A simple porcelain cup contains a true treasure consisting of aromas and flavours as well as an age-old history that combines culture and tradition. This book, marvellously illustrated by the photographs of the master of still-life photography Fabio Petroni, is entirely given over to every aspect of coffee and coffee-making and helps readers discover all the secrets of this amazing drink consumed every day by millions of people the world over.

From the origins of coffee bean cultivation to the legends connected to its use, and from the secrets of coffee bean harvesting and toasting to the art of serving this universal drink, readers will delve into the infinite varieties of coffee, its many different flavours and aromas and how they can be obtained. In the last section of the book this extraordinary ingredient, with its incredible attributes, is no longer considered only a drink: thanks to some very original and easy recipes, readers are shown how it can is to be used in many other ways in the kitchen.