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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Bean there, read that: 7 books every coffee lover should check out
For most of us, the day doesn't truly begin until that first life-giving sip of coffee hits our lips. And let's be honest, one cup is never enough. Whether it's the morning ritual that jumpstarts our brain, the afternoon pick-me-up that powers us through the workday, or the after-dinner espresso that caps the evening, coffee is the fuel that keeps modern life running. But how much do we really know about this magical elixir we can't live without? The journey from bean to cup spans continents, cultures, and centuries of history. Whether you're a casual sipper, an aspiring home barista, or a seasoned coffee professional, the right book can transform the way you understand and appreciate your daily brew. From richly illustrated atlases that trace coffee's global origins to gripping narratives about the people who shape the industry, this curated list brings together the most enlightening, entertaining, and essential reads for anyone passionate about coffee. Each book offers a unique perspective, whether it's mastering brewing techniques, exploring coffee's socio-political impact, or simply indulging in the stories behind the world's favorite drink. So, grab your favorite pour-over, settle into a cozy spot, and dive into these seven exceptional books that every coffee aficionado should read. 1. The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing — Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed by James Hoffmann James Hoffmann, a World Barista Champion and renowned coffee expert, delivers the definitive guide to coffee in The World Atlas of Coffee. This beautifully illustrated book takes readers on a journey through coffee-growing regions worldwide, detailing the history, cultivation, and unique characteristics of beans from different countries. The book is organised by continent and country, offering insights into how geography, climate, and processing methods influence flavor profiles. Hoffmann also covers brewing techniques, equipment, and tasting tips, making this an invaluable resource for both beginners and seasoned coffee professionals. The expanded second edition includes seven new coffee-growing regions (such as China, Thailand, and the Democratic Republic of Congo), updated maps, and the latest industry data. Whether you're a home brewer, barista, or just a curious coffee drinker, this book will enhance your appreciation for every cup. The Monk of Mokha is the real-life story of a Yemeni-American man, Mokhtar Alkhanshali, who works to revive Yemen's historic coffee trade. Yemen, once the birthplace of coffee cultivation, had been overshadowed by other coffee-producing nations. Mokhtar, a former doorman in San Francisco, embarks on a daring journey to reconnect with his roots and bring Yemeni coffee back to the world stage. Eggers' narrative captures Mokhtar's struggles: navigating Yemen's complex political landscape, surviving civil war, and even escaping a Saudi-led bombing campaign, all the while sourcing and exporting high-quality beans. The book blends adventure, history, and coffee culture, offering a rare glimpse into the resilience of Yemeni farmers and the global coffee supply chain. A must-read for those who love inspiring true stories and want to understand coffee's deep cultural significance. While not exclusively about coffee, A History of the World in 6 Glasses is a fascinating exploration of how six beverages—beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola—shaped human civilisation. Standage argues that coffee played a pivotal role in the Age of Enlightenment, fostering intellectual exchange in European coffeehouses. The book traces coffee's origins in Ethiopia and Yemen, its spread through the Ottoman Empire, and its impact on European society. Standage highlights how coffeehouses became hubs for debate, commerce, and innovation, earning the nickname 'penny universities' for the knowledge shared over a cheap cup. A compelling read for history buffs and coffee lovers alike, this book puts coffee in the broader context of global development. Ulla Heise's Coffee and Coffee Houses dives into the social and cultural history of coffee, from its early days in Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) to its global spread. The book explores how coffee was initially met with bans and suspicion before becoming a staple of daily life. Heise also examines the evolution of coffeehouses, from 17th-century European intellectual hubs to modern specialty cafés. The book features beautiful illustrations and covers different types of coffeehouses—political salons, artists' cafés, jazz bars, and more. A great choice for those interested in the intersection of coffee, history, and culture. Coffeeland is a deep dive into the history of coffee capitalism, focusing on James Hill, an English entrepreneur who built a coffee empire in El Salvador. Sedgewick reveals how coffee fueled industrialization, labor exploitation, and economic inequality in Central America. The book connects El Salvador's monoculture economy to global coffee demand, showing how modern coffee consumption is tied to colonialism and power dynamics. It's a thought-provoking read for those who want to understand the hidden costs behind their daily brew. Another masterpiece from James Hoffmann, this book is a practical guide to brewing exceptional coffee at home. Hoffmann breaks down different brewing methods (French press, AeroPress, espresso, etc.), debunks myths, and offers expert tips for perfecting each technique. With clear instructions and beautiful visuals, this book is ideal for home baristas who want to elevate their coffee game. This comprehensive guide covers everything from bean origins to brewing methods and includes over 100 recipes. Moldvaer, a coffee expert, provides step-by-step instructions for roasting, grinding, and brewing like a pro. A fantastic resource for anyone who wants to explore coffee's diversity and craft delicious drinks at home.
The Star
26-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Buns baked in century-old oven draw queues in Slim River
AN appetising aroma permeates the air as one nears a shophouse along Jalan Masjid Lama in the Perak town of Slim River. Customers queue up outside the shop to buy buns and bread rolls before they sell out. Kilang Roti Mokhtar's array of products are baked in an age-old brick oven fuelled by firewood and coconut shells. The soft, sweet buns with a subtle smoky aroma keep customers coming back for more. The family-run business has been going on since 1949. Today, it is run by Mokhtar Ahmad Mohamad Taqi, 62, who inherited the bakery from his late father Mohammad Taqi Habib and preserved the original recipes and baking techniques. 'Perhaps the use of the traditional oven is the secret to why our bread products continue to be in high demand, even with competition,' he told Bernama. Mokhtar begins his day early in the morning by preparing the dough before lighting the traditional oven. He said the bakery was purchased in 1949 by his father's older brother Abdul Kadir Habib who had migrated to Malaya from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, India. After Abdul Kadir passed away, Mokhtar's father took over the business. 'I don't know the exact age of this oven. 'The elders said this bakery was first run by someone else who had been baking bread since around 1912. 'This oven was already here when my uncle bought the bakery,' recalls Mokhtar. The father of seven said he had never made any modification to the oven, only repairing it when necessary. Standing at 1.8m high and 4.5m wide, the oven can hold six to eight trays of buns. This means an output of about 400 buns from one session. 'It usually takes about 20 minutes for the buns to be perfectly done,' he said, explaining that traditionally baked bread products tended to be softer and more fragrant than those from modern ovens. Mokhtar, who was 21 when he first helped his father run the bakery, also avoids using preservatives. Instead, he relies on basic ingredients like wheat flour, margarine, sugar and yeast. To make 450 buns, he uses one sack of flour, 2kg of margarine, 4kg of sugar and 200g of yeast. The entire process of preparing and kneading the dough and then baking takes at least six hours. His wife Norhasimah Amir, 57, and two of his sons Muhammad Amar Haikal, 36, and Muhammad Adib Idzhar, 18, assist with the bakery operations. Remembering when his father ran the business, Mokhtar said the bakery had produced only roti Benggali. Also known as roti Babu, this is a type of white loaf sold mainly by Indian Muslim bread vendors in Malaysia. His father would cycle to nearby villages to sell the bread but once, due to illness, Mokthar was put up to the task. However, he could not sell a single loaf. 'I was confused why no one wanted to buy bread from me. 'When I got home, my father explained that I had been cycling too fast and the villagers didn't even have a chance to call me over. 'It turned out he would only push the bicycle, not ride it, whenever he went out to sell bread,' Mokhtar recalled with a chuckle. These days, Roti Benggali is only made at Kilang Roti Mokhtar upon request, as the bread requires a longer baking time. Instead, the bakery focuses on producing buns with coconut, kaya, red bean paste and cream fillings. It also makes sesame rolls, hard rolls and plain rolls. The kaya, coconut and red bean buns are sold from around 11am each day, followed by sesame rolls at around noon. Cream and plain buns and hard rolls are sold later in the day. Prices range from RM1 for each bun with a filling to RM7 for a pack of 10 hard rolls. Mokhtar admitted that the rising cost of raw ingredients had forced him to raise prices. 'In 2016, we could still sell our buns for 20sen, 40sen or RM1.40 depending on the type. 'Still, they remain affordable,' he said. The bakery also managed to survive challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Demand was high, so I started taking orders and delivering the buns directly to customers.' Looking ahead, Mokhtar said his sons Amar and Adib had shown interest in continuing the family legacy. 'They are helping me run the business and I hope they will carry on our family tradition.' Kilang Roti Mokhtar operates daily except Fridays.
Filipino Times
14-02-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Role of engineers and architects in handling disputes highlighted in TFT Watchlist 2025
Engineers and architects are playing a crucial role in addressing disputes within the construction and engineering industries, an industry expert said. This was highlighted during a solo presentation by Engr. Haitham K. M. Mokhtar, an Independent Expert Witness and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practitioner, at The Filipino Times Watchlist: Top Engineers and Architects in the Middle East Summit 2025. Engr. Haitham K. M. Mokhtar, an Independent Expert Witness and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practitioner In his presentation titled 'Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods in Managing Project Claims, Leading to Sustainable Outcomes,' Engr. Mokhtar delved into the complexities of construction projects, where the involvement of multiple stakeholders and high stakes often leads to disputes. He emphasized that prompt and effective dispute resolution through methods like mediation, arbitration, conciliation, expert determination, and adjudication is essential to avoiding the lengthy and costly process of litigation. In drafting contracts, Engr. Mokhtar reminded the industry professionals that they should include well-drafted arbitration clauses to avoid legal complications. 'If you are a professional or a contract engineer, or the one preparing a contract or a purchase order, as a technical person, don't think only about the technical aspect or the engineering aspect in that agreement that you are creating, but also consider the legal consequences that can help later on, when the dispute happened,' Engr. Mokhtar said. He then urged the Filipino professionals in the engineering and architecture industry to decrease the legal knowledge gap by getting the appropriate certifications to effectively practice alternative dispute resolution methods. The presentation concluded with a call for increased awareness of ADR methods among industry professionals, emphasizing that these approaches are essential for creating sustainable outcomes in large-scale projects.
Zawya
06-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt: Beltone Venture Capital fuels expansion plans across Africa via investment in LNKO
Beltone Venture Capital, a subsidiary of Beltone Holding, announced a strategic equity investment in LNKO, a trendsetting omni-channel D2C eyewear startup, according to a press release. This investment aligns with Beltone Venture Capital's expansion strategy across Africa. Ali Mokhtar, CEO of Beltone Venture Capital, said: 'This equity investment in LNKO marks a key milestone in our African expansion strategy.' 'By partnering with LNKO, we're backing a visionary company with immense growth potential. Their innovative approach to eyewear and commitment to community empowerment align perfectly with our mission to support transformative businesses across the region,' Mokhtar added. Maha Bennani, CEO and Founder of LNKO, noted: 'We are confident that this collaboration will accelerate our vision of making high-quality, stylish eyewear accessible to even more people across the continent.' LNKO has become a leader in the eyewear market within four years, providing stylish and affordably priced eyewear through a fully digitized value chain. The startup has more than 100,000 customers, 10 points of sale in Morocco, and a robust online presence across 24 countries, which enables it to reshape the eyewear industry. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
