I’ve always been a bit of a coffee book nerd, if I’m honest.
Over the years, I’ve accumulated a slightly embarrassing collection of coffee books.
They’re stacked on my bedside table, scattered around the Batch Coffee Club office, and most have been permanently stained with coffee cup rings.
Then in 2024 I decided to give it a go and write one myself.
The Home Barista came out last year, and it’s now stocked in Waterstones, independent bookshops, and coffee shops across the UK and beyond. So yes, full disclosure before we go any further: I wrote one of the books on this list, which means I’m obviously biased about it.
But I’ve also read pretty much every other coffee book worth reading over the last 13 years.
I’ve spent a decade working in coffee (barista in Australia, farms in South America, roasting in the UK, running Batch since 2020), and I’ve bought coffee books for myself, recommended them to mates, and given them as gifts to customers.
So this isn’t “here’s my book and six others I haven’t read.” This is “here’s my book at number one (because obviously), but here are 6 other books I genuinely rate and would recommend depending on what you’re actually after.
BEST coffee books OVERVIEW
Best Book for Home Baristas: The Home Barista by Tom Saxon
Best Technical Deep-Dive: The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffmann
Best Coffee History Book : Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast
Best For Coffee Brewing Book: The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee by James Freeman
Best Book For Coffee Business: What I know About Running Coffee Shops by Colin Harmon
Best for Coffee Recipe Book: Coffee Creations by Celeste Wong
Best Coffee Table Book: The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee by James Freeman
Best Coffee Book For Beginners: The Home Barista by Tom Saxon
AUTHOR: TOM SAXON
Why trust me
I’m Tom Saxon – founder of Batch Coffee Club, author of The Home Barista, and coffee book collector for the past 13 years.
Full disclosure: I wrote one of the books on this list, so I’m obviously biased about that one. But I’ve genuinely read all the others (some multiple times), and I’ve been recommending coffee books to customers and mates since 2012.
This is based on actually reading these books, not skimming Amazon reviews.
What I Mean By “Coffee Books”
Quick clarification: I’m not talking about novels you happen to read while drinking coffee, or generic coffee table books with pretty pictures.
I mean books about coffee itself, its history, science, brewing methods, culture, and the people who grow, roast, and serve it.
Best Coffee Books 2025
Right, let’s get into it. Here’s my countdown of coffee books.
The Home Barista
By Tom Saxon (that’s me)
Published: 2025
Pages: 192
Publisher: Hachette
Price: £14.99
Best for: Anyone who wants to make genuinely good coffee at home.
Buy at Waterstones | Buy from Amazon
Right, elephant in the room: I wrote this book, so obviously I’m going to say it’s brilliant. But let me tell you why I think it’s good, and more importantly, who it’s actually for.
When I sat down to write The Home Barista in 2023 the coffee books market had two extremes: either ultra-technical books that read like PhD theses (complete with water chemistry charts and extraction diagrams), or fluffy coffee table books with nice pictures but bugger all practical information.
I wanted to write something in between a book for people who genuinely want to make better coffee at home, without needing a degree in food science or spending £2000 on equipment.
The Book Covers:
Espresso (dialling in, troubleshooting, milk frothing, latte art), Filter coffee (V60, AeroPress, cafetière, batch brew), Coffee fundamentals (coffee roasting, processing, origins, what actually affects taste), Equipment buying guides (what’s worth spending money on, what’s marketing) and Recipes (not just “how to make a cappuccino” but actual techniques that work).
What Makes It Different
I’ve tried to write the way I actually talk when I’m helping someone make better coffee. No pretentious coffee-speak.
The photography is bloody good too. Styled shots of coffee being made, not just glamour shots of perfect latte art.
Who It’s For
This book is for you if you’ve got a home espresso machine or filter setup and want to get better results. You’re sick of coffee books that either talk down to you or go completely over your head. You want practical, actionable advice, not coffee theory and maybe you’re a home barista (or want to become one) but don’t want to be a coffee snob about it.
It’s NOT for you if:
You’re already a professional barista (you probably know most of this already)or you want an academic deep-dive into coffee science
The Honest Truth
Look, I spent a year writing this book, and I’m genuinely proud of it. But I’m not going to pretend it’s the only coffee book you’ll ever need. If you want deep technical knowledge about coffee origins and varietals, James Hoffmann’s World Atlas is better. If you want coffee history, Antony Wild’s book is more comprehensive.
But if you want a practical, no-bollocks guide to making better coffee at home, written by someone who’s been making coffee professionally for over a decade? Yeah, I think this is the one.
Special Offer: If you buy any Batch Coffee package (6 or 12 box), I’ll include a copy of the book for free (it’s £14.99 in shops). Use code ‘HOMEBARISTACLUB’ at checkout.
The World Atlas of Coffee
By James Hoffmann
Published: 2022 (Third Edition)
Pages: 288
Publisher: Mitchell Beazley
Price: £30
Best for: Coffee people who want to understand origins and processing.
Buy at Squaremile | Buy from Amazon
James Hoffmann (Daddy Hoff) is one of the most influential people in specialty coffee. His YouTube channel has over 2 million subscribers, and this book is the coffee bible for good reason.
What’s In It
This is the most comprehensive guide to coffee-producing countries, regions, and processing methods you’ll find. Hoffmann covers 35 coffee-producing countries in great depth.
It’s also beautifully designed. Gorgeous photography, detailed maps, clear typography. This is a book you actually want sitting on your coffee table.
Why I Rate It
His writing is dense but accessible. He assumes you’re interested in coffee but doesn’t assume you already know everything. The third edition (2022) includes updated information on climate change, sustainability, and newer processing methods like carbonic maceration.
I’ve used this book countless times and it was one of the first coffee books I purchased was back when I was a barista in Sydney.
Who It’s For
Buy this if you’re the type who wants to understand why your coffee tastes the way it does. If you see “washed Colombian from Huila” on a bag and want to know what that actually means, this is your book.
Not ideal if you’re just starting out and want basic brewing help.
Uncommon Grounds
By Mark Pendergrast
Published: 1999 (Revised 2010)
Pages: 480
Publisher: Basic
Price: £22
Best for: The most comprehensive coffee history you’ll find
Buy at Waterstones | Buy from Amazon
Pendergrast’s Uncommon Grounds is the exhaustive, encyclopedic history. This is the definitive book on coffee’s role in shaping the modern world.
What It Covers
Pendergrast traces coffee from its origins in Ethiopia through to modern specialty coffee culture.
It goes through the rise of coffee houses in Europe, coffee’s role in the Industrial Revolution (caffeine kept workers productive), the birth of instant coffee and corporate coffee culture, the specialty coffee movement, fair trade and sustainability issues.
It’s researched, Pendergrast spent years interviewing everyone from coffee farmers to Starbucks executives. The level of detail is immense.
Why I Rate It
This is the book I reference when I want to understand how we got here and was a book I read when I was really ‘getting into coffee’.
The Catch
At nearly 500 pages, this is a commitment. It’s not a quick read, and it’s definitely more of a learning aid than beach book.
But if you’re serious about understanding coffee as a cultural and economic force, this is essential.
Who It’s For
Perfect for history nerds who want the full story. Anyone who’s ever wondered “how did coffee become so massive?” or coffee professionals who want to understand the industry’s evolution.
Not for casual readers looking for light entertainment.
The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee
By James Freeman, Caitlin Freeman, and Tara Duggan
Published: 2012
Pages: 240
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Price: £21
Best for: Coffee brewing and philosophy
Buy from Amazon
Blue Bottle sold out to Nestlé in 2017, which did annoy a lot of specialty coffee people (but when you get offered half a bil do you blame them?). This book was written in 2012, back when Blue Bottle was still the darling of the American third-wave coffee scene.
What’s Good About It
This book captures what made Blue Bottle special, obsessive attention to detail, beautiful minimalist aesthetic, and a focus on freshness above all else.
The book goes through coffee sourcing and relationships with farmers, roasting philosophy, brewing methods with specific recipes and food pairings (Caitlin Freeman ran their pastry program).
The photography is gorgeous. Clean, minimal, aspirational.
What I Think
It’s beautifully made and genuinely useful, again it was one of the first books I read on coffee and inspired me to dive into filter more-so. If you’re building a coffee library, it’s worth having for the perspective on American third-wave coffee culture at its peak.
Who It’s For
Buy this if you love beautiful coffee books. You want food pairing ideas. You’re curious about American third-wave coffee culture and brew methods.
Coffee Creations
By Celeste Wong
Published: 2024
Pages: 192
Publisher: Octopus
Price: £14.99
Best for: Coffee brewing and philosophy
Buy at Waterstones | Buy from Amazon
This is the fun one on the list, less serious coffee education, more “let’s make delicious coffee drinks.”
What’s In It
Celeste Wong is a bit of a legend in the specialty coffee scene, she’s created 70 recipes for coffee drinks ranging from classics to completely off-the-wall creations.
Each recipe has a photo, clear instructions, and suggested variations. It’s an Insta-worthy kind of book where you want to make everything just to photograph it.
When You’d Use This
This is the book you pull out when you’re bored of your standard flat white and want to experiment (the cold brew cocktails go down particularly well in summer).
Who It’s For
Perfect for people who like playing around with coffee drinks. Anyone looking for brunch or party ideas. Gift for someone who already knows the basics and wants to experiment.
Probably not for coffee purists who think anything beyond espresso and milk is sacrilege.
What I Know About Running Coffee Shops
By Colin Harmon
Published: 2017
Pages: 228
Publisher: Progressive Coffee
Price: £30
Best for: Anyone who wants to open a coffee shop (or thinks they do)
Buy from 3fe
Colin Harmon is another legend in the specialty coffee world. He founded 3fe Coffee in Dublin, competed in multiple World Barista Championships, and has been running successful coffee shops since 2009. Unlike most coffee books about origins and brewing, this one is about the business.
What Makes It Different
This is the only book on my list that’s specifically about opening and running a coffee shop as a business.
You’ll learn about the brutal reality of coffee shop economics, location, lease negotiations, and fit-out costs, hiring, training, and staff management, equipment choices and why you shouldn’t buy what you can’t afford, menu design, pricing, and why your flat white can’t be £2.50.
Why I Rate It
I read this book in 2018 when I was thinking of opening a coffee shop myself and although I chose an alternative route (Batch Coffee Subscription) I still learned a lof about coffee business, it’s direct, honest, and with zero romanticism about what to expect. He’s not trying to sell you a dream; he’s trying to stop you from making expensive mistakes.
When people ask me about opening a coffee shop (which happens more than you’d think), I tell them to read this book first.
The Honest Truth
This book might actually talk you out of opening a coffee shop, which is probably the most valuable thing it could do. Colin doesn’t sugarcoat how hard it is, how thin the margins are, or how many brilliant coffee people fail because they underestimated the business side.
Who It’s Actually For
If you’re seriously considering opening a coffee shop or you’re curious about coffee as a business (not just a hobby) as well as if you already run a coffee shop and want to improve.
It’s not for you if just want to learn about brewing coffee or you’re looking for a romantic view of café culture.
What is the best coffee book for beginners?
If you’re just getting started with coffee, I’d recommend The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee by James Freeman or my book The Home Barista.
Both are accessible, practical, and won’t overwhelm you with technical jargon.
