Author: Timothy James Castle
Buy The Perfect Cup: Amazon | Powells
"It is difficult to describe the standard by which coffee is determined to be good. I think of good coffees as ones that, despite their processing, roasting, and brewing, somehow transport the scent and flavor of the land, air, and water of their origin. Some coffees, when you taste them, transport you back to their birthplace."
Tidbit: The sidebar "10 Keys to Perfect Coffee" outlines the basics underlying anyone’s perfect cup. The most important step is #10: "take the time to make your cup of coffee count. Don’t gulp, savor."
Passion of the bean. Castle doesn’t just know about coffee. He knows that he loves coffee. It is a fun and a thrill for him, an endless, boundless amazement at the combination of earth and plant, bean and human. His joy and fascination come through in every page.
Brew, buy and taste. I found this 244-page book on my ickle sister Taylor’s shelves, and the trouble with finishing it, is that now I have to give it back. There’s plenty I’m keeping with me though, because after reading Castle’s book my love of coffee has now been balanced by knowledge on how to choose and prepare the coffees I’d like to try at home. In my French press. Oh yeah.
French press, check. Organic Sumatran coffee, check. My own copy… Soon. I’ve said before that it’s only now and again that I come across books that I value so much I want my own copy. I’ll soon be snagging The Perfect Cup for my own coffee prep area.
The geography of java. My favorite part of the book begins on page 38, "A Coffee-Lover’s Guide to the World of Coffee". I’ve taken many notes on the countries and beans Castle outlines. Pardon me while I put the burr grinder on; it occurs to me that I’ve only a carafe’s worth left before needing to stock up on a different type of bean. Oh darn.
As much as I love coffee, I had also never gotten around to learning about coffee or how to make it at home. (Don’t ask.) Now though, I am armed — or beaned, as you may wish to punningly put it. With my burr grinder, my French press, and a vast selection of coffee beans not two blocks, I’m off for a cuppa. Care to join me?
Buy The Perfect Cup: Amazon | Powells
