And just like that, it’s December and you’re wondering what to get the coffee addict in your life. Maybe you’re asking yourself, do they really want one more coffee-related gift? And the answer, of course, is yes. After all, what else are you going to give someone on a day you’re forced to wake up at the crack of dawn to open presents? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled the top coffee related gifts for the holiday season at a variety of price points. Coffee from your favorite roaster not included.
thecoffeecompass.com Travel Mug
We spent years searching for the best insulated travel mug, and hands down Miir’s tumbler takes the cake. It’s the perfect size, its heat retention is second to none, and, most importantly, the air-tight lid is dribble free. We did a super limited run of matte white, laser-etched 12 oz tumblers, and we couldn’t be happier with them. We use ours almost everyday and so far we’ve only found one flaw: it keeps the coffee too hot.
Breville Precision Brewer
It used to be coffee aficionados on the hunt for an automated home brewer basically had two options: the Technivorm Moccamaster and the Bonavita 1900. Now, there are so many SCA-certified brewers on the the market it can be hard to choose. But one product has emerged as the new gold standard. The Breville Precision Brewer offers unprecedented control at a consumer level with the ability to set temperature and prewet time– two features missing in both the Technivorm and Bonavita. It also allows the user to control the contact time and choose between a flat bottom and conical shaped basket.
Baratza Virtuoso+
We’ve long felt the Baratza Virtuoso is the best value home filter grinder. It can’t match the grind quality of the Vario or Forte, but at ~$250 it’s a much more approachable price point, and a serious upgrade from the entry level Encore. In 2019 Baratza gave the Virtuoso a nice facelift and upgraded the timer to a digital interface. For quality-obsessed home brewers on a budget, this grinder is your huckleberry.
The New Rules of Coffee
Specialty coffee people tend to take themselves a little too seriously. Thankfully, Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen approach their book with the same playful irreverence they’ve become known for on their ground breaking website Sprudge. Whether it’s explaining why acidity in coffee is good or why the flat white doesn’t actually exist, Michelman and Carlsen are simultaneously informative, approachable, and fun.
AeroPress Go
Like many coffee pros, whenever we’re packing for a trip, we always reach for our AeroPress. The iconic brewing device has inspired an international competition and even a documentary film. After years of essentially selling one product, AeroPress sent shockwaves through the coffee community when they announced the AeroPress Go, a smaller AeroPress optimized for travel. Do we need an Aeropress optimized for travel? No. Is that going to stop us from buying an AeroPress Go? Also no.