The holidays are here, and soon you’ll be exchanging presents with friends and family. If there’s a burgeoning coffee enthusiast on your list that you still haven’t gotten a present for, we at Driftaway Coffee have a few suggestions. For people just starting to enjoy better coffee, there are lots of gift options, from necessary equipment to helpful aids.
KRUPS GVX212 Coffee Grinder
Aside from a coffee maker and a way to heat water, a grinder is the next-most-important piece of equipment. For people just starting to learn about coffee, we recommend the KRUPS GVX212 Coffee Grinder. It’s a decent burr grinder (avoid purchasing a blade grinder), and you should be able to find it for under $50.
Chemex Glass Coffee Maker
If you’re recipient’s just getting into coffee, they’ve likely heard about manual pour-overs — and they may be asking for one. If they have their eye on a specific one, go with that pour-over. If they haven’t mentioned one, might we suggest the Chemex Glass Coffee Maker. Chemex’s glass and wood construction creates a beautiful design, and it comes in several different sizes (3-, 6-, 8- and 10-cup).
Bonavita Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle
In order to brew great coffee with any pour-over system, you need to be able to precisely control the water temperature, flow rate and pattern. The Bonavita Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle does all of that. Priced just under $75, it’s not the cheapest gooseneck kettle available, but it’s our favorite one.
Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker
The other coffee maker that’s extremely popular right now is the Aeropress. With this, your recipient will be able to make a variety of coffee drinks, including a kind of espresso. The Aeropress is especially good for beginners, because it comes with several recipes that include step-by-step directions. There are even more recipes online and available through apps.
Hario Coffee Drip Scale and Timer
Although most people measure their coffee grounds by volume using a scoop, we recommend weighing coffee instead. In short, weighing the coffee that will be used during brewing ensures that the coffee-to-water ratio remains consistent and correct. Unless your recipient already has a kitchen scale they can use to weigh coffee, a coffee scale would be a practical gift for them. One model we like is the Hario Coffee Drip Scale and Timer.
Everything But Espresso
There are lots of good books for people who are just learning about coffee. One of the best books on brewing coffee is Everything But Espresso. It goes into the nitty-gritty of brewing coffee, explaining why certain brewing techniques work and others don’t. Sure, there’s some chemistry towards the end of the book, but brewing coffee involves a lot of science. For a lighter introduction to brewing coffee, The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee has some good brewing guides that don’t include as much Chemistry.
A Coffee Subscription
Of course, a gift every coffee enthusiast appreciates is great coffee. If your recipient is just learning about the world of coffee, our coffee subscription might be the best gift of all. The first selection we’ll send them is a sample pack that introduces them to different roast profiles and countries, and helps them identify what characteristics they like.
