Kahveh. Kāfēi. Coffee. Universally recognized as a magical brew that imparts the strength to do the exact amount of adulting necessary each day. Low hanging fruit perhaps, since about 95 percent of your friends enjoy hot drinks of some sort (watch out for the others, they might be sociopaths) and about 90 percent is probably coffee. The links below the pictures are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase after clicking through my site.
Look, a gift card to a famous coffee shop might not disappoint. But empowering your true coffee lovers to make their favorite drink at home could be a gift that keeps giving. Of course we have some suggestions for the best home espresso makers- but we also have some more affordable drink making tools as well as suggestions for new beans to try. However, let’s start with mugs since they are one of my favorite gifts to give and receive.
This kiln fired absolute unit of a mug will hold 24 oz of coffee, so your friend doesn’t have to stand up 3 times to get coffee. Also dishwasher safe, because ain’t nobody got time for that otherwise.
The yeti: if they don’t have one yet, it’s because they haven’t yet justified buying it for themselves. Help save them from analysis paralysis, and get it for them. Minimalist design, but top notch engineering, materials AND construction. Yes, you can put them in the dishwasher. Their coffee would probably stay hot the whole day in this thing, if they didn’t drink it faster than that.
If you want the absolute bougiest, top of the line, “smart” temperature controlled mug- I would be loathe to keep the information from you. Don’t worry, it comes in rose gold (do the other colors even matter? Cause they do exist.)
Espresso Makers
If you want a good quality nespresso machine that won’t absolutely break the bank, this one is your best bet. The machine reads a barcode on each pod and automatically adjusts to it’s optimal brew method. It hits the mark for ease and convenience for sure. If you don’t prefer single use pods, there are some interesting reusable options to circumvent that issue.
Good for a friend with an office job, OR your office job friend (if you work at the same place, you can probably borrow it sometimes so it’s a win win. 😉 ) this instant espresso machine is PORTABLE my friends for all the office coffees, even CAMPING coffees.. I’m sorry I may have jumped the shark with this gift!!
I’m going to be honest, my personal favorite espresso maker is actually the stovetop kind. Sure, it’s no frills, and you have to watch so it doesn’t burn. There is something satisfying to the ritual though, and I don’t think you will beat the price tag.
Mr. Coffee’s cafe barista does the shot and the steamed milk for you, making it the best choice for latte lovers. Plus no pods necessary, which is always a pro in my book. That does mean it takes a little more time to load the ingredients, but then it does all the work for you and I’ve heard cleaning is actually a breeze.
Milk Frothers
This frother doesn’t require heated milk, thus making it ideal for cold drinks like iced macchiatos. It is, unfortunately, hand operated which makes it less ideal for tech lovers, but is also affordable and harder to break.
This is my favorite every day frother. It has a protective case to ensure you don’t damage the whisk end in travel, froths in seconds and comes in battery or usb rechargeable versions. There are other colors but I prefer the stainless steel look.
This hight tech, versatile milk frother comes with a proportional price tag- but it is worth it. Cold froth, hot froth to a specified temp, steamed milk, or just a perfectly blended hot chocolate- it does it all with a touch of a button. Easily cleaned and even easier usability, this is a luxury your hot drink lovers will thank you for.
New Beans and Lattes to Try
For us mere mortals who feel aged before our time, this patent-pending scientifically innovated star trek worthy coffee remineralizes your body rather than dosing you with caffeine high enough to threaten your life. In this case, danger coffee is a misnomer, thankfully. It comes in at a bit higher price point, but keep in mind you are probably saving money when you brew at home anyway. In fact, I am sipping a cup of their pre ground medium roast as we speak. The flavor is definitely on the upper end of coffee (this is no F****rs sticks and twigs, folks) but the true star of the show is the quality of the caffeine high you get. It really is pleasant, folks.
Link coming soon!
For those of you who have drunk so much caffeine you can’t feel it anymore, death wish coffee may be perfect for you. Don’t say you weren’t warned- it’s literally in the name- this coffee has about 60 mg of caffeine… per fl oz. For comparison, that’s over 10x the caffeine in normal drip coffee! Include it in a gift basket for your die hard coffee lovers.
https://dangercoffee.com?ref=karendurtka
Bones coffee gets a special mention, because while my personal preference is a high quality, plain medium roast bean (I’ll control the additional flavor ratios later) Bones coffee has some really interesting innovative flavors infused right into the bean. Maple and bacon is my favorite so far, but if your coffee friend is looking to spice things up, macamaniac (macadamia flavored,) cinnabun, irish cream, or even mint chocolate chip ice cream flavored beans may delight. If you can’t choose one, they have a fabulous variety pack. And yes, of course they have a pumpkin spice infused bean. It’s called Jacked-o-Lantern. These are also a good choice for people who want flavored coffee without a ton of added calories via flavored syrups.