And just like that, the holiday season is upon us once again. Lucky for you, 2022 has been something of a banner year for new coffee products. From the best new books to state-of-the-art new grinders, we’ve assembled the top gifts any coffee lover would be ecstatic to receive.
Etkin 8-Cup Coffee Dripper
Am I biased in putting my own coffee dripper in a holiday gift guide? Yes. Do I think you should buy one for everyone on your gift list? Also yes.
I made the Etkin 8-Cup Coffee Dripper because I didn’t have a pour-over dripper that could brew enough coffee for my wife and me in one batch. The few options I could find for larger drippers were conical, but I wanted a flat-bottom dripper for smoother extractions and more sweetness. This 100% Turkish porcelain dripper is optimized to brew up to a liter of coffee. This is the perfect gift for that one person you know who drinks way too much coffee, or needs to drink more coffee.
How to Make the Best Coffee at Home by James Hoffmann
We have a pretty simple rule: if James Hoffmann writes a book, buy it. The world barista champion/YouTube superstar followed up the success of his magisterial World Atlas of Coffee with a more approachable, practical guide How to Make the Best Coffee at Home. Whether you’re a novice home barista or a seasoned pro, the book is a great addition to any coffee nerd’s library.
Acaia Orbit
Move over Tickle Me Elmo, the hottest– and hardest to find– gift this holiday season is the Acaia Orbit. Acaia has long made the coffee world’s most esteemed smart scales. For their first foray into the world of grinding they teamed up with industrial designer Douglas Weber to make this 64 mm flat burr beauty. Extremely limited quantities are available.
Cafec Coffee Filters
When we heard that Cafec had developed different filters for dark roast and light roast, we were skeptical. Then we tested them. The different weight of paper has dramatically different flow rates, designed to complement the different flow rates one finds at different roast degrees. So whether that special someone in your life likes Nordic-light or Starbucks-dark, Cafec has you covered.
Saki Kettle
When it comes to kettles, there are basically two sorts: high-end design pieces with lots of features, and generic budget-friendly ones with questionable provenance. At $140, the Saki Kettle offers a lot of features typically seen at a higher price point, including PID temperature control and a smart light ring indicator to let you know when your water is done heating.
Rivers Keat 1200 Thermo Jug
Every coffee drinker needs a good thermos, and the Japanese outdoor brand Rivers might have the smartest-looking one we’ve seen. You don’t need to be an avid adventurer to appreciate the subtle beauty of this olive green 1.2-liter thermo jug. Available in the US from Slow Pour Supply.
Tricolate
Hop on the zero-bypass bandwagon with the Tricolate. A laboratory-grade filter and custom water dispersion screen ensure that your coffee gets the evenest extraction possible. For those worried about plastic, the Tricolate is made from Tritan® plastic, which doesn’t contain BPA, BPS or any other bisphenols.
Flair Espresso Maker
Making café-quality espresso at home is neither easy nor cheap. Traditionally, we’ve been wary of any espresso machine below a $600 price point. Simply put, cheaper machines don’t have the hardware necessary to get a proper shot.
That was until Flair came along and revolutionized the home espresso market. The Flair Espresso Maker boasts a lot of features typically only seen on commercial espresso machines, such as a 58 mm basket and the ability to pull a shot at a full 6-9 bars.
Third Wave Water
Filter coffee is more than 98% water. Very likely, the easiest way for you to improve your morning cup is to start using better water to make coffee. The team at Third Wave Water, which literally includes a NASA scientist, came up with a blend of minerals to add to distill water designed to bring out the best flavors in your coffee. With different formulas for filter, espresso, and dark roast, you can be sure you’re tasting your coffee’s full potential with Third Wave Water.