You’ve decided you’re going to get your coffee lover a gift.
But there’s a problem.
The world of coffee gadgets and gizmos is huge.
What do they want? Is there anything they need?
It can get pretty confusing.
Don’t worry. I got you.
I’ve roasted a quarter-million pounds of coffee, spent days tasting and refining espressos, traveled to South America to buy (literal) tons of unroasted coffee, and trained entire teams of baristas. When it comes to coffee, I haven’t seen it all, but I’ve seen a lot.
And to help spread the roasty joy, I want to share with you the five best gifts you can give to any coffee lover.
This isn’t one of those lists with a million different cheap knick-knacks. It’s not a compilation of every coffee-related thing we could find on Amazon.
This list comes from years of experience talking to, living with, and working alongside coffee fanatics.
If your person loves a cup of java, they’re going to lose their beans over these.
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3 Things to Consider When Buying the Perfect Gift for Your Coffee Lover
1. Do They Love the Flavor? Or Do They Just Love the Caffeine?
We all know at least one.
They say they love coffee, but they’re really just after the caffeine buzz. There’s no problem with that. But knowing what side of the fence they’re on will help you pick the perfect gift.
Services like Trade meet your caffeine-fiend where they are. Through a set of detailed questions, Trade will set them up with a bag (or two, or three) from one of the nation’s best roasters.
If they’re stuck drinking supermarket bargain java for the jolt, help them out. They may not know how much luxury there is in enjoying an aromatic and rich cup every morning.
2. What Equipment Do They Already Have?
You might find yourself over your head on this one. If they’ve got a ton of brewing gadgets but you’re not sure which ones, don’t worry.
Rather than getting them yet another brewing method (like the pour-overs and Aeropress that does a pretty good job. You still won’t get cafe-quality espresso and steamed milk, but this is the closest, most economical option out there. It’s close enough to cafe-quality that I’d recommend it. Plus, you don’t need to run a 110v socket or plumb a water line to use it.
The Breville Barista Express is an all-in-one espresso machine. You can grind the beans straight into the port-a-filter, lock it in and pull your espresso, then steam your milk for lattes and cappuccino.
Here are the three biggest reasons the Barista Express makes the cut:
- Burr-grinder—this helps get an even grind, which makes for a smooth espresso.
- 9-bar pressure extraction—anything less than this and you’re making strong coffee, not espresso.
- Temperature control—this means your espresso won’t taste sour like it can with other home espresso machines that don’t have a strong boiler.
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
