10 Best Gifts for Coffee Snobs and Home Baristas
Buying for someone who weighs their beans is a little intimidating, but the good news is that coffee people love gear. These are the picks that work for a real home barista, from a cheap frother to a grinder they'll use every morning. Create a free Giftings wishlist to save your favorites and share them with anyone shopping for the coffee lover in your life.
1. Zulay Kitchen Handheld Milk Frother
Nobody buys a handheld frother expecting to be impressed, and then they use it every morning. It's a battery-powered wand that turns warm milk into passable latte foam in about 20 seconds, with 239,000+ ratings at 4.4 stars behind it. At $8 it's the perfect add-on to a bigger gift, or a stocking-sized present for a coworker who orders oat lattes.
2. RENPHO Espresso Scale with Timer
Coffee people talk about ratios, and ratios need a scale. This one reads to 0.1 gram, has a built-in timer for pour-over and espresso, and recharges over USB instead of eating coin cells. 4.5 stars from 8,300+ ratings. It's the least glamorous gift here and probably the one that improves their coffee the most.
3. Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Cold brew at a coffee shop costs about $5 a cup, so a pitcher that makes a batch overnight pays for itself fast. The Takeya has a leakproof lid and a removable mesh filter, and it sits on a fridge shelf without tipping. Over 67,000 ratings at 4.6 stars. Best for the person who already drinks iced coffee in January.
4. Brewed Fresh Daily Coffee Bar Mat
A home coffee station gets messy fast, and a mat is a small upgrade that shows you noticed. This 18 by 12 inch one has a coffee-bar print and catches drips and grinds. 4.9 stars, though only about 860 ratings, so it's a newer listing than most here. A nice finishing touch for someone who just set up a counter of gear.
5. HARIO V60 Pour Over Starter Set
The V60 is the dripper people fall for once they get into pour-over, and this starter set includes the dripper, glass server, scoop and filters. 4.8 stars across 11,000+ ratings. It's the cheapest way to hand someone a real pour-over setup. Note that it's Size 02, which makes one to four cups.
6. Hario Mini-Slim Plus Hand Grinder
Hand grinding is a ritual for some people and a chore for others, so know which one you're buying for. The Hario Mini-Slim Plus has ceramic burrs and a slim body that fits in a bag, and it's rated 4.5 stars across almost 6,000 ratings. It takes real arm work for a full pot, so it suits one or two cups at a time.
7. Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker
The Moka Express has barely changed in decades, and that's the appeal. It sits on a stovetop and makes strong, espresso-style coffee without a machine. More than 120,000 ratings at 4.6 stars, the most reviewed pick on this list. Good for anyone who wants to dip into espresso-style drinks without spending hundreds.
8. AeroPress Original Coffee Press
Coffee snobs tend to own an AeroPress, and if the person you're shopping for doesn't, this is the one to get. It brews a clean cup in about two minutes, makes a decent espresso-style shot, and survives being tossed in a backpack. 4.6 stars from 26,000+ ratings. Cleanup is just popping out the puck.
9. Bodum Bistro Gooseneck Electric Kettle
Pour-over depends on a slow, steady stream, and a gooseneck spout is what gives you that. The Bodum Bistro heats water fast and its narrow spout is easy to control, with 13,000+ ratings at 4.5 stars. It doesn't have the temperature dial that pricier kettles do, so it's better for someone starting out than a dedicated enthusiast.
10. TIMEMORE Chestnut C2S Manual Grinder
The splurge on this list, and the one a serious coffee person will actually notice. The Timemore Chestnut C2S has stainless steel conical burrs and a folding handle, and it grinds far more evenly than the cheap hand mills. 4.7 stars from about 990 ratings. At $75 it's the gift for someone who already brews at home most days.
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