Scott Rao
American coffee consultant, trainer and author specializing in coffee brewing and roasting. Author of practical industry books including The Professional Barista's Handbook, The Coffee Roaster's Companion, and Everything but Espresso; known for expertise in espresso, brewing techniques, and roasting practices.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Professional Barista's Handbook
An Expert Guide to Preparing Espresso, Coffee, and Tea
A compact, highly practical guide for baristas that explains the physics and technique of espresso extraction and milk steaming, showing how to calibrate grinders, control dose, distribution and tamping, and use brewing ratios and extraction yield/TDS measurements to dial in consistent shots and troubleshoot common problems; it also covers water quality, machine and grinder setup, cleaning and maintenance, milk texturing and latte-art basics, and offers step-by-step routines and workflow tips for achieving repeatable café-quality beverages and training staff.
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2. Espresso Extraction
A practical, science-driven guide that explains the physical and chemical principles behind making consistent, high-quality espresso; it breaks down the key variables—dose, grind, yield, time, water temperature and chemistry, pressure and flow—and shows how to measure extraction yield and TDS with a refractometer, calibrate recipes using brew ratios and yield percentages, diagnose issues like channeling and over- or under-extraction, and optimize grinder and machine settings. The book emphasizes repeatable testing, step-by-step protocols, troubleshooting strategies and data-backed adjustments so baristas and roasters can develop reproducible recipes and control flavor through measurement rather than guesswork.