James Hoffman is my coffee industry hero of sorts. Mr. Hoffman has an iconoclast’s bent but with his even-handed approach to what can be divisive issues — and in the close-knit and sometimes provincial world of specialty coffee, what can’t be? — and his focus on objective reasoning and passion for quantitative research, he is consistently a breath of reasoned fresh air in a world of too many strongly held opinions.
Hoffman was the World Barista Champion in 2007 and he’s also the owner of Square Mile Coffee Roasters in London, UK.
Journalism and coffee – The first post on James Hoffman's new blog devoted to "decent length, well thought out articles about coffee". James Hoffman is the owner of Square Mile Coffee Roasters in London, England.
Distribution of Coffee flowchart – This is fascinating. Originally published in 1961 in "Coffee" by Frederick Wellman and now posted, for our pleasure, in the Flickr photostream of James Hoffman (of Square Mile Coffee Roasters in London), this flow chart illustrates the historical-geographical movement of the practice of cultivating coffee. It starts, in Ethiopia, at around 575 A.D. and ends in Hawaii in 1893.
Hario Pour Over Kettle – The Hario pour-over kettle is all the rage in the circles of the coffee cognoscenti. It has a unique spout design that gives your pour a constant, steady flow. And that’s important.
Hario Skelton Hand Mill – The Hario Skelton Mill is a hand-held precision coffee grinder. Essential camping equipment of the coffee nerd. I want it.
Local 123 – A new Berkeley café that uses beans from Flying Goat Coffee Roasters out of Santa Rosa, CA (my adopted hometown). It’s getting great reviews.