<b>Put your local coffee bar to the test with <i>Coffee Basics</i>!</b><p>With thousands of coffee bars and restaurants serving an endless variety of blends, roasts, and brews, ordering a specialty coffee drink has become as daunting a task as selecting a fine wine. How can you distinguish between great coffee and great hype? Read <i>Coffee Basics</i>.<p>Kevin Knox and Julie Sheldon Huffaker have filled this handy reference with hundreds of industry truths and trade secrets. You'll learn the fundamentals of coffee buying, brewing, and tasting; and develop an aficionado's ability to see beyond the expensive trappings of today's coffee explosion. You'll discover:<ul><li>The basic coffee facts: its origin, history, and many varieties<li>Step-by-step methods for selecting, roasting, blending, and flavoring coffee "to taste"<li>A coffee taster's glossary<li>Simple charts showing grind progression, relative grinding times, and regional characteristics<li>The scoop on decaffeinated, organic, and espresso beans<li>Specialty coffee recipes<li>Lists of the best sources for beans and professional equipment</ul><p>Whether you make coffee at home or at a fine restaurant, <i>Coffee Basics</i> offers a bottomless cup of brewing knowledge and drinking pleasure.