the coffee novice. Simply I found this surprisingly complimentary of any truly unusual info, and certainly anything of use here tin can also exist institute on the net.
Strange, actually, that these methodologies, something so old-school and retro / analog / dare-nosotros-say-information technology-genuinely-hip--- can be establish for the price of a google search. No late nights, no San Francisco alleyway haunts, no Greenwich village or Tokyo adventures required. Information technology'south just out at that place, in the infinite ether, where cats are grumpy but emoticons wink, and coffee is ever the fuel.
__________
*** Note to Mr Freeman, do delight finish using the word "delicious" in every paragraph. It stopped feeling casual or cute most 3oo iterations early, mayhap around when yous branched into also saying "deliciousness". No large deal, only please.
Having cutting his proverbial teeth on roasting, a
Beingness more than a coincidental coffee drinker, I've read a lot on the subject field over the years and while I know that what I know is more the boilerplate person, it is nevertheless quite express. This book confirmed that "quite" office of my limits! Let's call this book extreme java. Don't misunderstand, it'due south clearly a passion for Freeman and it shows in his writing...and he has a wealth of noesis that he skillfully condensed for the reader. An ambition whetter.Having cut his proverbial teeth on roasting, and made his living since 2002 doing that, Freeman talks a lot about information technology - even offering a dwelling method. He discusses varietals, more than as a overview than a treatise. And his examples of his descriptions of some of his company's roasts are quite the imagery. He discusses many dissimilar brewing methods (the details might be a bit much for the casual drinker), concentrating on the ins and outs of espresso. I had to express mirth at the chapter/section championship for the single loving cup travesty: "A SPECIAL Place IN HELL: POD Coffee".
So other than the nuances and incredibly specific details, I learned that
Japan's coffee culture is one of the most refined in the world, and information technology has had a huge influence on what we do a lot Blue Bottle [his visitor].
I also learned that the Starbucks, et al, really don't know how to brand a macchiato (okay, I already did know, but not to the gram level...) And I learned that melting chocolate with water is richer than milk. That's from the 2d half, which is all about things to eat with coffee. Lots of recipes.
Recommended for the coffee drinker who wants more in the toolbox and for anyone with a thirst...for knowledge.
...more thanofc Freeman knows a lot about coffee, and he is perhaps The Guy when information technology comes to third-wave coffee in the bay area
his pretentiousness kinda irked me (like cmon yous don't have to reference Proust or Bergman dude) just i actually loved his trans-sensory descriptions of java. his musical analogies when describing coffee were especially interesting
the book covers a skilful spread of knowledge. there were some things that i wish he'd aggrandize on more (eg why no single-shot baskets??)
yeah it's pretty goodofc Freeman knows a lot most coffee, and he is perchance The Guy when it comes to third-wave java in the bay area
his pretentiousness kinda irked me (like cmon you don't accept to reference Proust or Bergman dude) simply i actually loved his trans-sensory descriptions of coffee. his musical analogies when describing coffee were especially interesting
the volume covers a good spread of knowledge. there were some things that i wish he'd expand on more (eg why no unmarried-shot baskets??) but in general this is a solid introductory coffee book
i skipped the recipes sorry
...more thanI begged and begged them to let me try the coffee, and after my prolonged entrada, they finally let me take a sip. Of course, I was repulsed. I couldn't believe how terrible it tasted compared to how good it smelled. It turns out that the whoosh of java aroma coming from the can was the best moment that the coffee had. The maximally cheap, underdeveloped, preground coffee never had a chance of tasting good. This experience s folio 4 | location 58-63 | Added on Wednesday, 27 August 2014 23:39:59
I begged and begged them to permit me try the coffee, and afterward my prolonged campaign, they finally allow me take a sip. Of course, I was repulsed. I couldn't believe how terrible it tasted compared to how good it smelled. It turns out that the whoosh of coffee olfactory property coming from the tin was the all-time moment that the java had. The maximally cheap, underdeveloped, preground coffee never had a chance of tasting practiced. This experience stayed with me much longer than it would take had the coffee been delicious—the tension between smelling something great and having information technology taste horrible gnawed abroad at me over the years. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was supposed to be more to the feel of drinking java.
page 16 | location 239-244 | Added on Wednesday, 27 August 2014 23:59:fourteen
The ideal growing conditions for arabica coffee are a constant moderate temperature, a latitude betwixt approximately 10 degrees north and south of the equator, and an altitude approximately three,000 anxiety to 6,000 feet (915 m to 1,830 m), though coffee is grown successfully at lower altitudes. The higher the java is grown, the more slowly it develops and the denser the beans become, which can create more interesting flavors. Much like vino grapes grown under "stressful" atmospheric condition in neat growing regions, the challenge of altitude forces coffee plants to focus their energy on developing seeds, rather than more extensive vegetative growth, which would be the constitute's inclination under less stressful circumstances.
folio 17 | location 258-259 | Added on Th, 28 Baronial 2014 00:01:46
Yields average around 2 to 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.four kg) of green coffee per tree per twelvemonth. Each 100 pounds (45 kg) of coffee cherries results in nearly xx pounds (9.i kg) of green java.
folio 22 | location 327-329 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 00:09:24
Whether out of economic constraints or the desire for a simple, delicious, muted flavor profile, Italian coffee companies have been putting time and energy into the conscientious evolution and maintenance of their espresso blends for decades.
folio 22 | location 333-336 | Added on Thursday, 28 Baronial 2014 00:10:36
However, espresso extraction tends to increase the perception of acidity and torso and mute funky qualities. So 1 of the reasons espresso extraction evolved is that Italians figured out how to utilize pocket-size ingredients to brand something delicious, the aforementioned way they reinvented bones cornmeal into polenta and, when they had no chocolate, created gianduja using sugar, cocoa powder, and hazelnuts.
page 27 | location 406-409 | Added on Th, 28 August 2014 21:34:36
The rapid growth of Brazilian coffee farming in the nineteenth century, which caused massive deforestation, also led to Brazil'due south near domination of the market. The country produced 80 percentage of the world's coffee for a fourth dimension in the early on 1900s, a number that has since fallen to around 30 pct. Coffee played a huge role in the industrialization of Brazil.
folio 28 | location 425-427 | Added on Th, 28 August 2014 21:36:48
Brazilian coffee tends to have a softer, more than muted flavour than those grown at higher elevations, and this quality is heightened by natural and pulped natural processing. It has a lovely, round, gentle quality and is rarely strident. Information technology has sweetness—molasses and sugary tones—without many fruity notes. Good Brazilian coffee is comforting, likable, and seldom polarizing.
page 46 | location 701-704 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 21:56:xx
Roasting is, by definition, manipulation. While the quality of the raw materials helps determine the quality of the finished product, roasting is about making choices: which qualities in a coffee do you desire to highlight, and which do y'all desire to suppress? When I cup our java, I think about pleasure and context: Is this coffee succulent and interesting? Are we bringing out an appropriate flavor for the context intended for it? Have we failed to elicit something potentially appealing?
folio 51 | location 773-776 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 22:04:53
For every varietal, you want to find the drop temp that enhances the qualities that make that particular coffee special. For example, distance tin correlate with density, and denser, high-height coffees, say from Ethiopia, often taste better when roasted with a higher driblet temperature. On the other hand, a lower-elevation coffee from Brazil tin't take equally much rut, so you would driblet the Brazil at a lower temperature than the Ethiopian.
folio 57 | location 867-869 | Added on Th, 28 August 2014 22:fifteen:16
As a coffee roaster, your life is divided in roughly 17-minute segments—plenty time to load the green java, roast it, dump it, absurd information technology, and transport information technology on its way. That means y'all have about xx-5 chances in an average solar day, 125 chances in a calendar week, and 6,500 chances a yr to brand something beautiful.
page 58 | location 875-879 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 22:xvi:32
Java has a life span: afterward beingness roasted, it gets more interesting for up to nine days after roasting—fuller, more complex, and generally more enjoyable. Later that time, there's an inevitable decline. Java oxidizes. The flavors become less vibrant, and eventually the coffee tastes slow. Information technology's stale. In that location'southward really nothing yous tin can do about it. Darker roasts are more perishable. Those tend to take a palpable decline inside seven days subsequently being roasted. Lighter roasts take longer to go to their peak and to become stale, particularly calorie-free roasts of dense, well-harvested,
folio 59 | location 901-903 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 22:19:24
(Aside from colour, another manner to appraise when java is roasted to a medium level is if oil is visible, like lilliputian pivot pricks, on the surface of the beans 5 to half dozen days afterward roasting, but of course you lot can't utilise that indicator while roasting.)
page 77 | location 1178-1180 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 22:53:08
Darker-roasted coffees generally benefit from narrower, or tighter, brewing ratios (meaning smaller amounts of water per a given amount of coffee). They also benefit from larger particle size, more recent roasting, and lower-temperature water.
folio 77 | location 1180-1183 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 22:53:48
For two of the most popular blends Blue Bottle serves, which are on the darker side, we like a 10-to-1 brewing ratio on the second through 5th day later roasting, with 188°F (87°C) h2o. In dissimilarity, with dumbo, very high-distance, meticulously harvested and candy single-origin coffees roasted very lightly, we've constitute that a wider brewing ratio, hotter h2o, and a longer residue fourth dimension draws
folio 78 | location 1194-1197 | Added on Th, 28 August 2014 22:55:x
generally like a total brewing fourth dimension of 3 to 3½ minutes, which works out to most 1.v seconds per milliliter. While it'southward fairly obvious that yous can vary the extraction rate past the speed at which you pour, grind size is also a factor. A finer grind will excerpt more slowly, regardless of the rate at which you pour. Extraction will also be slower if you're using a grinder that produces a lot of fines, powdery particles that tin can clog the pores of the filter.
page 79 | location 1205-1206 | Added on Thursday, 28 Baronial 2014 22:56:ten
Generally, water that is between 190°F and 205°F (88°C and 96°C) yields the all-time results, just experimenting is a fun part of the process. As a rule, the longer the extraction catamenia, the lower the water temperature should be. Otherwise yous risk oestrus damaging the java.
page 83 | location 1259-1263 | Added on Thursday, 28 August 2014 23:03:00
Can you pour twice the weight of the footing java amount without any dripping? 1.75 times? ii.25 times? You tin accept satisfaction from doing this well, but it isn't but a geeky fine signal; information technology has an touch on on the coffee you lot brew. It facilitates blooming, the process in which hot water causes the coffee to expand outward in a fascinating way. Allow it to bloom for 30 to 45 seconds, or up to 60 seconds for coffee roasted over ane week previously. A slightly longer blooming time can add together a lot of depth and vitality to older coffee.
page 124 | location 1887-1890 | Added on Fri, 29 August 2014 xvi:02:52
What critics of the current country of Italian java often ignore is what the country has achieved, which is nearly-universal adequacy. At almost any café in Italy, you can balance bodacious that the coffee will be at worst bully, and at best pretty darn good. This isn't faint praise; this is really a glorious achievement—one that's hard to imagine occurring anywhere else on the planet. ...more than
But, believe it or non, this book is more focused on things other than Granola. Information technology is part autobiography, part love story, function mad human being's coffee manifesto and part melt book. It is wrapped into a beautifully bound, wonderfully photographed volume which I found to be highly enjoyable. While I may never spend the hours (and thousands of dollars) in learning to pull a perfect espresso shot I have new respect for those that value the fine art. And while I may value the convenience of my drip coffee maker over mastering the perfect cascade over technique and coffee to h2o ratio I have a new agreement of what makes coffee great and how to make mine better.
I seldom "read" my cookbooks just I was captured by this one and that is a good thing. Highly recommended for the coffee or granola lover in your life, especially if that person is yourself.
...moreStill, information technology'south definitely inspired me to seek out some actually expert coffee, and I bookmarked several of the cookie recipes. :-) If you think coffee is admittedly the near important affair in the world, this book is for you! If not, I all the same recommend it but you might demand to put it down once in a while and roll your optics simply the tiniest scrap.
Still, it's definitely inspired me to seek out some actually skillful coffee, and I bookmarked several of the cookie recipes. :-) ...more than
I think the first one-half w
At terminal I found answers to many of my questions. Since 2 years agone, I take been trying to make latte art at dwelling house (with a lot of progress and not the kind of success I expected). This book was helpful to some extent. I accept recently paid more attending to the origins of coffee beans and the roasting methods. This book shed a lot of lite. I have also tried to roast java at dwelling house, which was not much of a success. This book helped me find a lot about my roasting mistakes.I think the starting time half was dense in information. I found the second half somehow diluted and verbose.
If you like coffee and enjoy it, you might enjoy it fifty-fifty more and get deeper into information technology with this book (the book is not a requirement for enjoying coffee, though it helps a lot with understanding the countless number of factors impacting the experience).
Below I am bringing some notes I take taken from this volume:
"java should preferably be consumed within a yr of harvest, though that tin can vary depending upon how information technology'south packed, shipped, and stored."
"The ideal growing conditions for arabica java are a constant moderate temperature, a latitude between approximately 10 degrees north and south of the equator, and an altitude approximately 3,000 feet to 6,000 feet (915 m to i,830 yard), though java is grown successfully at lower altitudes. The higher the coffee is grown, the more slowly information technology develops and the denser the beans go, which tin can create more interesting flavors."
"Yields boilerplate around 2 to 3 pounds (0.nine to one.iv kg) of greenish coffee per tree per twelvemonth. Each 100 pounds (45 kg) of java cherries results in nigh 20 pounds (ix.ane kg) of light-green java."
"The 2 main processing styles used in the coffee industry are done, as well called moisture, and natural, also called dry. Washed beans are done or soaked in h2o to remove the outer lurid before drying, whereas natural processing means the beans remain in the cherry for drying."
"Natural processing also results in coffee with more torso and less acidity."
"If the beans rest in the wet fruit for too long, the fruit volition ferment and go moldy or impart a sour, yeasty gustation to the java, so frequent raking is necessary during the drying flow, which ordinarily lasts effectually three weeks."
"Brazilian coffee tends to have a softer, more muted flavor than those grown at higher elevations, and this quality is heightened past natural and pulped natural processing. It has a lovely, circular, gentle quality and is rarely strident. It has sweetness—molasses and sugary tones—without many fruity notes. Good Brazilian coffee is comforting, likable, and seldom polarizing."
"The Maillard reaction is the type of reaction that causes meat to brown or colors the crust on bread. Information technology involves a reaction between carbohydrate molecules and amino acids and produces more savory umami flavors than sweetness."
"Caramelization occurs at college temperatures than the Maillard reaction and involves but carbohydrate molecules. Paradoxically, increased caramelization results in decreasing sweetness merely increasing complexity."
"Darker roasts are more than perishable. Those tend to have a palpable turn down inside seven days afterward being roasted. Lighter roasts accept longer to get to their height and to become stale, especially light roasts of dense, well-harvested, well-processed, high-elevation coffee."
"Ground coffee is even more fragile. Espresso dulls xc seconds after being ground. Courser grinds last a little longer: twenty minutes to an hr."
"The great part almost cupping java is that it allows you to discover that it isn't difficult to differentiate among coffees."
"Siphon coffee is the most theatrical of all brewing methods."
"Let's be real: making espresso at home is expensive, difficult, and fourth dimension-consuming. Struggling to be improve at something makes united states better people. Parenting, graduating from college, running a marathon, edifice a house with your ain easily—these are all difficult activities, activities that no i should talk us out of just because they're difficult. And perhaps making a actually great espresso, although a pocket-sized try, belongs on the listing of things that nosotros probably will never practice perfectly simply will benefit from in the attempt to do and so. In other words, peradventure it'south worthy of our time, resources, and attention."
...more
"Generally, what nosotros are looking for with our blends is an espresso that is thick, sweet, caramelly, and circuitous, with a subtle effulgence that never crosses the line to strident just besides isn't overly delicate."
Read this book if y'all're really passionate about java. Skip it if yous dislike demeaning, judgmental snobbery. ...more
I wish at that place were more to read on the java civilization and history, globally or even simply in the The states, bu
Decent introduction to coffee from beans to brews, written with such a visible passion that renders its attending to details rigor and expertise rather than pretension and snobbery. Sometimes though, there are and then many details that information technology tin can scare away ordinary coffee drinkers and even those who would like to take a pace further, but by no means have the intention or resources to get an adept.I wish there were more to read on the java culture and history, globally or even simply in the US, but this may have exceeded the scope of the book that the author has.
I didn't have a chance to try the recipes withal (which takes up more than a third of the content). Partially considering I wish that these recipes had focused on what to brand with coffee, not some random stuff as presented in this book. Like, why a braised boar shoulder recipe?
...moreRead
Once you read one coffee book yous really have read them all. While I was looking for tips on espresso, this book was some other full general overview of the process, roasting, and making of coffee with nada special in information technology as well the author'south snark. Something hilarious with the author stating that espresso is simultaneously too hard for the average person to get but also non complicated enough for people to be interested in. It later on devolves into a recipe book in order to just fill in the pages.Read The Earth Atlas of Coffee past Hofmann for coffee info without the snark
...moreExtra stars for the imaginative writing, like the line on aspirational geeky personality type who would like espresso machines which are simple machines yet giving the impression of beingness much more complicated 3.5 for this. The book went into full-fledged recipes towards the 2 nd half which i hadn't expected. But yet I did gather knowledge on coffee vairieties and technicalities which was my purpose of reading the volume.
Extra stars for the imaginative writing, similar the line on aspirational geeky personality blazon who would like espresso machines which are simple machines still giving the impression of beingness much more complicated ...more
Recommended for the SF local, the coffee enthusiast and any future barista or a buffet possessor.
An interesting read about The Blue Bottle Coffee Co. On how it grew from 'ground' upward, to where it is today. The initial chapters give a charming introduction to the business organization. I learned some smashing things around the origin of coffee and some tricks to brewing a good loving cup of coffee ☕️.Recommended for the SF local, the coffee enthusiast and any future barista or a cafe owner.
...moreThe baking section was definitely recipes.
This book was useful in showing me exactly how much i don't know near coffee. Considering I'g an insufferable food person, I actually wish that I went more in depth about varietals and blending, but I also imagine that in that location is a lot of sensory information that is easier to feel than write about.The baking section was definitely recipes.
...moreThis is an individual's approach to speciality coffee and another individual's take on baking and cooking based on their expriences, learnings, travels, and most chiefly, intuitions.
And in my opinion, they are doing cute things.
Not as well geeky for a coffee nerd, much too elaborate for a lay man.This is an individual'due south approach to speciality coffee and another individual's have on baking and cooking based on their expriences, learnings, travels, and most chiefly, intuitions.
And in my opinion, they are doing beautiful things.
...moreThe Blue Canteen story reads similar minor business 101 with obvious business organization steps treated like the dawning of a new horizon of business behaviour. Aught actually nigh how they patterned their coffee ☕️ to the customer.
Very good overall read, would advice to anyone who is in to coffee
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