Coffee

Children's Literature - Jean Boreen

This text is part of a series that takes a broad-based look at some of the most important world commodities. After defining what a world commodity is, each text then goes into a more focused consideration of its particular commodity. This text, with its focus on coffee, provides an easy to read yet detailed explanation of the history of coffee consumption and development around the world (including how it is grown and variations in how it is served), how it is harvested, and how it is prepared for different manners of consumption. Coffee is the second-most-traded commodity in the world behind oil, and subsequent chapters discuss how coffee is traded both in the "spot" and "futures" markets. Sections on codes of practice and international politics discusses regulatory commissions, the impact of coffee speculation, and the political vagaries that develop in countries that know the value of their product to a heavy coffee-consuming public. Final sections about environmental and social issues arising from overdependence of poor growers on coffee prices and middlemen who often take advantage of them as well as a sustainability section which details how price regularization is helping to work through these issues. Excellent photos and graphics throughout further explain everything from how the coffee beans are roasted to consumption numbers from around the world. This is a solid book and series for students looking for strong research materials and ideas for further study. Part of the "World Commodities" series. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D.