Need help coming up with ideas for gifts for coffee lovers on your holiday shopping list?

The holidays are almost here! Black Friday has already come and gone. Still searching for gift ideas? Well maybe I can help.

I have put together a list of holiday gifts for coffee lovers. There are two categories of items on this list:

1. Most of these gift ideas are things that I have personally used, own, and love enough to buy again for the coffee lovers on my list.
2. Some items I have not personally used but I have researched extensively and have enough amazing reviews that I plan to buy them either for myself or my family and friends.

Enough with the introduction, lets get to the good stuff.

Gifts for Coffee Lovers: 2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Stocking Stuffers

33 Cups of Coffee Book:

This small journal is small and easy to carry in your bag, purse, or back pocket. Coffee lovers can quickly record and track the coffee they try complete with tasting notes. Awesome way to expand your coffee palate and remember that amazing cup of coffee you had on your travels. This company also makes similar journals for wine, beer, whiskey and more!

A bag of coffee from a local specialty roaster:

Oftentimes the best stuff can be found right next door. Support your local coffee roaster and buy a few bags as gifts.

Coffee mugs:

Everyone loves coffee mugs. I personally love quotes that make me think or inspire me.  I just bought these mugs for myself with the famous quote that Ben Franklin asked himself every morning “What good shall I do this day?”

For the Traveler

It can be really hard to find good coffee when you are traveling. Sometimes you just have to bring your own. For the coffee lover on your list that travels often you could make their life easier with a two gift combination. With these two gifts your friend will only need hot water to have excellent coffee where ever their travels take them.

Small travel-friendly hand held coffee grinder.

There are a few options out there but I’d recommend the Hario Skerton Coffee Mill. This will allow your jet-setting friend to grind their own beans on the go.

Aeropress.

Yes, I know this thing looks like a giant syringe but trust me this baby makes some seriously good espresso and coffee. Not to mention it packs small and is light.

For the Home Barista

Brew: Better Coffee At Home

Author Brian Jones nails it in this book. This is one of my favorite, most approachable, and actionable coffee books. It is also visually gorgeous and could easily have a home on your coffee table.

This book will walk you through the steps about how to make better coffee at home using a variety of different coffee brewing methods. There are also delicious coffee drink recipes.

 

For the History Buff

Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World

Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast takes a detailed look at the history of coffee. And I mean detailed.

If someone on your shopping list loves both coffee and history this book will surely be a hit.

For the Refined, Classic Gentleman

Chemex Coffee Maker

Let’s be honest, if something is cool enough for Bond, James Bond is it cool enough for anyone on your list. James Bond used a Chemex in Ian Fleming’s classic From Russia, With Love.

“Breakfast was Bond’s favourite meal of the day. When he was stationed in London it was always the same. It consisted of very strong coffee, from De Bry in New Oxford Street, brewed in an American Chemex, of which he drank two large cups, black and without sugar.” Chapter 11, From Russia, With Love (1957)

Chemex has been a family owned company from Massachusetts making their classic coffee makers the same way since the 1940s. If the classic gentleman on your list doesn’t already have one a Chemex would be a great choice. This classic pour over style coffee maker is displayed in the Corning Museum of Glass and was named one of the 100 best designed products for modern times by the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Hard to argue with that kind of success.

You should know that Chemex requires specific Chemex bonded filters.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

As cousin Eddie said “Clark, that’s the gift that keeps on giving all year.”

No, I am NOT suggesting you give a jelly of the month club. Gross!  Don’t be a dick like that. But what about a coffee membership? Now we are talking!

There are a number of coffee membership out there now.  Here are just a few ideas that you could choose from.

Mistobox:

Mistobox is one of the most popular coffee subscription services out there. For about $20/month including shipping Mistobox will deliver a 12 ounce bag of whole bean coffee from different award-winning roasters. The cool thing about this service is that you can customize what you get. You can customize your preferences based on light, medium, or dark roast as well as single origin coffees vs blends. As far as gift options go subscriptions include 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Your friend then gets to personalize the gift and select the types of coffee they prefer.

Angel’s Cup:

Angel’s cup is a totally different model compared to Mistobox. While Angel’s Cup does offer a similar option (12oz bag shipment for $20) their real focus is on allowing you to try different coffees. With their main subscription options you receive 4 different coffees with each shipment. In The Cupping Flight you receive four 32g samples for $10/shipment and The Black Box option you receive four 2.75oz samples. The cupping flight is just enough to cup coffee (tasting it the way the pros do) but the Black Box gives you enough to make about two full brews of each coffee. Angel’s Cup is a great way to expand your coffee palate and taste many different coffees. Another cool feature–this subscription comes with a smartphone app that you can record tasting notes. Angel’s Cup doesn’t tell you what the coffees are or their tasting notes right away, letting you blindly taste them before comparing your tasting notes to the pros. I just bought The Black Box subscription for myself.

Individual Roaster Subscriptions: 

Many specialty coffee roasters are now offering their own subscription services. While you don’t get to sample the variety that Mistobox or Angel’s Cup provides, this is a great way to support your favorite coffee roaster. There are many out there so see if your local roaster offers something like this.  A few of my favorites offer a subscription service like Coava Coffee, Brandywine Coffee Roasters, and Heart Coffee Roasters.

 

For the Person Who Already Has Everything

Ratio Eight Coffee Maker

What Apple did for smartphones Ratio is doing for coffee makers. The clean design with wood next to metal, exposed screws, and minimal buttons is absolutely freaking gorgeous. This coffee maker would make a great addition to any modern kitchen.

But the Ratio Eight Coffee Maker isn’t just about great design, the function is just as good. This machine heats coffee to the perfect temperature of extraction (something that MOST automatic coffee machines do not do) and the function mimics the pour over technique.

This is NOT a cheap coffee maker. But Ratio builds these coffee makers by hand in Portland, Oregon using real wood, and cast aluminum. It is also gorgeous and brews a delicious cup of coffee.

You can learn more check out some other color options at ratiocoffee.com.

Happy Holidays from Roast and Reason

I hope this list of gifts for coffee lovers gives you some ideas for yourself or the coffee lovers on your shopping list.

Happy Holidays everyone.