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Shawn Steiman
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The Little Coffee Know-It-All: A Miscellany for growing, roasting, and brewing, uncompromising and unapologetic Hardcover – December 15, 2015

by Shawn Steiman (Author)
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If they call you a know-it-all, well, you've got the last laugh - the best coffee in town!

So you think you know your coffee? Consider this book your advanced degree in all things java. You may think you know the how and why of roasting and brewing, but you nerds know nothing yet. This goes even further into everyone's favorite beverage. With even deeper history, techniques, science, and tasting guides than some of the other guides, you're going to obsess over this book for the ultimate coffee lover. The Little Coffee Know-It-All is not for the faint of heart.

What's the best way to store coffee and why? How do you brew the perfect cup of joe? What's the premium coffee bean in the world? What's the roast with the most? What's the real reason to use a siphon coffee maker? In The Little Coffee Know-It-All, Shawn Steiman, Hawaii's own "Doctor Coffee," answers these questions and more in a fun, playful but scientifically rigorous manner. If you are serious about your coffee, this book is the perfect companion to your journey from coffee drinker to a being a coffee know-it-all.

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  1. Print length
    128 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Quarry Books
  4. Publication date
    December 15, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    6.88 x 0.63 x 8.38 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1631590537
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1631590535
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shawn Steiman, Ph.D. is Hawaii's own "Doctor Coffee," with a PhD from the University of Hawai‘i-Manoa specializing in coffee studies. Steiman frequently lectures and conducts workshops with farmers and the general public on coffee related topics. His business, Coffea Consulting, educates farmers and connoisseurs on coffee from a scientific standpoint. Working with small farmers is a passion for Steiman, who has traveled to Zambia to help smallholder coffee growers compete in the world coffee market. He is the author of The Little Coffee Know-It-All: A Miscellany for growing, roasting, and brewing, uncompromising and unapologetic as well as a contributing editor to Coffee: A Comprehensive Guide to the Bean, the Beverage and the Industry (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quarry Books; Illustrated edition (December 15, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1631590537
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1631590535
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.02 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.88 x 0.63 x 8.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

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Shawn Steiman

Shawn Steiman

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
36 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book's content great and good. They also say it's easy to read from page to page and fun to read. However, some customers have trouble reading the small print against the colored background.

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ContentReadability
6 customers mention "Content"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content great and good.

"Lots of great information about coffee plants and how to brew coffee...." Read more

"...This really is approachable to almost anyone, and is full of great knowledge...." Read more

"...It's easy to read, extremely informative, and makes coffee even more fun. I wish I could find a book like this about topics other than coffee too!" Read more

"...Interesting facts and makes a good coffee table book that barely scratches the itch...." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book. Some find it easy to read from page to page, while others have trouble reading the small print against the colored background.

"...Easy to read from page to page, or jumping around to sections that interest you." Read more

"...However, the book is printed on color paper with small colored text and it is hard to see the print. Perhaps I need to purchase the kindle version." Read more

"...It's easy to read, extremely informative, and makes coffee even more fun. I wish I could find a book like this about topics other than coffee too!" Read more

"...This book is difficult to read because of those design decisions...." Read more

Cage Fight with a Barista?
5 out of 5 stars
Cage Fight with a Barista?
Are you obsessed with coffee? Then this book is your next fix! Whether you’re just a casual drinker or planning to challenge your favorite barista to a cage fight, you will find everything that you didn’t know you didn’t know yet in this book.The book is divided in four major parts that will enhance your knowledge about the intricacies of growing coffee beans, how they are roasted, and eventually how all this comes together as our formidable favorite brew.Well illustrated with infographics, each spread addresses a specific question and answers it with well presented information. These questions range from the practical on how to get the most buzz from a cup to the psychological as how to avoid the pitfalls of coffee sampling. The information presented by the author is to the point and always supported by current scientific research, without ever getting onerous.When I first flipped through the book I was immediately drawn in and kept reading for a few pages. Inspired with knowledge,I then wandered over to my kitchen cabinet and started sniffing the neglected variety of half empty bags of coffee that had accumulated there. Could I smell the difference between Arabica and Robusta? My consciousness during this otherwise sleepy daily ritual was buzzing with questions now. Where do these beans come from, what do they taste like, why do they smell like this, why it is a bad idea to put them in the freezer, and why should I care?This book enhanced my daily coffee rituals in more ways than any new brewing gadget could have ever done by itself. If you’re planning on gifting someone a French Press, make sure to include “The Little Coffee Know-It-All” along with it. They will serve you better coffee - forever! Trust me.
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Top reviews from the United States

2006tjwrangler
5.0 out of 5 stars This book helped me finally "get it" about coffee
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
All my friends are elite coffee drinkers. Up until now I had now idea what they were talking about. But after reading this book - I'm both informed and now and appreciative coffee drinker
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mantid
4.0 out of 5 stars Book design makes it hard to read
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
Lots of great information about coffee plants and how to brew coffee. However, the book is printed on color paper with small colored text and it is hard to see the print. Perhaps I need to purchase the kindle version.
3 people found this helpful
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Sip Sedona
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely a great read for anyone who wants to know more about ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017
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Absolutely a great read for anyone who wants to know more about coffee, thinks they know it all, or admits to knowing nothing at all. This really is approachable to almost anyone, and is full of great knowledge. Easy to read from page to page, or jumping around to sections that interest you.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
This book is amazing! Set up like a FAQ page, it's easy to read about one topic or devour the whole book in one sitting! It's easy to read, extremely informative, and makes coffee even more fun. I wish I could find a book like this about topics other than coffee too!
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BlackDog
2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
So the first paragraph of this book's description reads:

"So you think you know your coffee? Consider this book your advanced degree in all things java. You may think you know the how and why of roasting and brewing, but you nerds know nothing yet. This goes even further into everyone's favorite beverage. With even deeper history, techniques, science, and tasting guides than some of the other guides, you're going to obsess over this book for the ultimate coffee lover. The Little Coffee Know-It-All is not for the faint of heart."

It doesn't live up to it's marketing in my opinion, and I should have paid more attention that at 128 pages it's not long enough to cover everything in depth. Each "topic" is on a 2 page spread. I give it credit for being concise, but this is not a book for someone who is really looking to understand the "techniques" and technicalities of roasting for example. Interesting facts and makes a good coffee table book that barely scratches the itch. If you're looking for a real deep dive this book is not it.

As another reviewer pointed out, the publisher in designing this book has made the biggest mistake in terms of font selection and page color. This book is difficult to read because of those design decisions.

I wanted to return this book but as I bought it used for less than $10 it was not worth it to return.
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sbannon
5.0 out of 5 stars fun book to read
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2016
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What can I say, fun book to read. Even someone like me who knows everything, it is still very informative.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
It's fine thanks
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JT
2.0 out of 5 stars Type too small to read.
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2015
Verified Purchase
I have 20/15 vision, and I still have trouble reading the small print against the colored background. Too bad. Nice idea for a book poorly executed.

If you do want to read, do so in a very well lit area.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

DanielGlez
5.0 out of 5 stars 👍
Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
Excellent book, totally recommend it.
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
Only just startded reading but the writting is so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read it
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