Gift Ideas for Coffee Lovers

Kidding aside, a lot of coffee drinkers are locked into a routine.  They go to the same coffee shops and brew the same grounds day in and day out.  Receiving a different brand or flavor as a gift can be a great way to try something new.  So, go ahead and give them a bag of coffee beans.  While this is a perfectly appropriate standalone gift for some occasions, it can also make a great companion gift for almost any occasion.

After a while, heavily used coffee makers have a way of looking old and dingy.  Besides that, a lot of people, even people that love coffee, rely on a cheap coffee maker that they bought years and years ago.  A new way to brew can enhance every morning just a little bit.  This is especially true for coffee makers that have all of the latest bells and whistles like delayed brewing, temperature control, brew strength control, permanent filter, self cleaning features, and more.

While coffee lovers might have a workhorse coffee maker that reliably produces steaming mugs day in and day out, it can also be nice to have alternatives for less frequent use or special occasions.  It might be nice to make an occasional latte or cappuccino even if it’s too much work to do so every day.  Similarly, Nespresso machines have been growing in popularity and make a wonderful addition to any coffee lover’s kitchen.  Then there are french presses – truly a treat since they bring out richer flavors in the coffee that they make.  On the other end of the spectrum, there are Keurigs for a quick cup on the run.

When thinking through gift ideas for coffee lovers, one thing to consider is just how strong their affection is for this caffeinated beverage.  Some people enjoy a cup every day, but don’t really spend a lot of time thinking about it.  For others, coffee might become an intense passion.  For the serious coffee lover that is ready to take their game to the next level, coffee roasters might be just what the doctor ordered.  If you know someone that tries a lot of different exotic beans, and insists on grinding them personally, then roasting would be a natural extension.  Enthusiasts that do their own roasting can experiment with different techniques in search of the perfect flavor.  There is also no better way to get that ultra fresh, impossible to replicate flavor.

There is something to be said for a good coffee mug.  The right mug seems to enhance the coffee experience more than just about anything else.  Travel mugs can be a great gift as well.  Tread carefully though as it is notoriously difficult to find one that is easy to clean, doesn’t leak and doesn’t lessen the beverage’s appeal.  If you get this one right, you’re a hero.  For the entertainer, a matching set of mugs or even a carafe can be crowd pleasers.  Then there are coffee grinders.  Perfect for the person that is not quite ready to start roasting their own beans, but looking for something to make their coffee taste just a bit fresher.

Gift cards can get a bad rap at times.  Sometimes giving one as a gift feels like a bit of a cop out.  That said, there is a world of difference between a generic cash gift card and something a bit more personal.  For the frequent Starbucks visitor, a gift card can be a nice way to save a few dollars or a great reason to splurge on a hazelnut macchiato instead of a regular coffee.