Reviews and Comments

Having to put this down for a bit, while we read up on ADHD and Eating Disorders...

Overly long, convoluted and populated by characters best left dead.

I'm not sure I have the words to adequately describe this book and the effect it had on me. I've followed Ned for years as he and David Millar commentate on various bike races and I listen to Never Strays Far, their podcast with Pete Kennaugh. So while I knew what this book was about, I didn't really appreciate the level of obsession it had taken Ned to. Linking threads of history through a single day in 1923, a rider whose legacy was all but forgotten and all because of a chance encounter with an old, incomplete, roll of Pathé film of The Tour de France. Beautifully written through out, I didn't want it to end. If you have any interest in cycle history, the Tour de France, then this is a must read.

There is no doubt that this book is exceptionally well researched and provides a depth of information about the mechanics of filter coffee, that is probably unrivalled, especially for the non-academic. I found my mind wandering while reading it though, and kept having to re-read paragraphs, or pages as I hadn't a clue what I'd supposedly just read. Some concepts were easier to grasp and put into action at home, others not so much. I felt like a practical example here and there wouldn't have gone amiss, but then the book is probably not aimed at those that require that level of hand holding.

I'm glad I've read it, and while I've put some of it into practice at home, it would be a difficult recommendation to all but the die hardest of filter coffee die hards.

Over a number of episodes of her podcast , Lucia Solis (www.luxia.coffee/#resources), does a fantastic job at explaining why terroir is a load of bollocks when it comes to both wine and coffee. I bought this book expecting it to be almost a counter argument to that positions, it wasn't. It's more of a glossy book to sit on your coffee table and impress your friends. I was left slightly disappointed, but that might just be because I was expecting it to be something it wasn't.

Wild offers a deep dive into coffee history mythology and attempts to prove most of it wrong. The repeated journey back to Saint Helena was at times incongruous, but still informative. Given this is an updated version of the original book, I was still left wishing that the later part of the book, which did a good job of dismantling Starbucks, was deeper and more comprehensive. Overall a good read though, and if you're thinking of reading The Devil's Cup, then I'd do so before reading this.

An enjoyable romp through coffee history, with an "Idiot Abroad" vibe. Worth reading before you read any other history of coffee books (Black Gold, Uncommon Grounds, etc), as it's full of myths and legends, that are debunked in those other histories. None the less, it was an engaging read.

Amazing, with a capital A. It's been a while since a book grabbed me this quickly and this hard.

I haven't read much Pat Cadigan, but every time I do, I wonder why I haven't read more. While this one did feel like vignettes on a theme, rather than one cohesive whole, it was still thoroughly enjoyable. Not sure I'd want someone else in my head though, bad enough with just me in here.

As recipe books go, this is more of a history lesson. The depth and breadth of the research into the recipes on offer is mind boggling. I don't like waffles as a rule, but after the waffle chapter, I was off researching waffle irons. A must read if you have any interest in the low countries, or how recipes change over time. Got this copy from the library, but it's so good I might buy a copy of my own.

It's a William Gibson book, so obviously I think it's brilliant.

Picked up from the library.

Everything you ever wanted to know about how to brew better coffee at home. Lots of explanations, plenty of brew methods and a deeper dive around espresso. I feel far more informed about how to brew different types of coffee at home now. Plus I'm now tooled up to start experimenting with the methods I currently brew with, based to the brew guides and information contained within.

Received my copy from the original Kickstarter, even though I signed up for the second print run Kickstarter. Hopefully this will give me the nudge I need to break out the soldering iron and get building again.

Putting this down for a bit as it rather heavy going and I fancy something a bit lighter to kick off the year.