Note: This article was updated in December 2023
If there’s a coffee lover in your family or circle of friends, you know that the best gift for coffee lovers should be related to coffee. But what gifts does a true coffee lover appreciate?
If you’ve looked around online or in coffee shops, you might be confused by all the talk of grinders (why do they have burrs?!), kettles (why are their necks curvy?), and odd-looking pour-overs.
We’re going to help you out. This article is a simplified list of coffee gifts for coffee lovers. In fact, this is our wish list of coffee-related items.
**Flavors of Bogota is supported by our readers. When you click on some of the links in this article, we might earn a tiny affiliate commission – at no extra cost to you. And we only recommend items that we actually use and love.
Coffee Education
Before being able to brew awesome coffee, a coffee lover needs to know what constitutes good coffee, how to taste coffee, and how to brew it.
Online courses are a fast and fun way to approach coffee, no matter what level a coffee lover is at in their coffee journey. Take a look at our courses on the Latin American Coffee Academy to find the right course for your coffee lover.
For people who want to learn more about how coffee is grown and cultivated, we have our course, From Coffee Plant to Your Coffee Cup.
If your coffee lover wants to learn how to taste coffee, check out our Taste Coffee Like a Pro course.
Now let’s get into the gear a coffee lover will be thrilled to receive.
Our favorite coffee gifts for coffee lovers
Grinders
Brewing starts with a good grinder. Blade grinders can be inexpensive and are a step up from buying ground coffee off the shelves of a supermarket.
So why do we love burr grinders rather than blade grinders? Blade grinders heat up the coffee beans as they grind, which makes the brew bitter. And they truly grind the coffee beans rather than chopping them. That gives you consistently ground coffee that improves the flavor immensely.
The cheapest type of burr grinder will often be a handheld grinder. These small grinders are efficient at doing their job and easy to travel with. In fact, if you love the AeroPress brewing method, many slimmer grinders fit inside an AeroPress.
You can find hand grinders at any price point, from inexpensive to heart-stoppingly expensive.
Keep in mind that hand grinding enough coffee for a cup does take a bit of elbow grease – and hand grinding for several cups is a downright…well…grind. So opt for a hand grinder if you’ll be making just one cup at a time.
The Hario coffee grinder is excellent for the price. it’s silent, easy to travel with or use at work, and has adjustable grind settings. It’s also ideal for a work coffee station with limited space.
With a beautiful design and a solid feel in your hand, the Timemore Manual Grinder makes a great mid-level manual grinder. It’s efficient – I find that one turn grinds about half a gram of coffee, so you only need about 30 turns to get a cup.
The Timemore is less expensive than high-end grinders at an affordable price point and is lightweight enough to carry around, though not as lightweight as the JavaPress. My only complaint is the plastic top, which feels flimsy.
1Zpresso Manual Coffee Grinder
With a beautiful design and up to 35 g capacity, the 1Zpresso is a good grinder for pour-overs. It has a durable, solid build, adjustable handle, consistent grind, and is easy to assemble and take apart. The 48 mm stainless steel burrs are efficient, though as with most hand grinders, it can be hard to get to a fine grind for espresso. The 1Zpresso Manual Coffee Grinder is ideal for home use, since it is a bit heavy. Their Trailmaster is lighter and designed for travel.
The Comandante Coffee Grinder is an efficient, solid grinder with precise grinding capabilities. The 40 g capacity and nitro blade burrs make it stand out. But those capabilities coupled with the gorgeous design do add up to a high price point, over 4 times the price of entry-level manual grinders.
Electric grinders
If you’ll be making more than one cup, you can consider a larger grinder that has a motor behind it. One of the least expensive electric burr grinders that we love is this Oxo coffee grinder.
If your coffee lover will be making more than one cup, you can consider a larger grinder.
The Baratza Encore coffee grinder is an excellent entry-level burr grinder. It has 40 grind settings that make sure you’ll get exactly the grind you want while producing little noise and heat.
The Baratza Vario coffee grinder is made for commercial establishments, but it will give you complete control over your grind. It has an LED display, ceramic flat burrs, and the capacity to adjust the grind for 230 settings. What’s the benefit of ceramic burrs? They last longer than steel ones. And this grinder is super quiet.
Brewing coffee – Espresso machines
Now we’ll talk about brewing methods. If you love espresso, you’ll be happy to know that an espresso machine for home isn’t necessarily the huge investment it once was.
You can choose from the ultra-simple to the ultra-complex (and expensive). What type do you need?
- Obviously, your budget is a factor.
- How much maintenance you want to do is another factor.
- How many espressos will you want to make a one time?
This DeLonghi espresso maker is an excellent place to start, since it won’t break the bank but will give you some experience with an espresso machine.
This Breville Barista Express comes in at a good price that’s a step up from the basic machine.
Looking for something with all the bells and whistles? This Jura espresso maker does it all, from grinding your beans to brewing your coffee.
Brewing coffee – manual methods
Manual espresso machine
The Flair Espresso Maker is our favorite for making espresso – true espresso – without the high cost, maintenance, or used counter space. It’s not as easy to use as a press-button-and-go espresso maker, but it’s much easier on the wallet, you can use the coffee you want, and you still get that flush of accomplishment when you pull the perfect espresso.
Here’s the Flair Manual Espresso Maker classic version:
Or the less expensive Flair Neo :
French Press
I love my French Press. It’s an easy-to-use brewing method that’s generally the first one I reach for when I’m going to brew my first cup of the day. There are no special skills to master, no complex techniques. Just add the coffee, let it steep, stir and press the plunger. Voilà!
This Chambord French Press by Bodum comes in one-cup to eight-cup sizes and a variety of colors.
Aeropress
Easy to travel with and easy to clean, the AeroPress Clear is a favorite with many baristas. It’s a simple way to get fantastic coffee. It’s easy to take on a trip, since it’s unbreakable and lightweight.
It does require a bit of skill to learn to use, but you’ll have a cup of coffee in just 2-3 minutes with minimal cleanup. Keep in mind that it does make just one cup of coffee at a time.
And if you’d rather not use bleached paper filters, check out these metal filters, which produce fantastic coffee.
Hario V60
Considered one of the best ways to get a balanced cup, the Hario V60 is going to help achieve good body with balanced acidity and a pleasant sweetness. When you change the pour speed and techniques you can increase the body, make the coffee sweeter, or bring out the acidity.
While the acrylic Hario V60 doesn’t have a beautiful appearance, it does provide better heat retention. It’s also lightweight and nearly impossible to break, so it’s great to travel with.
You might like the colors and the heft of a ceramic Hario V60.
We personally like the looks of this copper Hario V60, although the heat retention is abominable.
Chemex
The Chemex is one of the most beautiful coffee brewing methods, creating a clean and balanced cup. They come in sizes ranging from 3 cups to 13 cups, and with or without the cute wood decoration (called a collar) that protects your hands from the hot glass.
Don’t forget to buy the filters, which come folded, unfolded, bleached or natural.
Moka Pot
You may have heard that a Moka Pot makes espresso without the expensive machine. In reality, a Moka Pot can’t create the pressure needed to get a true espresso. But it is easy to use, inexpensive and goes right on your stovetop.
Syphon
If the coffee lover in your life loves the geeky science behind coffee brewing, check out the Syphon brewer. It’s a great way to impress friends and have a gorgeous decoration for the kitchen counter.
If they’ve got some space in their kitchen and a love for cold brew, consider this Yama cold brew tower.
Drip coffee maker
Drip coffee makerIf you’re looking for a drip coffee maker, you may quickly get overwhelmed by all the choices. You want the convenience of a coffee maker that you can just plug in and forget. But the complexity of coffee makers these days can make you just want to buy the first one you see at Bed Bath & Beyond and be done with it.
But I’ll make this easier for you.
- Consider the capacity. Are you brewing for one or for a crowd?
- Do you need it to be fully programmable, with a flip of a switch you have coffee waiting for you in the morning?
- Do you want full control over all the variables in the coffee brewing process, such as temperature, brew time and type of showerhead?
- Do you need the coffee to stay hot for hours after you brew it?
- What temperature do you need the coffee held at?
- Do you need an incorporated grinder?
If you’re into specialty coffee, you might have heard of SCA-approved coffee makers. They have been reviewed to make sure the ratio, brew time and brew temperature, and the holding temperature are all in line with the regulations for specialty coffee. You can check out their page to look at their choices, but I’ll tell you that you don’t need to go for one of those coffee makers.
An incorporated grinder will save space, but you have to consider what will happen if the coffee maker or the grinder breaks down, you have to replace or repair both.
One drip coffee maker that meets the SCA requirements but won’t break the bank is this Bonavita. It’s small, easy to use, brews up 8 cups of coffee, and won’t burn your brew.
If you’re looking for a step up, this Oxo brewer is sleek, programmable, and meets the SCA requirements.
Kettles
For a true coffee lover, a gooseneck kettle is a must. The shape of the spout means the brewer can direct the water exactly where they want it to go.
This Bonavita kettle heats up in record time and the gooseneck means you can direct the water exactly where you want it to go. The holes in the lid are useful to stick in a thermometer to be sure of the exact temperature (thermometer not included). You can also purchase kettles with or without the heating element.
This Bodum Melior gooseneck kettle is an elegant yet budget-friendly place to start.
And we love how reliable this Gator kettle is.
Scales
ScalesIf you joined us for a coffee workshop, you know the importance of weighing your coffee and your water when brewing by hand. But that doesn’t mean you have to buy a scale. Perhaps you already have a digital scale in your kitchen. It just has to be a small one because you’ll be measuring small amounts of coffee at a time.
When you want to get more precise with your measurements – and have a timer incorporated – it may be time to purchase a dedicated coffee scale.
A scale to start with could be the Timemore coffee scale. It’s water-resistant and the design is attractive.
The Hario coffee scale is a classic choice for cafés and works well at home. It’s slim and attractive, accurate and reliable. Just remember that it’s not water-resistant and only has grams.
The KitchenTour coffee scale is inexpensive, includes a timer, and is simple to use. It won’t be the most precise scale you’ve had, but it’s a great place to start.
If you’re looking for something small, economical and easy to carry around, check out the Tomiba scale. At just 250 g, this might be the scale for camping, your RV, or if you’re just not ready to invest in a higher-end coffee scale.
Coffee storage
Coffee beans need to be as fresh as possible. The main enemies of coffee beans that make them lose their aroma and flavor are oxygen, sunlight, and humidity. You want to keep your beans in an oxygen free environment, protected from odd flavors in your kitchen and light. If you do that, your coffee will smell fresh even weeks after you bought it.
That’s why you should use a canister that keeps out the oxygen – but doesn’t expose your beans to foreign smells.
The Airscape Coffee Storage Canister is our favorite. It’s lightweight and easy to use. It sucks the oxygen out of the canister (listen for the satisfying woosh sound as you press the lid down) and then keeps it out. The lid also lets CO2 escape, which is essential if you have freshly roasted coffee. And it comes in nifty colors. The 64 oz version holds about a pound of coffee. When you’re ready to take your coffee experiences to the next level, check it out.
Note: Please don’t store coffee beans in the freezer or refrigerator, where all the barely noticed smells lurking there will creep into your beans.
Coffee cups
Where you serve your coffee is less essential than all the other factors that I’ve mentioned, but it can add to your enjoyment.
Elegant and simple, the DeLonghi glasses will keep your coffee warm while letting you appreciate the colors in your cappuccino.
If you want to impress your coffee lover friend, consider these marbelized Coffeezone cups. The luxurious gold on black design, generous size, and the large handle makes them good for curling up in front of a fire with a frothy cappuccino.
Coffee roaster
Know someone who wants to try their hand at roasting coffee in your kitchen? Most roasters are expensive and large for your average kitchen. I love Poppo, Sweet Maria’s solution that blends simplicity with efficiency.
Poppo is a regular air popcorn popper. But regular popcorn poppers present some difficulties, especially with air flow that can let chaff accumulate and pose a fire hazard. But the Poppo comes with a sleeve that eliminates that problem. You can roast about 1/4 pound of coffee in less than 15 minutes, and control the roast level you want. You can buy this little popping machine with or without green coffee.
Coffee books
Grown on mist-covered hills by successive generations of hard-working families, coffee from Colombia is considered some of the best. However, appreciating and evaluating specialty coffee can be a challenge.
Coffee experts often intimidate beginners with complicated questions and impenetrable explanations. The good news is that you don’t have to run screaming out of the coffee shop or flee the farm. With the information in this book you will be ready to impress the pros and talk coffee on their terms.
Permission to Slurp will also help you to understand how coffee growers and their families benefit when you purchase specialty coffee, and you’ll realize that you can help change lives and shape futures.
How to Taste Coffee: Develop Your Sensory Skills and Get the Most Out of Every Cup
How to Taste Coffee will help you develop your sensory skills with author Jessica Easto, who explains why flavor notes in coffee are not as straightforward as they are with other beverages. This book walks you through how our senses perceive coffee, what creates and affects coffee flavor, and how to practice your sensory skills using the tools and resources that coffee professionals use.
We Belong: An Anthology of Colombian Women Coffee Farmers
In this collection of intimate photography and short vignettes, Lucia Bawot tells the life stories of 25 Colombian women coffee farmers. Learn about their struggles, joys and dreams in We Belong.
Coffee gifts for coffee lovers – coffee education
How do you use all these methods and equipment? You can learn about coffee and coffee brewing at your local coffee shop. There are also tons of videos on the Internet about coffee brewing. Our book, Permission to Slurp, sets out some simple brewing guidelines so that anyone can brew like their favorite barista.
If you or a coffee lover in your circle enjoys online learning, take a look at our coffee courses at the Latin American Coffee Academy. For people who want to learn more about how coffee is grown and cultivated, our course From Coffee Plant to Your Coffee Cup is ideal. If your coffee lover wants to learn how to taste coffee, check out our Taste Coffee Like a Pro course.
Or if they’re in Colombia, we would love to have them join us for a Specialty Coffee Workshop.
However you decide to learn about coffee, we hope you enjoy the journey. Life is too short for bad coffee.
Happy slurping!
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