Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
There are two types of coffee-loving people: those who simply need caffeine to wake up and those who measure, grind, filter, and agitate to get the perfect brew. Whichever camp your recipient falls into, chances are there’s a gift out there that can improve their coffee routine. To help you find the perfect one, I talked with dozens of baristas, coffee roasters, and other self-identified coffee nerds about their own go-to ideas. I’ve included some personal recommendations, too — products I use at home and especially fun items I found scouring the internet. We’ve written a lot about coffee products in the past, so I also turned to all those stories and pulled the most special and delightful items to add to this list.
Everything is sorted by price so it’s simple to navigate. There’s a heavyweight coffee scoop that looks way more expensive than it is (and has been a Strategist favorite for years), a pro-approved $30 AeroPress attachment that turns the gadget into an espresso-maker, and a splurgy, hand-carved tamp so they can perform their routine in style. Read on for those and many more well-designed, unexpected, and downright useful gifts.
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For any coffee lover who finds calm in performing the ritual of coffee-making, this elegant stick is more than meets the eye: It can be used to stir, to agitate grounds for a more even brewing process, and to neatly add or subtract grounds if you’re off by a gram or two. Cary Wong, a member of the Partners Coffee Education Team, says it’s nice looking and well packaged, too.
This pretty woven trivet from the popular L.A. shop Canyon Coffee will let the pour-over diehard set their kettle down on the counter without damaging the surface. It also works as a barrier from cold surfaces to help keep Chemex coffee hotter for longer.
For the camper in your life, this set of silicone mouth protectors from Snow Peak (which, overall, has a lot of great camping coffee gear) will make an unexpected and thoughtful gift. The pieces fit over any single-walled mug, but you can also pair them with the brand’s titanium model to go above and beyond.
A coffee scoop can easily be overlooked (many machines come with a plastic version that works totally fine). But these truly gorgeous ones, which have a satisfying weight and easy-to-grip handle, says the Strategist contributor who originally recommended them, will make a pleasingly fancy upgrade.
Needing to run out the door before you’ve had your caffeine fix is a surefire way to ruin any coffee lover’s morning — but you can ensure that never happens by giving them this best-of-the-best travel mug. It’s beloved by three experts (and myself) because it’s super-sleek, retains hot and cold temperatures for hours, washes well, has a comfortable grip, and never (ever) leaks.
If they’re a dedicated cappuccino drinker, go with the KeepCup. It’s a smaller reusable mug designed to hold exactly that size, and because of its wide opening, if they take it to a shop, the barista will even be able to do foam art on top.
This ceramic vessel — a reusable version of the iconic NYC to-go cup — is a sweet little something to gift to a friend who lives in the city. Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa recently bought one for himself and plans to give the “charming reminder of the everyday, familiar items we come across” to others as a gift, he says.
To complete their pro-level espresso setup, give the gift of a sturdy knock box. It’s especially handy to have if they tend to make more than one drink in a row so that they don’t have to walk to and from the trash can to dispel used grounds.
Instant coffee gets a bad rap — but this one from Blue Bottle will likely change the mind of any aficionado and be a welcome improvement in the routine of any low-maintenance caffeine drinker. It’s an easy way to brew at home, but even more so, it’s a nice thing to take on trips when they’re unsure about the coffee setup.
Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio loves her dedicated coffee spoons from Caesna (the same brand that makes a perfect tinned-fish fork, for the record). They’re perfect for stirring in milk and sugar — and while a larger spoon would technically work, it simply feels nicer to have one that’s the exact right size for the job.
For the caffeine-addicted puzzler, Areaware’s small affogato puzzle is a sweet nod to what is possibly their favorite dessert. It makes a perfect tiny gift: easy enough to complete in 20 minutes or less and cute enough to keep around as art if that’s their thing.
If they drink iced coffee all year long, this handy cold-brew bottle, which has a stainless-steel mesh infuser attached to the lid, makes a clean-tasting cup with no dilution needed. Michael Phillips, global director of education and engagement at Blue Bottle Coffee, says it’s his own go-to gift because “it lands squarely in the middle of the Venn diagram of function, ease of use, and good design.”
Coffee snobs know the fastest way to end up with a subpar cup is to let ground beans sit around to dull — so give the person in your life who doesn’t have time to mess with a grinder the gift of preservation. This expert-approved airtight container is resistant to temperature changes, and the bottom part of the lid moves down to keep oxygen out as you make your way through.
For anyone who takes their brew slightly sweet, one of my favorite spice companies just released two comforting blends specifically for coffee in collaboration with Intelligentsia. Both — this one with notes of cocoa, vanilla, and cinnamon, as well as Coffee Cake Sugar — can be added directly to their brew.
I keep leftover coffee in a small pitcher in my fridge to drink iced, and this stylish one would make a great gift for anyone in your life who does the same. It’s more durable than it looks and won’t get hot to the touch if they pour brew in it before it has a chance to cool down.
Strategist writer Kitty Guo recently gifted this ceramic dripper to her coffee-drinking boyfriend with great success. It’s simply prettier than plastic versions and cleans up nicely, too.
This glass–and–stainless-steel cold-brew-maker is another top-tier option, recommended by MochaBox Coffee co-owners Harlin Thomas II and Floyd Sartin for those who want to make more brew at a time. They say it would be particularly thoughtful for a coffee drinker who dabbles in tea (or lives with a tea lover) because it doubles as an iced-tea-maker, too.
Zachery Elbourne, the general manager of Brooklyn’s Burly Coffee, says AeroPress users are fanatics, always experimenting with different ways to play with their brews — and this nifty gadget will let them do just that. It converts the AeroPress into a pressurized coffee maker that’s strong enough to pull an espresso shot so they can make a latte anytime the craving strikes (without having to empty their savings account for a full-on machine).
Coffee grinders, even the expertly designed ones, make a mess. Anyone in your life who insists on pulverizing fresh beans every day (good for them) will be able to wipe up after themselves efficiently with this stylish table dustpan and brush.
For the traveling coffee fiend, this clever collapsible press will let them make a delicious cup anywhere. They simply add grounds and hot water to the top compartment (that has a reusable stainless-steel filter), let it sit, then press down straight into a mug.
If they’re a coffee lover who always complains about spending too much at cafés, Chemex is an easy and classic at-home method. (For the record, I’ve heard food pros say they use theirs as a wine decanter and water pitcher, too, so consider it a three-in-one gift.)
Mugs make great gifts because you can never have too many — especially when they’re as handsome and satisfying to drink from as this thick, wide-handled ceramic one. You can choose from six core colors and a couple of limited-edition seasonal ones to match the vibe of your recipient.
If they prefer a handleless mug, this one is a favorite of mine. It feels nice to cup your hands around the whole thing (especially on a chilly morning), and I love that the varying wheel-thrown texture and glaze patterns make it clear that each one is handmade.
I used to think coffee pros were a bit snobby about milk frothers because they get the ideal consistency from high-powered (and massively expensive) espresso machines. Then I heard two of them say this affordable handheld one — ideal for anyone who insists on making lattes at home — “blew their minds” because it’s so powerful and creates a café-quality consistency.
If they’ve got every part of their coffee routine on lock, give them … something else flavored like their favorite drink. These novelty treats from Italy (you don’t see them very much in the States) are a dark-chocolate shell with a sugarcoated interior filled with slightly sweet actual espresso that bursts open in your mouth.
This is a coffee-adjacent gift idea, but one I think anyone who works from home and sips at their desk would appreciate it. I’m personally obsessed with these coasters (I’ve recommended them many times before) and think the leather tray is a thoughtful bonus for keeping things tidy.
If they care enough to grind their own beans but haven’t yet graduated from a scoop for measuring, this scale is a natural next step to an even better-tasting cup. It weighs in 0.1-gram increments to ensure perfection every single time.
Alongside the dripper mentioned above, Guo gave a handcrafted wooden coffee scoop to measure out beans. Each one is unique and meant to look like a tree branch — but they each measure ten grams for precise ratios.
Another at-home brewing option is Hay’s coffee pot, the initial appeal of which is obvious: It’s supercute. But Connie Blumhardt, publisher of Roast magazine, says it’s simple to use and produces a balanced brew.
Or if they prefer French press coffee, this particularly pretty Frieling maker comes in a myriad of colors so you can pick their favorite one. But that’s not even the best part: The double-walled construction means liquid stays hot much longer than in the standard glass version.
A coffee subscription is the gift that keeps on giving, and no company is better suited to tailor bags to every coffee lover’s specific tastes than Trade, which offers hundreds of varieties from roasters all over the country. Your recipient can fill out a questionnaire to make sure they’ll receive something they love each month.
If you like the idea of a subscription service but your recipient is a bit more cerebral about coffee, consider this option from Brooklyn’s Driftaway. The first delivery is what the shop calls an Explorer Box so they can see what’s on offer (as well as join a virtual tasting to learn about the beans) and then receive deliveries of full bags after that.
For anyone who likes trying different styles of coffee and brewing methods, this starter kit from Nguyen Coffee Supply will give them the opportunity to do so. It comes with a stainless-steel phin filter, the pour-over system used in Vietnam, as well as a scoop and three bags of beans sourced from the country.
Great espresso machines (even decent ones) can cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars — but not this portable version recommended by Driftaway’s own Suyog Mody and James McCarthy. It would make a fantastic gift for the person in your life who already has a fancy setup and travels a lot, but there’s no reason it can’t be used at home, too (especially by those with limited kitchen space).
This retro-looking stovetop moka pot brews directly into two shot glasses (instead of a large upper chamber). It’s the perfect way for the afternoon coffee drinker to get a quick hit of energy without running out to their local shop, and it’ll look cool sitting on their stovetop when not in use — a bonus for any practical gift.
Hario, the original creator of the gooseneck spout, makes a gorgeous copper version of its kettle. I simply love the look of it — and I think any pour-over diehard would be so happy to see this sitting out on their stovetop every day.
While experts love the NanoFoamer for a compact frother, it doesn’t actually heat milk. If you want to give a machine that does, the Nespresso Aerocinno is a great bet (and the one I keep in my own kitchen). It creates true microbubbles and has settings for a lot of foam, less foam, no foam, plus one that will produce cold foam for iced-latte occasions.
If they’re trying to up their coffee game but don’t have the space (or the money) for a top-tier electric grinder, the Porlex is a handheld model that Caroline Bell, owner of New York’s Cafe Grumpy, says would make a great gift. It’s easy to adjust, and the grind size is really consistent.
If they’re obsessed with their fancy espresso-maker (for the money, they probably should be), they’ll very likely appreciate a hand-carved wooden tamp from Saint Anthony Industries. It’s more beautiful than the tamps that come with machines and is built to be barista-level precise with a heavy base and sharp edges so no granules are left behind.
If they don’t have a microwave to reheat coffee, the Ember Mug will allow them to do it directly in the vessel they’re drinking from (and if they keep it on the base as they sip, it will maintain a hot temperature the whole way through). The mug heats to between 120 and 145 degrees in one-degree increments so they can choose exactly what feels ideal to them.
We’ve been touting the excellence of Fellow’s EKG Kettle since it came out five years ago — and it still holds up to this day with its precise gooseneck pour spout and exact temperature control. It’s the one I keep on my own counter, and it gets compliments from nearly everyone I have over because it’s just so handsome.
If they love coffee enough to drink several cups a day but are still hanging on to the $25 coffee maker they used in their first apartment, the Bonavita will make an excellent improvement. It’s as simple to use as any standard drip machine but produces a much better tasting cup thanks to a super-regulated water temperature as well as its flat-bottom basket and showerlike spout that ensure consistent water distribution and extraction.
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