The Infinite Emotions of Coffee

Book excerpt: The Infinite Emotions of Coffee provides a contemporary prism of the drink that so much of the world takes for granted every morning. Technopreneur Halevy's travels to more than 30 countries on six continents shed light on how coffee has shaped and is influenced by different cultures through the bean's centuries-spanning journey of serendipity, intrigue, upheavals, revival, romance and passion. With more than three years of field research, over 180 color photographs, and richly illustrated infographics, this book is an immersive experience that brings alive the enduring allure of coffee and the nuanced emotions of both tradition-bound and avant-garde cafe cultures. Written in an engaging narrative, this travelogue entertains through numerous coffee-related tales from around the world. It celebrates all parts of the inextricably linked global coffee ecosystem, from growers, importers, and roasters to baristas and consumers. Readers will learn about the rich, mysterious and often amusing history of coffee; discover the latest hotbeds of coffee and the complex issues facing the coffee industry today; and meet the worldwide network of inspiringly spirited and passionately committed professionals whose relentless pursuit of excellence are pushing coffee to unprecedented levels of quality. The histories of communication and coffee's impact on socialization are interconnected. From the combined perspectives of a computer scientist and a coffee culturalist, this book elucidates how coffee conversations have evolved from the age of exploration that characterized the 15th century through the Information Age where the Internet's spheres of influence in the world of coffee continue to expand. --Vint Cerf, Father of the Internet and Chief Internet Evangelist of Google This book is the ultimate celebration of coffee from seed to cup. ¡Bravo! --Alejandro Mendez, 2011 World Barista Champion, El Salvador The scope of this collection of vignettes from around the world is unprecedented in coffee literature. Its greatest strength is its unifying power that brings together all the players in the global coffee community. --Sarah Allen, Editor-in-Chief, Barista Magazine