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30 Coffee Gifts for the Bean Obsessed, Espresso Enthusiast, and Coffee Curious

Drip? Espresso? Pour-over? French press? We’ve got it.

By
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm Serious Eats
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Associate Editorial Director
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the Associate Editorial Director for Serious Eats. She joined the team in 2021.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated October 22, 2024
Gift Guide of various coffee products

Serious Eats / Kevin Liang

I consider myself a good gift-giver. However, if I’m at a loss for the perfect present for someone, I’ll ask if they like coffee.

Coffee gifts are a safe bet—whether they’re for an espresso nerd who’d appreciate a niche gadget or a casual coffee drinker who’d enjoy some nice beans. I should know: For my dad’s birthday this past year, I gave him a subscription to Trade Coffee. It was a hit—so much so that he asked for more of the beans he had tried and loved for Father’s Day. (For those wondering, they’re called Blendo Stupendo.)

Below, I rounded up 30 excellent coffee gifts—products that have won our equipment reviews or are Serious Eats staffer favorites. I divided them by coffee maker type for easier perusing.

Drip Coffee Maker Gifts

Automatic drip coffee makers are easy enough to use bleary-eyed on early mornings. If you’re shopping for a more casual coffee person, this is the brewer to get. Our top picks include this OXO model, which is packed with helpful features (including a single cup option!), and the programmable Breville that was the Serious Eats office coffee maker for many years.

If they already have a coffee maker but are still using pre-ground coffee, a good coffee grinder will vastly improve their joe. Our longtime favorite from OXO is under $100, has a twist top for adjusting the grind setting, and has just one start/stop button. I’ll also nudge you toward gifting a kitchen scale, too (our top pick is from OXO). I weigh my coffee beans before grinding them, which helps ensure the coffee-to-water ratio is correct and make repeatedly great pot after pot.

Of course, some good coffee beans are always appreciated. Like my dad, I have a subscription to Trade Coffee and have found the experience and bean quality excellent. Our favorite coffee storage canister from Fellow will help preserve the quality of coffee beans and looks sleek to boot. Finally, they’ll need something nice to drink out of: Our favorite travel mug is from Fellow and Serious Eats staffers love the form-meets-function East Fork mugs.

Coffee being poured into an East Fork coffee mug.

Serious Eats / Eric Brockob

Espresso Gifts

Undoubtedly, our favorite espresso machines are pricey, but they also make for wonderful, extremely generous gifts. The Breville Bambino Plus is our longtime recommendation and a good option for those wanting to tinker a bit. The Breville Barista Express Impress, on the other hand, has a built-in grinder and tamper, automating a lot of the trickier parts of espresso!

Machines without built-in grinders require a standalone espresso grinder. While regular coffee grinders can’t grind finely enough for espresso, the Baratza Encore ESP has 20 micro-adjustments for fine-tuning shots. I also think many espresso-loving folks would appreciate a new tamper. This one from Crema has a distributor on one side and a leveler on the other. Because we’re big proponents of brewing by weight, every espresso enthusiast should also have a coffee scale like the one from OXO, which is responsive and has a padded, heat-safe platform. 

For disposing of spent grounds, a nice knockbox is a veritable treat. One of our top picks from Crema even has a sleek wooden lid. And for drinking espresso, I’m a huge fan of the stoneware from Le Creuset. I gave my mom the Le Creuset espresso cups many, many years ago and they still look great. The cappuccino cups come with saucers and the brand’s outstanding durability.

Espresso coffee brewing into glass mug from Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine on white marble countertop

Serious Eats / Nick Simpson

Pour-Over Gifts

Our favorite pour-over from Kalita is made from metal and pretty much indestructible, making it a gift that’s sure to last. I recommend buying it with its glass server for the best brewing experience.

Anyone into (or wanting to get into) pour-over knows how much temperature, pouring speed, and pouring pattern matters. For these reasons, we highly recommend a variable temperature gooseneck kettle for pour-over. Its thin, angled spout allows for pouring in precise, concentric circles. I have our top pick from Fellow and love how easy it is to change and set the temperature using the control dial on the base. 

Of course, you can use an electric coffee grinder for pour-over. But, it’s also well-suited to the small output of a handheld coffee grinder. Our favorite from 1Zpresso grinds incredible coffee and is simple to adjust. The Acaia Pearl is a pricey pick that’d make any pour-over tinkerer very happy. It connects to an app for all sorts of data and has a flow rate indicator to help manage pouring speed. 

Finally, for keeping pour-over coffee at the perfect temperature, I love my Ember smart mug and have used it for years. While I’ve owned both the 10- and 14-ounce size, I prefer the versatility of the larger one. 

Water being poured in a pourover brewer

Serious Eats / Jesse Raub

French Press Gifts

I always forget about how much I love French press coffee until I make a pot and am instantly reminded of how great it can be. Our longtime favorite French press is from Fellow. It has a weighted handle and even comes with a wooden spoon for breaking the crust and stirring the coffee during brewing. We also recently reviewed the Yeti French press and really liked it. It produces a super clean, silt-free cup.

With French press, you don’t need a gooseneck spout, but it’s still helpful to have a variable temperature electric kettle for different beans. This one from OXO has a digital screen and is reasonably priced. No matter the brewing method, this coffee mug from Fellow is very cool (or should I say hot?). It has a double-walled design that keeps the exterior tepid but the contents warmer for longer.

Six coffee makers on a wooden surface against grey background

Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

Gifts for Other Brewing Styles

An Aeropress is a classic for good reason. If I was giving one as a gift, I’d opt for a colorful option like the purple, pink, or blue Aeropress. Another can’t-miss brewer is the Moka pot. When I went to culinary school in Italy, I used one every morning for espresso-like coffee. Bialetti makes the best.

Now, while Nespresso isn’t for serious coffee people, a lot of folks will appreciate (and use!) the convenient appliance. Our top pick is relatively affordable and you might as well snag some pods to go with it. 

A hand pressing the top of the Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi

Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

Why We’re the Experts

  • Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the associate commerce editorial director for Serious Eats. She’s been with the site since 2021 and has been testing equipment professionally for more than six years. She previously worked at America’s Test Kitchen and Food52. 
  • Riddley's an avid coffee drinker who owns more coffee makers than she can count. She’s also tested numerous pieces of brewing gear. 

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