Everything but Espresso

I bought this book as a gift for a very dear friend who adores any and every variation of coffee. My search began when I bought him locally roasted coffee which was supposed to superb and in high demand. My friend seemed to express that it should taste better than what it did however. He said he wanted to know more about coffee how to make a great cup of coffee, about body and flavor and so my search began for a resource to empower him.My friend is analytical like me and I know he is going to simply love this cut to the chase version which is both very interesting and practical. For me as a non-coffee drinker...perhaps now I can finally confidently make coffee that no can complain about. I am also looking forward to making him that first incredible cup of coffee...Thank you for such a wonderful book that enables someone like me to feel confident and equipping me with a level of knowledge with which I can delight my friend every time I make him coffee!

Scott Rao's first book, The Professional Barista's Handbook, is great. So I was excited to read Everything But Espresso--it does not disappoint.Espresso and espresso drinks are wonderful, but my preference is to enjoy these at a great cafe. Brewed coffee--whether drip, French press, pour over, siphon, or Aeropress--is my preference at home. Brewing consistently great coffee is more difficult than you might think, but Scott Rao does a fantastic job of explaining how to do it. There is also a great deal of information that clarifies the why's behind the how's, which I think sets this book apart from others.This is an absolute must for anyone who is serious about preparing and serving great coffee.Chris YoungCoauthor, Modernist Cuisine

I love to drink great coffee! And I love to brew my own coffee. So this book was perfect for my needs, explaining each step in the brewing procees and almost all brewing methods. However, in some cases the wording was a bit confusing and not as clear as it could have been. All in all a great reference book for coffee aficionados!

Scott Rao is one of the top consultants on coffee roasting and brewing in the world. He writes succinctly and hits the main points in this short book. I learned a great deal about grinding and brewing coffee from this, even though I merely like good coffee -- I am not a barista. If you are one of those people who really goes after good coffee -- the coffee itself, not all of the mixins, this book is for you. The Blue Bottle book is also excellent. There are other books on roasting.

If you are a serious coffee nerd and need both technical and practical tips for making coffee -- either in your home or running a coffee shop, you _NEED_ this book. Charts, diagrams, very technical. Who Knew!?!? Wow! Be open to a new world... For example, I learned a few simple single-cup pour over techniques that makes all the difference. Yes, it's pouring hot water on ground coffee -- so how can there so much about it ? Beautifully illustrated with color photographs.... Also see the Barista's Handbook for espresso same author -- they are a companion.

I enjoyed the contents of the book, most of it was coherent and to the point. I was surprised by how easy it was to read, although that likely comes from a lack of quantity of content. You can finish reading the entire book in 2-3 hours easily.I really wish there was more detail in how to do certain things Scott Rao says are necessary to brew correctly. For example, he says almost every manual pour over he's been served has the "high and dry" spent grounds problem. He says the solution is to "not let the slurry go too high in the filter". Okay, well, how high is too high? What pattern should one use when pouring the water onto the grounds?The details behind his instructions are severely lacking in this book. While it's a good introduction to coffee brewing and shows you some of the common mistakes, it does not take the time to provide the details on *how* to do what he says in order to actually avoid said mistakes.The asking price of this book as of the review date, $35, is FAR too high for what this book offers. One star is lost due to a stark lack of actual content, and one star is deducted due to the extremely high price.

A well detailed book for those interested in brewing coffee in other ways than espresso. It is the best book I have found on the subject as it is clear and very precise in the explanation. Having read other books by Scott Rao I believe he has true passion and a thorough understanding for the art of coffee making.Highly recommended.

Everything But Espresso has all the neccesary information to learn advanced coffee brewing techniques. I'm a barista/barista trainer and I recommend this book to other baristas serious about improving their skills beyond espresso. It is in-depth but also written in a plain easy to understand english.