The 37 best gifts for coffee lovers
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Navigating the complex world of coffee can be tricky, especially when you’re shopping for a gift for a coffee lover. We spoke with coffee experts, baristas and coffee educators to curate a list of the best gift ideas for the coffee lover in your life — including unique coffee subscriptions and coffee-making accessories.
“For coffee enthusiasts who deeply appreciate coffee, selecting the perfect gift can significantly enhance their brewing and tasting experience,” says Simone Celli, a barista and trainer at Espresso Academy, which holds coffee-making courses in Italy.
However, one size does not fit all, and the cold brew lover and French press aficionado will have different needs. “The type of purchase does depend on the level the person is at — if the person is new to the coffee scene or [if] they are seasoned,” adds Christopher Hendon, co-author of “Water for Coffee,” a book that explores how water affects the chemistry of coffee.
With this in mind, we’ve rounded up the best coffee gifts for enthusiastic novices, intermediates and experts alike. These tools make everything from a latte to an espresso and will help them feel like a barista in their home.
Best gifts for coffee lovers under $25
Kinto Sepia Mug
These stylish coffee mugs are made from heat-resistant glass and are safe for the dishwasher and microwave. We love how these cups will look on a wooden tray or saucer.
Indranila Coffee Essentials Print
This graphic poster defines the differences between a macchiato, cortado or latte with an image of each one. You can print it yourself at home, use a local shop or upload it to an online printing service for home delivery.
Blue Bottle Coffee Subscription
When we tested the best coffee subscriptions, Blue Bottle won us over for its wide variety of full-bodied, robust flavors. We also love the simple packaging of this ethically sourced coffee, which is made in small batches.
Oxo Pour-Over Coffee Maker with Water Tank
This is a smart solution for a quick, mess-free single-serve coffee. Just add a cone coffee filter and the evenly distributed holes will allow water to flood through the grinds and make a strong cup of joe in seconds. The lid helps retain heat and also acts as a drip tray.
"The Coffee Dictionary" by Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood
This beautifully illustrated A-Z of everything coffee-related will be a delight for connoisseurs. It’s authored by U.K. barista champion Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, who’s also published "The Business of Specialty Coffee" for those interested in the commercial aspects of coffee.
Golde Superwhisk USB-Rechargeable Frother
This nifty little milk frother is USB-rechargeable, has two speeds and can fit into a drawer or bag for travel purposes. It even has a cap that prevents it from getting damaged in transit. It's one of our editors' favorite coffee products.
Dreamfarm Espresso Knock Box
For people who already own an espresso machine, this useful accessory will enhance their coffee-making experience. Just bang the portafilter (the part of the machine that holds the coffee grounds) on the edge and the compressed coffee pops out smoothly. Plus, the rubber sleeve means you can knock out your coffee without waking the whole neighborhood.
Acme Tajimi Cup
Acme has a gorgeous range of simple porcelain cups made in its 100-year-old ceramics factory in Tajimi, Japan. We particularly love these 10-ounce handleless cups that come in two subtle colors.
Design by Humans The Great Wave of Coffee T-Shirt
Does the coffee lover you're shopping for need a wave of coffee to wake up? Inspired by the Japanese woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa, this cotton tee was designed by gloopz at Design by Humans and comes in seven colors.
Mother Tongue Coffee Subscription
This female-owned company places an emphasis on buying coffee from women-operated farms. The coffee subscription comes recommended by Hendon, who says: “They are really excellent roasters and nice people.”
Gonzone Measuring Spoon
Never mismeasure your coffee again with this durable walnut wood-handled measuring spoon.
Barista Hustle Membership Plan
For coffee lovers who already have all the gadgets, the gift of learning could be a good option. “We're kinda like the 'Netflix of Coffee,'" says Jem Challender, head of the education department at Barista Hustle. "So for 15 bucks a month, you can gift your favorite coffee enthusiast a three- or six-month gift certificate and they can rock 18 separate certifications, from espresso-making and how to make competition-standard pour-overs to understanding coffee production, processing and roasting.”
Best gifts for coffee lovers under $50
Hario Cold Brew Bottle
Celli loves this minimalistic device for cold brew. “It’s ideal for making cold brew at home or in small cafes," he says. "It can brew up to 700 milliliters of concentrated cold brew per extraction, extracting coffee without bitterness or acidity. It's simple to use: Just add coffee, water and let it steep.”
BaristArt Latte Portraits
For the coffee lover who is also a pet parent, acclaimed barista and latte artist Michael Breach creates custom latte art portraits. “People send me a reference photo of a person or pet and I basically create it by hand and send them stills and a time-lapse video of the creation coming together,” he explains.
Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker With Reusable Tumbler and Filter
This single-serve iced coffee maker is affordable, simple to use and has a reusable filter to eliminate the need for paper cones.
From $26 at Walmart
$28 at Amazon
AeroPress Original Coffee Press
We love this compact, lightweight appliance for making the perfect espresso shot without the high cost of a bulky commercial machine. It’s ideal for people living alone or with limited kitchen counter space. It’s also a great travel companion for coffee enthusiasts. Edmonsond calls it a "compact solution for making excellent coffee in hotel rooms or just about anywhere hot water can be found.”
Motta Coffee Needle Coffee Disperser
“Achieving a uniform density of coffee in the filter before tamping is crucial for a great espresso,” says Celli, who recommends this ingenious, Italian-made tool designed to distribute the ground coffee evenly in the filter. “It's compatible with any portafilter and significantly improves the consistency and quality of coffee extraction.”
Bialetti Venus Stovetop Coffee Maker
This sleek, stylish coffee maker is made of durable stainless steel that will last for years. It’s portable, easy to clean and makes great coffee every time. It’s available in three sizes, making between four to 10 small cups for each brew.
Miir Camp Cup
The outdoorsy person in your life should enjoy this camp cup with a grippy handle that will keep their coffee hot for hours. It’s got a slider lid for sipping on the go and comes in plenty of fun colors and four different sizes.
Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister
Fresh beans are essential for tasty coffee, so a vacuum-sealed storage container is a must-have. The airtight seals on these containers extend the life of your beans, so they last longer than if they were stored in the paper bags they come in from the store.
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug
When we tested the best travel coffee mugs, this one came out top for its durability and ability to retain heat for long periods. It's wonderfully leakproof with a lockable lid.
"The World Atlas of Coffee" by James Hoffmann
Written by world-famous coffee expert James Hoffmann, this global compendium covers the countries where coffee is grown, the farmers who grow it and the cultures surrounding its consumption. It’s illustrated with color photographs of places that’ll inspire wanderlust in coffee lovers, like Uganda, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Haiti and Puerto Rico.
Fellow Carter Move Mug
This portable, insulated mug is recommended by Adam Edmonsond, a coffee specialist at Masters of Coffee. “For a coffee lover on the go, a ceramic-lined BPA-free travel mug such as those made by Fellow will keep coffee hot, is easy to clean and doesn’t absorb odors," he says. Its gorgeous sleek design is just a bonus.
Black & White Roasters 2 Bag Subscription
This is an excellent subscription for people who like variety and surprise. Black & White’s roasting team chooses the coffees for this subscription at the beginning of each month for your home delivery. “They buy exotic naturals and really do a good job sourcing the coffee," says Hendon.
Best gifts for coffee lovers under $100
Intelligentsia Chemex Brew Bundle
This attractive pour-over gift set comes from the Chicago-based coffee makers at Intelligentsia. It comes with the company’s Frequency Blend beans, which promise “hints of golden raisin, raw sugar and molasses.”
Oxo Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
If you want to grind large amounts of coffee (up to 12 ounces) without any physical exertion, then this is a great grinder for home use. It has 15 grind size settings, ranging from very fine for espresso to coarse for use with a French press. “A burr mill grinder is essential for creating evenly sized grounds that are optimal for flavor extraction," says Edmonsond.
Aoyoshi Wood-Handled Pouring Kettle
This elegant stovetop kettle ensures smooth and even water distribution with classic style. The wide-bottom design helps with heat efficiency, meaning the water boils quickly to make those rushed mornings a little bit easier.
The Sill Coffee Plant
A coffee plant is a glossy and delightfully low-maintenance plant that thrives indoors. Just place it in a warm, bright place and water every one or two weeks. While it's unlikely that you’ll get a coffee harvest from it, it is still an attractive tribute to your morning coffee.
Timemore Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder
This handheld coffee grinder can grind about 1 ounce of beans evenly and quickly, at adjustable levels of coarseness. Its built-in bearing means not much elbow grease is required.
Best gifts for coffee lovers under $200
Escali London Sip 3-Piece Pour Over Coffee Set
This set comes with everything you need for pour-over coffee, except the coffee. It includes a slender gooseneck kettle, a glass carafe with a reusable stainless steel filter and a stainless steel coffee scoop.
Frieling Double-Walled Stainless-Steel French Press
This French press features insulation, a zero sediment filter and a gorgeous, minimalist design, making it worth every penny. It retains heat for up to four times longer and is far more difficult to break than the usual glass options.
Ember Mug 2
This is an excellent gift for that ultra-busy friend who will forget about their coffee until it goes cold. The Ember Mug 2 has adjustable temperature controls and can last all day with its charging coaster. It comes in 10- and 14-ounce sizes.
Espresso Academy Barista and Coffee Courses
The experts at Espresso Academy in Italy also have a myriad of online courses, from mastering espresso machine setup to honing professional tasting skills. (Or, check out the options on MasterClass from World Champion Barista Dale Harris and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, where he describes the story of Starbucks and shows off his favorite French press.)
Breville Milk Café Electric Frother
Create the ultimate foam for cappuccinos and lattes with this easy-to-clean milk frother. It has a dial that allows you to set your desired temperature and foam consistency. When you’re done, just pop the attachments into the dishwasher or rinse them in the sink.
Best gifts for coffee lovers over $200
Acaia Pearl Model S Kitchen Scale
For hardcore coffee lovers, Hendon recommends this professional-quality coffee scale, which he describes as “top of the line.” For a cheaper alternative, he says that he enjoys using the DiFluid Microbalance.
Breville Barista Express Impress
If you’re on the hunt for an espresso machine with a built-in grinder, then this highly-rated option from Breville could be a good choice. The grinder has 25 settings and sits on top of the machine to save counter space.
Baratza Forte Flat Burr Coffee And Espresso Grinder
Pro barista, coffee roaster and latte artist Cortney Kern recommends two grinders by Baratza for coffee aficionados on different budgets. “When you spend a little more, you’ll get less fines in your brew basket. Fines are an enemy because they clog the channel of hot water at the bottom of the brew basket in the filter, which causes over-extraction and more bitter cup results," says Kern. "I recommend the Baratza Encore as a starter grinder. But I own a Baratza Forte BG on my counter at home, which uses flat burrs and produces the least amount of fines."
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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