Craft Coffee: A Manual

The most accessible guide to manual coffee brewing available. Jessica Easto wrote this book specifically for people who want to make better coffee at home but feel overwhelmed by the specialty coffee world’s jargon and equipment obsession.

Why Start Here

“Craft Coffee” stands out because it focuses exclusively on non-espresso brewing methods. That narrow focus is a strength. Easto covers ten different manual brewing devices, from the Chemex and Hario V60 to the AeroPress and French press, with detailed instructions for each one. More importantly, she explains the underlying variables that affect extraction, so you understand why certain adjustments change the flavor.

The book begins by helping you identify what you actually enjoy in a cup of coffee. This personalized approach is rare in coffee books, which tend to be prescriptive about what “good” coffee should taste like. Once you know your preferences, Easto guides you toward the methods and beans that will deliver those flavors consistently.

Written with input from Andreas Willhoff, a professional roaster at Halfwit Coffee in Chicago, the book balances Easto’s outsider perspective with genuine technical accuracy. The result is a book that feels welcoming rather than intimidating, without sacrificing depth.

What to Expect

A well-structured 272-page manual that works both as a cover-to-cover read and as a reference you consult when trying new methods. Named a top food and drink book of 2017 by The Food Network, Wired, Sprudge, and Booklist.