Free · Open-source book · Updated June 5, 2026

The Sourdough Framework

Go beyond recipes. A complete, science-backed foundation for baking exceptional sourdough bread at home — from your first starter to your best loaf.

By Hendrik Kleinwächter, creator of The Bread Code · ▶︎ 340k+ on YouTube · ★ 3.5k+ on GitHub

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What’s inside

📜 01 The history of sourdough Where bread began — from ancient grains and wild fermentation to the loaves we bake today. 🔬 02 How sourdough works The science behind the rise: enzymes, wild yeast, and the bacteria that flavor your bread. 🫙 03 Making a sourdough starter Build a living starter from just flour and water — step by step, with no guesswork. 🌡️ 04 Sourdough starter types Stiff, liquid, and everything between — how to choose and manage the right starter. 🌾 05 Flour types Wheat, rye, spelt and more — how protein, ash, and milling shape your dough. 🍞 06 Bread types Freestanding loaves, pan breads, baguettes — the families of sourdough bread. 🥖 07 Wheat sourdough The complete method for a freestanding wheat loaf, from mix to bake. 🌽 08 Non-wheat sourdough Rye, gluten-free and alternative grains — baking beyond wheat. 🫒 09 Mix-ins Seeds, nuts, fruit and herbs — how to add flavor and texture without wrecking structure. 🔥 10 Baking Steam, scoring, and heat — turn proofed dough into a crackling, open-crumb loaf. 🥪 11 Storing bread Keep your bread fresh for longer — storage, freezing, and reviving stale loaves. 🛠️ 12 Troubleshooting Dense crumb? Flat loaf? Diagnose and fix the most common sourdough problems.

A word from the author

Hendrik Kleinwächter is the baker and software engineer behind The Bread Code, where over 340,000 bakers follow his experiment-driven approach to bread. This book is his free, open-source distillation of years of testing what actually makes sourdough work.

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Get the free sourdough book (PDF, EPUB & print)

PDFThe full book, beautifully typeset PDF (sans-serif)Easier to read on screens EPUBBest for e-readers EPUB (black & white)For e-ink readers Short TL;DR versionThe whole method in a nutshell Short TL;DR (printable)A quick-start for your kitchen wall Source codeThe whole book in LaTeX — sauce included HardcoverThe print edition that keeps this book free

Popular topics

New to sourdough? Bake your first loaf How to make a sourdough starter Baker's math explained Stiff vs. liquid starter Sourdough hydration Bulk fermentation: how long? The window-pane test Shaping sourdough Scoring sourdough Baking with a Dutch oven Steam in the oven Fixing dense or gummy crumb Storing bread: fridge & freezer