The Holiday Buying Guide for Coffee Lovers

Written by Matt Galyon on Dec 5th, 2012

Coffee Lover's Holiday Buying Guide

To ease holiday shopping anxiety, we’ve assembled the ultimate buying guide for those with a coffee lover in their life. Varying degrees of geekdom organize the coffee universe and, to make things as simple as possible, we’ve laid out this guide accordingly. No matter who you’re shopping for, and no matter your budget, these recommendations are sure to help check off your list. Visit each product listing to learn more about it and add it to your cart.

For the Beginner

This person hasn’t yet made the move to manual brewing but they enjoy learning about the coffee they drink. While they enjoy “artisan” or “specialty” coffees when they visit a cafe, they haven’t yet brought this quality home. If they do brew at home, their arsenal consists of pre-ground coffee or an economy blade grinder and a Mr. Coffee. We’re confident that this gear will make a serious difference in their every cup.

Affordable beginner's gift: Clever Coffee Dripper

$25 or less

Those searching for an easy way to make a single cup of delicious coffee should look no further than the Clever. This dripper makes a cup that is full and flavorful, like a French press, but totally grit-free. Its paper filters allow for quick cleanup and are available at any grocery store. Pair with a grinder, beans, and hot water and you’re good to go.

Affordable beginner's gift: Hand Coffee Grinders

$50 or less

A grinder is perhaps the most essential part of any brewing apparatus, be it at home in a shop. But gear geeks know that they’re not cheap. So how does one grind coffee accurately and consistently without breaking the bank? Do it by hand. Our hand grinders sport quality ceramic burrs that are built to last and adjustable settings to accommodate every method.

Espro Press Coffee Brewer

$75 or less

The French press is famous for offering an extraordinarily simple means of brewing tasty coffee. But many folks mourn the muddy mess at the bottom of their cups. Is the design doomed? Hearkening to the French influence of their motherland, the Canadian company Espro says “no”. The Espro Press utilizes a unique barrel-shaped mesh filter that bids goodbye to all the grit.

Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder

$150 or less

Baratza’s Encore hails from the glorious intersection of performance and affordability. It’s the cheapest electric burr grinder that we recommend and we’re certain that it’ll help you get the most out of your coffee. With a wide range of settings, defined by 40 steps of adjustment, the Encore can be used for any coffee brewing method. You’ll definitely taste the difference.

Bonavita Automatic Coffee Maker

Big Spender

Most everyone loves coffee, but manual brewing can’t win them all. Bonavita’s brewer is our go-to for a hassle-free pot. It’s spray head is wide enough to evenly saturate all grounds and the heating element ensures that water is delivered within the ideal range. These features make for even extraction and, ultimately, tasty coffee.

Clever Coffee Dripper and Mini Mill

Bundle It!

Buy together and get:

  • Hario Mini Mill Hand Grinder
  • Abid Clever Coffee Dripper
  • Melitta #4 Filters

For the Intermediate

The intermediate coffee lover has taken their knowledge and preparation to the next level. They buy beans from local coffee roasters and grind their coffee at home. They’re roughly acquainted with professional brewing methods and even own a French press or small espresso machine. The quality coffee that they’re enjoying can taste even better with some of this intermediate equipment.

Affordable beginner's gift: Hario V60 Coffee Dripper

$25 or less

Hario’s V60 is the control-freak’s coffee brewer. Pour over brewing puts a pile of variables into the user’s hands and makes for a very interesting and nuanced cup of coffee. These are among the reasons that it’s used by professionals around the world to make coffee for cafes and competitions. Available in plastic, glass, or ceramic, and a variety of colors, it’s also a beaut to behold.

Pour-over water kettles from Kalita, Hario, Bonavita, and Takahiro

$50 or less

A gooseneck water kettle is essential for brewing with most every pour over device. Controlling the flow rate and direction of water encourages even extraction and consistent results. The best kettles are made to insulate well, pour slowly, and feel good in the hand. Each of our kettles fits these requirements and will offer a significant advantage when you brew.

Able Kone Stainless Steel Filter

$75 or less

The latest reusable filter from Able is a massive improvement over its predecessors. The new Kone is a stainless steel cone with tiny perforations that allow for extraction all around the filter and permit the passage of oils. The resulting cup is full-bodied and flavorful, but surprisingly clean. It can be used with any similarly shaped filter cone, like the Chemex or V60.

Prima Tamp Adjustable Angle Tamper

$150 or less

The Prima Tamp is the newest innovation in tamping technology and it’s made right here in Louisville, where we are! Compared to traditional tampers, the Prima Tamp offers centered force for improved accuracy, natural form for long-lasting comfort, light support for reduced finger strain, and a grabbable handle for improved barflow. It accomplishes this with a totally unique adjustable-angle handle that is built for any barista of any build at any bar.

Rancilio Silvia Home Espresso Machine

Big Spender

The Silvia has gained an avid following over the years due to its industrial build quality and affordable price. It’s extremely simple, but it’s one workhorse of a machine that will pull coffeeshop-quality shots. Because it sports a single boiler, we recommend it only to those who don’t mind waiting 2-3 minutes between steaming and brewing.

Rancilio Silvia and Baratza Virtuoso Preciso bundle

Bundle It!

Buy together and get:

  • Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine
  • Baratza Virtuoso Preciso Coffee & Espresso Grinder

For the Advanced

The advanced coffee lover is proud to be a coffee nerd and has the gear to prove it. They have several different ways to brew coffee or even a fancy espresso machine that they’ve paid top dollar for. They always use a burr grinder to grind their coffee right before brewing and they’re extremely knowledgeable about the coffees they love. These recommendations will help complete their ultimate setup and firmly establish them in the realm of geekdom.

Ancap Porcelain Cups

$25 or less

Ancap’s porcelain cups are considered among the finest in the world and they’re now available again in the United States. Durable and elegant, they bring a rich cafe experience into the home with several practical sizes. Whether you enjoy cappuccinos, lattes, or simply espresso, Ancap has a cup for you.

Coffee siphons from Hario and Yama

$50 or less

Boasting one of the most elaborate and fascinating brewing methods out there, coffee siphons serve up drinks and show. With the unique combination of full immersion brewing and cloth filtration, a siphon yields a cup that is complex, flavorful, and extraordinary clean. They’re ready for use on a stove or tabletop and come in a variety of sizes.

Walkure porcelain coffee maker

$75 or less

This is the coffee purist’s dream come true. The Walkure doesn’t require any additional filter medium because everything is built right in: a stacked porcelain grid separates grounds from brew in this unique device. The apparatus includes a brew chamber, server, and water dispersion piece that ensures even saturation, making for a complete unit. A truly unique cup awaits.

Bonavita Variable Temperature Electric Pouring Kettle

$150 or less

It’s the grail of geekdom: a slow-pouring electric water kettle with temperature tracking technology! Coffee nerds everywhere are thrilled by the convenience of Bonavita’s latest innovation, which offers ultimate control and convenience to professional baristas and at-home aficionados alike.

Izzo Alex Duetto 3 Espresso Machine

Big Spender

The brand new Duetto 3 is one of the ultimate home espresso machines. With digital temperature control, two beefy boilers, direct-connect capability, and a classic E61 grouphead, this is the most feature-packed machine in its price range. Espresso enthusiasts will be spoiled by the performance of the Duetto, which makes for a true coffeeshop experience at home.

Ultimate home brewing package

Bundle It!

Buy together and get:

  • Chemex 8 cup coffee brewer
  • Able Kone reusable filter
  • Jennings CJ4000 Scale
  • Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
  • Bonavita Variable Pouring Kettle

Looking for some more gift ideas? Check out our newly updated Brewing Bundles Page!

Disqus - noscript

Submitted by Chase Mann on Tue, 12/25/2012 - 12:42.

a little off topic, but what font is used in the graphic: espresso, electric, brewer, etc.? it's a gorgeous font!

Submitted by Peter Sieg on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 16:04.

The font in the graphic is "Mr De Haviland." It's a google webfont available for free here: http://www.google.com/webfonts...

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