Coffee, one of the most commercially important crops grown, is distributed and traded globally in a multi-million dollar world industry. This exciting new book brings together in one volume the most important recent developments affecting the crop. Contributions from around 20 internationally-respected coffee scientists and technologists from around the world provide a vast wealth of new information in the subject areas in which they are expert.

The book commences with three cutting-edge chapters covering non-volatile and volatile compounds that determine the flavour of coffee. Chapters covering technology follow, including comprehensive information on developments in roasting techniques, decaffeination, the science and technology of instant coffee and home / catering beverage preparation. The physiological effects of coffee drinking are considered in a fascinating chapter on coffee and health. Agronomic aspects of coffee breeding and growing are covered specifically in chapters concentrating on these aspects, particularly focussing on newly-emerging molecular and cellular techniques. Finally, recent activities of some international organisations are reviewed in a lengthy appendix.

The editors of "Coffee: Recent Developments "have drawn together a comprehensive and extremely important book that should be on the shelves of all those involved in coffee. The book is a vital tool for food scientists, food technologists and agricultural scientists and the commercially important information included in the book makes it a 'must have reference' to all food companies involved with coffee. All libraries in universities, and research stations where any aspect of the coffee crop is studied or taught should have copies of the book available.

R. J. Clarke, also co-editor of the widely-acclaimed six-volume work Coffee published between 1985 and 1988, is a consultant based in Chichester U. K.

O. G. Vitzthum, formerly Director of Coffee Chemistry Research worldwide at Kraft, Jacobs, Suchard in Bremen, Germany is Honorary Professor at the Technical University of Braunsweig, Germany and Scientific Secretary of the Association Scientifique Internationale du Cafe (ASIC), in Paris France.

The term 'coffee' comprises not only the consumable beverage obtained by extracting roasted coffee with hot water, but also a whole range of intermediate products starting from the freshly harvested coffee cherries. Green coffee beans are, however, the main item of international trade (believed second in importance only to oiI), for processing into roasted coffee, instant coffee and other coffee products, prepared for local consumers. The scientific and technical study of coffee in its entirety therefore involves a wide range of scientific disciplines and practical skills. It is evident that green coffee is a natural product of great compositional complexity, and this is even more true for coffee products deriving from the roasting of coffee. The present volume on the chemistry of coffee seeks to provide the re ader with a full and detailed synopsis of present knowledge on the chemical aspects of green, roasted and instant coffee, in a way which has not been attempted before, that is, within the confines of a single volume solely devoted to the subject. Each chapter is directed towards a separate generic group of constituents known to be present, ranging individually over carbohydrate, nitrogenous and lipid components, not forgetting the important aroma components of roasted coffee, nor the water present and its significance, together with groups of other important components.

The term 'coffee' comprises not only the consumable beverage obtained by extracting roasted coffee with hot water, but also a whole range of intermediate products starting from the freshly harvested coffee cherries. Green coffee beans are, however, the main item of international trade (believed second in importance only to oiI), for processing into roasted coffee, instant coffee and other coffee products, prepared for local consumers. The scientific and technical study of coffee in its entirety therefore involves a wide range of scientific disciplines and practical skills. It is evident that green coffee is a natural product of great compositional complexity, and this is even more true for coffee products deriving from the roasting of coffee. The present volume on the chemistry of coffee seeks to provide the re ader with a full and detailed synopsis of present knowledge on the chemical aspects of green, roasted and instant coffee, in a way which has not been attempted before, that is, within the confines of a single volume solely devoted to the subject. Each chapter is directed towards a separate generic group of constituents known to be present, ranging individually over carbohydrate, nitrogenous and lipid components, not forgetting the important aroma components of roasted coffee, nor the water present and its significance, together with groups of other important components.

The present volume, Volume 2 in this planned series on coffee, deals with processing and follows on naturally from the first volume on the chemistry of coffee, which described its numerous constituents in the green (raw) and various product forms. We have already remarked that coffee has great compositional complex ity, and this complexity of understanding extends when we come to that is, the many processes involved in the roasting consider its processing; of green coffee and its subsequent conversion into a consumable brew, especially through extraction and drying into an instant coffee. The simple brewing of roasted and ground coffee with water in the home also possesses considerable mystique and needs know-how for optimal results. The choice of green coffees from an almost bewildering array of different types available, through species/variety differences and different methods of processing from the coffee cherry to the green coffee bean, needs understanding and guidance. Furthermore, various forms of pre-treatment of green coffee before roasting are available. Some of these are little known, but others such as decaffeination, for those who desire roasted or instant coffee with little or no caffeine, are now becoming well established. Finally, both the processing of coffee cherries to coffee beans, leaving a range of different waste products (pulp, hulls, husk, parchment, etc.), and of roasted coffee after industrial aqueous extraction, leaving spent coffee grounds, provide waste products that have found considerable commercial value in different ways."

"Her story is adapted to move the compassion of those she visits. She has bad nerves, and seems in great disorder of mind, which she pretends to be owing to the ill usage of her father [...] She attempts to borrow money of [sic] waiters, servants, and chaise boys, and offers to leave something in pawn with them to the value. Her name is supposed to be Sarah Wilson." - London Evening-Post, 30 October 1766 Beginning in her late teens, Sarah Wilson travelled alone all over England, living on her wits, inventing new identities, and embroidering stories to fool her victims into providing money and fine clothes. When her crimes eventually caught up with her, she was transported to America - where she reinvented herself in the guise of the Queen's sister and began a new set of adventures at the onset of the American War of Independence. Using original research, newspaper reports and court records, this is the story of 'the greatest Impostress of the present Age': a real-life Moll Flanders who created a remarkable series of lives for herself on both sides of the Atlantic.