Understand specialty single origin coffee better

SCA The Coffee Freshness Handbook is an in-depth handbook for those who want to understand what actually happens to coffee after roasting. We especially recommend it to those who work with or are passionate about specialty coffee with a single origin and want to build a more secure foundation around freshness, storage, and sensory aspects. The book connects scientific research with practical relevance for roasteries, baristas, and ambitious home brewers. This is a more analytical reference work than a light introduction, and that is exactly why it becomes so valuable in everyday use.

Main features

• ✓  Practical handbook on coffee freshness for the specialty coffee community
• ✓  Based on relevant studies in coffee science and new research from the Coffee Excellence Center at ZHAW
• ✓  Covers both physical changes in roasted coffee and how sensory experience changes over time
• ✓  Contains experimental studies from Roasters Guild on packaging, storage, and perceived freshness
• ✓  Well suited as a reference for professional use in brew rooms, roasteries, or at home by the grinder

Details

About the content

The purpose of the book is to serve as a practical resource for the specialty coffee community while contributing to the scientific understanding of coffee freshness in roasted coffee. The first part of the handbook reviews relevant studies in coffee science as well as new research conducted by the Coffee Excellence Center at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ZHAW.

The subject is then deepened by highlighting the physical changes that can be used to quantify freshness. The book then follows up with experimental studies focusing on how freshness is perceived sensorily and how it changes over time. We especially appreciate that Roasters Guild’s experiments give the reader a clearer picture of how packaging and storage affect the coffee’s expression, something relevant both for professional tasting and for those who buy ground coffee online and want to understand how quality is affected after opening.

The cover reflects the character of the content well: clean, minimalist, and clearly academic, with white surfaces and graphic shapes in light gray and red. It feels thoughtful and professional. Our honest recommendation is to choose this book if you really want to dive deep; if you are looking for a quick introduction to coffee, there are more accessible options.

A strong choice for those who want to understand freshness deeply and build more knowledge in every cup.