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We’ve updated this guide with new picks, including a sleek French press.
Plenty of people love coffee. Yet it can be difficult to find just the right gift for someone who has a real compulsion—sorry, predilection—for a good brew. To find gifts for the person who worships at the altar of espresso and can’t stop tapping their heel at 4 in the afternoon, we spoke with a handful of experts, including the owner of New York City’s Ninth Street Espresso, and Wirecutter’s coffee-obsessed staffers.
New York Coffee Cup ($16 at the time of publication)
Nothing can replicate the experience of grabbing a coffee from a street cart before running to catch the subway on a perfect New York morning. But this ceramic cup, inspired by the classic to-go design from 1963, at least replicates part of it with a sustainable twist: Unlike the disposable paper original, this cup is dishwasher-and microwave-safe. It would make a great gift for a Big Apple expat or nostalgia-lover, says writer and LA-transplant Dorie Chevlen, who breaks hers out anytime she misses the rush and bustle of the city.
Hasami Mug (starting at $27 per mug at the time of publication)
Whether you’re shopping for a minimalist or a maximalist, you can’t go wrong by giving them a mug from Japanese ceramics company Hasami, which has been making porcelain items for more than 400 years. A collection of these sleek mugs in different sizes and complementary colors will still look cohesive, especially since the vessels stack effortlessly (which also makes storage easier). The Hasami Mug is dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and several Wirecutter staffers have enjoyed drinking from their own for years.
Ember Mug² (about $146 at the time of publication)
Though the concept of a mug that keeps your drink at your perfect temperature may sound absurd at first, James Hoffman, coffee expert and co-founder of Square Mile Coffee Roasters eventually warmed up to the idea (pun intended). “I drink coffee while working, and I’m prone to distraction—never having to worry about missing that window of temperature when your coffee tastes best is a fantastic thing,” he said. In our testing, we were impressed by the Ember Mug2, which allows temperature control through an app on your phone, from a toasty 120 °F to a piping hot 145 °F.
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug (about $30 at the time of publication) GSI Outdoors Glacier Insulated Doppio Mug (6½ ounces) ($13 at the time of publication)
At Wirecutter, we’re obsessed with the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug (which has remained our top pick over four years of testing). And when your loved one receives this travel mug, they will be equally enthused. With its vacuum insulation, the Zojirushi keeps coffee hot for hours, even in cold environments (so it’s equally good to use on winter hikes and in chilly apartments). And thanks to the secure lid-locking mechanism, the Zojirushi doesn’t spill a drop. This model also comes in several cute color options, so you can choose the one that suits your gift recipient’s style.
Alternatively, if the on-the-move coffee lover in your life is more of an espresso person, get them a smaller vessel. The GSI Outdoors Glacier Insulated Doppio Mug has a double wall and a press-fit lid, both of which help keep drinks hot. This mug also comes in several colors, either solid or speckled.
Felt+Fat Espresso Cup ($19 each at the time of publication)
The espresso drinker on your list will adore these tiny, colorful espresso cups from Felt+Fat. Available in an assortment of colors (including off-white, gray, red-orange, and brown), the cups hold 3 ounces of liquid, so they’re the perfect vessel for a caffeinated pick-me-up. Wirecutter senior editor Marguerite Preston, who’s owned some of these little cups for a few years, said she’d get them for “anyone who makes espresso at home, whether with a machine or a moka pot.”
Bodum Pavina Double Wall Glasses (about $28 for a set of two at the time of publication)
It’s annoying when hot coffee gets cold or when iced coffee becomes warm. To avoid both scenarios, Wirecutter senior staff writer Lesley Stockton swears by Bodum’s Pavina Double Wall Glasses. The stylish tumblers feature a double-wall construction and are made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass, which keeps beverages at their desired temperatures longer. These glasses are also just nice to hold. And they’re dishwasher-, microwave-, oven-, and freezer-safe.
Cafflano Klassic Original All-in-One Pour-Over Coffee Maker ($75 at the time of publication)
“For someone who’s always on the go, I recommend the Cafflano Klassic,” said Yuki Izumi, coffee director at Hi-Collar, a café and sake bar in New York City’s East Village. “I bought it for one of my friends who constantly tours as a musician, and he loves it.” The Cafflano Klassic contains everything someone would need to brew and hold their coffee: a ceramic burr grinder, a kettle, a stainless filter dripper, an insulated tumbler, and a lid. Amazon reviewers have left positive reviews on the Klassic, noting that it’s lightweight and practical, and it can be used anywhere.
Jirushi Slim Pot ($60 at the time of publication)
Wirecutter staffers (including a former barista) swear by this little stovetop kettle from Japanese enamelware maker Tsuki Usagi for several reasons. For one, this pot’s pour spout provides excellent precision and control. And because of its slender profile and elegant design, the Jirushi Slim Pot sits tidily and looks beautiful on any shelf—and looks beautiful. Some people even water plants with it!
Kalita Wave 185 Dripper ($27 at the time of publication)
If your coffee aficionado likes coffee with intricate flavors and the perfect balance, it’s hard to beat a good pour-over. In our search for the best dripper, we brewed more than 150 cups of pour-over coffee. And we found that the single-cup Kalita Wave 185 made consistently flavorful, balanced cups, thanks to its even water drainage and easy-to-use design. Plus, it comes in three different materials—glass, ceramic, and stainless steel—to suit their style.
Chemex Six Cup Classic Coffee Maker (about $48 at the time of publication)
If you want to give a brewer that’s also a statement piece, the Chemex is the pinnacle of pour-over gear. Designed in 1941, this minimalist coffee maker (which has earned a spot in the MoMA’s permanent collection) is also a carafe, and it produces a bright, delicious brew that our testers loved. Also, the Chemex can brew six cups of coffee at a time (unlike our other favorite dripper, the aforementioned Kalita Wave, which maxes out at 12 ounces).
Cuisinart GK-1 Digital Gooseneck Kettle ($100 at the time of publication)
If the pour-over fan in your life has been winging it with a regular old kettle, they’ll love upgrading to an electric gooseneck kettle. This model from Cuisinart is one of the standouts from our recent testing (for the soon-to-be-updated guide). It has simple controls that will allow your gift recipient to adjust the water temperature between 140 °F and 212 °F, and the kettle automatically holds the water at a set temperature for up to 30 minutes. The willowy spout easily controls the stream of water, and the pot itself is pretty, thanks to its matte black finish and elegant shape.
Espro P3 French Press (about $40 at the time of publication)
For someone who doesn’t have endless counter space and wants a full-bodied, smooth cup of joe in a jiffy, a French press is a great brewing method. After testing 15 presses and making over 75 pots of coffee over the years, we’ve determined the Espro P3 to be best. Not only does it make great tasting coffee, it also keeps that coffee hotter longer thanks to its thick beaker glass. And best of all, the Espro is dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a breeze.
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker (about $46 at the time of publication)
Anyone who loves to drink iced coffee year-round would likely also love to receive a good cold-brew coffee maker. For this method, grounds are soaked for several hours in cold water, resulting in a sweeter, milder-tasting coffee that’s also low on bitterness and acidity. (There’s even a camp of people who heat up their cold brew, for a smoother hot cup.) From testing, our very favorite cold-brew model is the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, which produces cold coffee with balanced acidity, a stronger aroma, and a cleaner finish than the competition. On top of that, we found the OXO to be the easiest to use and clean.
Bialetti Moka Express (about $50 at the time of publication)
Ubiquitous in Europe and Cuba, a moka pot uses heat from a stove to pass boiling water through ground coffee, creating a beverage that’s close to espresso (but less fussy). Senior staff writer Sarah Witman tested six moka pots, confirming that her beloved Bialetti was the best, both for function and fashion. Its simple design is easy to use and clean, and it brews coffee that tastes just as smooth as pricier models. Finally, its mid-century-modern shape looks chic on any countertop.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV ($369 at the time of publication)
We’ve tested plenty of great drip coffee makers, and even though the Moccamaster KBGV isn’t technically one of our picks, it still makes an excellent gift, according to Wirecutter’s Erin Price. Price, who once worked as a barista, praised the Moccamaster’s simplicity: There are no settings or timers—which your coffee lover probably doesn’t need anyway. It also makes 10 cups at a time (perfect for someone who likes to host friends, or just sips nonstop). And it comes in several beautiful colors, including a shimmery rose and a pastel green.
AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press (about $40 at the time of publication)
Wirecutter’s coffee devotees are obsessed with the original AeroPress—it’s one of the best devices out there for making really delicious coffee on the go because it requires nothing more than ground beans and hot water. And making coffee while you’re traveling is even easier with the AeroPress Go, thanks to its included container, which holds all the accessories (stirrer, scoop, and filters). Plus, the Go is petite, so it tucks beautifully into a holiday stocking and packs up nicely for shipping.
Graf Lantz Bierfilzl Merino Wool Felt Round Coasters ($24 for four at the time of publication)
Available in sets of solids as well as a myriad of cool color combos, these felt coasters from Graf Lantz are a favorite among Wirecutter staff. Made with merino wool, they’re both absorbent (perfect underneath sweating glasses of iced coffee) and easy to spot clean (the material is naturally stain resistant). We love these sleek circles, but the coasters also come in a mod, rounded square shape.
Porcelain Cow Creamer ($12 at the time of publication)
Whether the person on your list lightens their cup of joe with half-and-half, oat milk, or French Vanilla Coffee Mate (no shade), this porcelain cow creamer will make the dairy (or decidedly non-dairy) experience a joy. And if you wrongly pegged them and your recipient takes their coffee black? We’re sure this heifer would be more than happy to perform double duty as a loyal dispenser for cereal milk, gravy, or salad dressing.
Unibene Bamboo Coffee Filter Holder ($12 at the time of publication)
If your coffee lover uses several methods to brew their coffee, they may appreciate having a better way to organize all those filters. The Unibene Bamboo Coffee Filter Holder neatly stores all of the filters for a standard coffee maker, an AeroPress, and a pour-over dripper. And it looks so much neater than that random stack of cardboard boxes.
Baratza Virtuoso+ Coffee Grinder ($250 at the time of publication)
We recommend the Baratza Virtuoso+ in our guide to the best coffee grinders, and we found it to be speedy and useful for those who drink a lot of coffee and demand consistent results. This grinder has a sturdy base (which helps keep burrs from vibrating out of calibration) and a consistent grinding performance. The co-founder of Coffee Project New York, Chi Sum Ngai (or “Sum,” as she likes to be called), highly recommends the Virtuoso+ grinder for home brewers who want to get serious with their pour-overs.
American Weigh Scales LB-3000 Compact Digital Scale (about $38 at the time of publication)
If the coffee-obsessed person in your life wants to take their brewing to a new level, they’ll have to move beyond measuring their grounds with a giant scoop and eyeballing a few cups of water. Instead, they should have a digital scale that can account for weights down to the tenth of a gram, for a perfect bean-to-water ratio every time. Our favorite for coffee brewing is the American Weigh Scales LB-3000. It’s compact and accurate, and it comes with a 10-year warranty.
Bodum Latteo Milk Frother (about $16 at the time of publication)
For your latte-loving friend, a milk frother can be the difference between a medicinal cup of joe and an enlightened morning experience. For several years, lead editor Signe Brewster has been using this Bodum frother to do just that, and she reports that the method is “surprisingly efficient and requires very little effort.” The carafe is made of glass, so your recipient can pop it into the microwave to heat up the milk and then run the whole thing through the dishwasher afterward. They’ll think of you every time they sip their cappuccino.
Le Labo Coffee Body Scrub ($52 at the time of publication)
For the coffee aficionado who swears they love java enough to bathe in it, why not make their dreams come true with this body scrub from Le Labo, New York City’s luxe fragrance lab. The craft paper packet looks just like a bag o’ beans, but inside there’s a finely ground blend of coffee and sunflower seeds, held together with supple sunflower and safflower oils. The scrub smells like your coffee lover’s favorite beverage. And it will leave their skin polished and smooth, with absolutely no jitters.
Airscape Ceramic Canisters ($33 for a set of two at the time of publication)
To stay fresh, coffee beans need to be stored in an airtight vessel, somewhere that’s cool and dry. The ceramic canisters from Airscape are just the thing. Available in small (5.25 inches by 4 inches) and medium (5.25 inches by 7 inches) or as a duo, the canisters are just the right size for the moderate coffee drinker, the coffee fiend, or the person who likes to have different bean options. The vacuum seal pushes air out to keep contents fresh. And thanks to their streamlined aesthetic and bamboo lids, they’ll look adorable on a countertop or kitchen shelf.
Bestinnkits Smart Coffee Warmer (about $30 at the time of publication)
A mug warmer will allow your favorite coffee drinker to sip all day long without their cup going cold. Among the ones we tested, the Bestinnkits Smart Coffee Warmer stood apart from the rest since it accommodates any mug (as opposed to a proprietary mug) and keeps the contents in a consistent range of between 133 °F and 135 °F for hours. Though the wall plug limits where someone can use the Bestinnkits, it has a small footprint, so it can easily live on any desk or side table.
Atlas Coffee Club subscription ($60 for three months at the time of publication)
Wirecutter staffers love coffee subscription services. Our resident coffee snob, lead editor Ben Keough, insists that an Atlas subscription makes the best gift. Each month’s coffee comes from a different country, not just from Colombia or Ethiopia (as with many other services). Atlas also gets beans from countries such as Peru, Rwanda, and Papua New Guinea. So this subscription is ideal for globetrotters or just those with global-minded palettes. Each package includes a postcard with fun facts about that country’s coffee industry, and your recipient can select their roast and grind preferences.
Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. (from $17 for a 12-ounce bag at the time of publication) Awareness Coffee Company ($12 for a specialty bag at the time of publication)
There is currently an uncountable number of excellent coffee brands to choose from. And if the java lover on your list also has a generous heart, consider giving them coffee that also gives back. One terrific option is Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co., which produces great-tasting beans and also deploys 20% of its profits to animal rescue organizations like Humane Animal Rescue, Secondhand Hounds, and the Anti-Cruelty Society. (And if you’d like to give a gift that keeps giving, Grounds & Hounds also offers three-, six-, and 12-month subscriptions.)
To help them help humans, consider giving a gift from the Awareness Coffee Company; for each bag sold, 50% of the profits go toward raising awareness of a particular cause, such as breast cancer, pediatric cancer, or mental health. The money is given to initiatives and organizations that champion those causes, like the National Breast Cancer Foundation and The Trevor Project.
Canyon Instant Coffee ($20 for six packets at the time of publication)
Instant coffee has a reputation for being awful. But there are actually some really great new instant coffees being sold now. And for the busy coffee drinker on your list—or the one who travels a lot—the ease of being able to make a cup sans gear will be well worth the skeptical looks they receive. We think Canyon’s Instant Coffee in particular makes a good gift: It tasted the most like freshly brewed coffee, and it was one of the most nuanced cups we drank while testing.
We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.
This article was edited by Catherine Kast and Jennifer Hunter.
Dorie Chevlen is a staff writer from Youngstown, Ohio, now living in Los Angeles. She has worked as a copy editor, fact checker, and sandwich maker, but this is probably her favorite gig. Her writing has also been published in Science, Slate, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. She has been called—both flatteringly and not—“a lot.”
Justin Krajeski is a staff writer reporting on everyday carry at Wirecutter. He previously wrote about tech at Wirecutter. He carries things every day. He’s very well versed in carrying.
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