James Freeman

In 1775, Irish trader James Adair published his History of the American Indians, giving an account of the 40 years he had spent living among various Native American nations "adjoining to the Mississippi, East and West Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, and Virginia". Within this work, Adair makes mention of a "great divine" Cherokee man who had in his possession a mysterious stone talisman reputed to be of supernatural origin. In Wise Man, a portrayal of this Beloved Old Father is offered as he reflects upon his life experiences from the late 17th century up to just before the American Revolutionary War. Early contact with white traders and settlers, the Yamasee War, the French and Indian War, and the Anglo-Cherokee War, among other significant historical events are described as witnessed in a first-person narrative. A perspective is given on events that culminated in America's Declaration of Independence beginning over 100 years before the tragic incident known as the Trail of Tears. Faced with the often brutal effects of colonial imperialism, the protagonist finds solace through the strength of his spiritual convictions and his extraordinary knowledge of a world beyond conventional experience. Wise Man combines historical facts with an insightful look into America's indigenous culture and examines some of the issues of differing ideologies that continue to challenge human interaction.

One of the country's most celebrated roasters explains how to choose, brew, and enjoy the new breed of artisan coffees at home, along with 40 inventive recipes that incorporate coffee or taste good with a cup. Blue Bottle Coffee Company has quickly become one of America's most celebrated roasters. Famous for its complex and flavorful coffees, Blue Bottle delights its devoted patrons with exquisite pour-overs, delicious espressi, and specialized brewing methods. Yet as coffee production becomes more sophisticated with specialized extraction techniques and Japanese coffee gadgets, the new artisan coffees can seem out of reach. The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee explains this new world from farm to cup, exploring the bounty of beans available and the intricate steps that go into sourcing raw coffee from around the globe. Blue Bottle founder James Freeman coaches you through brewing the perfect cup of coffee, using methods as diverse as French press, nel drip, siphon, and more to produce the best flavor. For coffee lovers who want to roll up their sleeves and go deeper, Freeman explains step by step how to roast beans at home using standard kitchen tools--just like he did when starting out. The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee also introduces a home technique for cupping, the industry method of tasting coffees for quality control, so you can hone your taste and share your meticulously roasted coffee with friends. Rounding out the book are more than thirty inventive recipes from Blue Bottle pastry chef and former Miette bakery owner Caitlin Freeman that incorporate coffee or just taste particularly good with coffee, such as Saffron Vanilla Snickerdoodles, Stout Coffee Cake with Pecan-Caraway Streusel, Affogato with Smoky Almond Ice Cream, Coffee Panna Cotta, and more. With more than one hundred stunning photographs showing coffee's journey from just-harvested cherry to perfect drink, this distinctive and deep guide to the new breed of amazing coffees from one of the top artisan coffee makers will change the way you think about--and drink--coffee.