I’ve procrastinated enough, as it’s just over a week before Christmas as of this writing, so let’s get right to it.
To borrow slightly from James Hoffmann’s gift guide:
Do: some basic research
If you have a coffee person in your life, the easiest thing to do is get them talking about coffee with a few seemingly innocuous questions. Then listen. What’s the best place to get coffee near their home? Do they make their own coffee at home? How do they make it – coffee maker? French press? Espresso machine? Pour over? Nespresso? The answers will set you up for success as a gift giver. Giving someone a bag of great coffee beans goes from being a thoughtful idea to a complete waste when it turns out they love their Nespresso machine at home.
Don’t: get them a travel mug
I hadn’t thought of this until Hoffmann’s guide, but it’s almost a universal truth these days that between the office, the car, and a drawer at home, the average person already has too many water bottles/thermoses/travel coffee cups. The exception is if they ask for one, then go nuts.
Let’s get into a few wonderful things you can get the coffee person you love – or for yourself.
A cup to call their own
While everyone and their brother has too many travel mugs, a really nice cup for home or the office can make for a great gift. Artisan Bethany Slater makes beautiful ceramics, including unique coffee mugs and cups that are substantial, and microwave- and dishwasher-safe. I got my wife one, and it’s great. Best of all, if you live in the DC area you can arrange to pick up your purchase from Bethany’s house, which means you still have time to get something before Christmas.
Swag for days
I refuse to admit that I have too many coffee shop tees, because there’s no such thing. Every year I include some of my favorite swag from various cafes and roasters, here’s this year’s roundup. You can also check your recipient’s favorite coffee shop to see what they have on hand.
Onyx Coffee Lab
Home Team Tee
Tandem Coffee Roasters
Bike & Tandem Coffee Tee
Dogwood Coffee Company
Dogstars T-Shirt
WeBe Coffee Roasters
WeBe T-Shirts
The Exception to the Rule
You’re best off not trying to buy someone a coffee maker of any sort unless you’re completely certain it’s what they want. Coffee people are often extremely particular about the way they make their coffee, and getting this wrong can be a very expensive mistake. The one and only coffee maker that’s a likely winner no matter what is the AeroPress. It’s versatile, it’s easy to use, it’s portable, and it’s fun. Best of all it’s relatively inexpensive, so if you do get this wrong you aren’t out a ton of cash and the recipient isn’t in quite so awkward a position. There are now five different models and a lot of accessories available.
A Great Toy
If you’re looking for something for the home espresso or pour over maker, there’s a good chance they don’t already have a WDT, and there’s a good chance they’d enjoy using one. I’ve had one for about 8 months and love it. It should help for a more even distribution of coffee, avoiding channeling and increasing consistency, and it’s just enjoyable to use.
A WDT doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a lot of options available from Amazon. I’m partial to the look of wood handled versions much more than the metal or plastic variants. Here’s an example.
Learn Something
If you’re in a city of any size, there’s a good chance you can find coffee classes nearby. If there is a roaster in the area, see if their website has a Learning section. You can also do a search on Eventbrite for classes near you. If you are in a city with a Counter Culture Coffee education center, at spot at the free Tasting at Ten held every Friday morning can be a thoughtful gift; other roasters and cafes may also host cuppings and tastings.
Ask Them
The most fail-safe approach is to move beyond the innocent line of questioning to the more direct: what do you want? If they describe something that seems a little bewildering to you, you should at least be able to figure out the right place to get them gift cards: their favorite cafe, their favorite roaster, a particular merchant they like, or a coffee equipment retailer like Seattle Coffee Gear.