Coffee Lover's Holiday Gift Guide (8 Picks, All Under $40)
The coffee person in your life is hard to buy for. They probably already have a brewer they like. They probably have opinions about grinders. They probably have specific taste preferences that change with the season.
This gift guide is the version we wish someone had sent us when we were the coffee person on someone else's list. We've tried to pick things that work for most coffee drinkers — not just the ones with $400 grinders and chemex fetishes.
All picks are under $40. Some are from our catalog. Some are from other places we trust. No filler, no upsells, no "buy them a $300 espresso machine because they deserve it."
The 8 picks
For the person who's "just" a daily drinker
1. A bag of our Colombia — $19.99
The safest pick. Washed, balanced, slightly chocolatey, the kind of coffee that works for any brew method. If you don't know what the coffee person in your life drinks, this is the bag. They'll taste the freshness difference between this and whatever they've been buying from the grocery store.
If they don't already buy specialty coffee, this single bag might be the gateway. Roasted to order, shipped within a week, roast date on the bag.
2. A bag of our Whiskey Barrel Aged — $24.99
For the coffee person who wants something special. This is our most distinctive coffee — green beans aged in retired bourbon barrels for months, then roasted dark. The cup is heavy, sweet, almost syrupy. Notes of bourbon, vanilla, dark chocolate, oak.
It's a special-occasion coffee. Brewed as a morning treat or a dessert replacement. It's the bag I'd give to someone I wanted to impress with coffee.
For the person who's getting into pour-over
3. Hario V60 02 starter set — $30-35
The Hario V60 is the most popular pour-over dripper in the world for a reason. Comes with the dripper, a measuring spoon, and a starter pack of paper filters. Add a bag of our Costa Rica and they have a complete pour-over setup for under $70.
The V60 is plastic by default (cheaper, holds heat longer). Ceramic and glass versions exist if you want a prettier gift.
4. A bag of our Costa Rica Tarrazú — $24.99
The coffee to go with the V60. Bright, citrusy, almost tea-like. It's the coffee that shows off what pour-over can do — clean, transparent, complex. If they're just getting into pour-over, this is the bag that teaches them why the method is worth the effort.
For the person who likes French press
5. Bodum Chambord French press — $25-35
The classic French press. Glass beaker, metal frame, mesh plunger. Works for 1-4 cups. We use the same ones at the roastery. If the coffee person doesn't already have a French press, this is the one to get.
6. A bag of our Brazil Santos — $19.99
The coffee to go with the French press. Chocolatey, nutty, low-acid, full-bodied. It's the most French-press-friendly coffee we sell. They'll taste what the method can do.
For the gear person
7. Baratza Encore burr grinder — $130-170
If the coffee person in your life is still using a blade grinder (the kind that chops beans unevenly), this is the upgrade. A burr grinder produces consistent particle sizes, which means better extraction, which means better coffee.
The Baratza Encore is the entry-level burr grinder we recommend most. Lasts years, easy to clean, works for espresso (at the coarser end) through French press. It's not cheap, but it's the gift that improves every cup they brew.
If $150+ is too much, a manual burr grinder (Timemore C2, $60-80) is a great alternative. Slower, but consistent grind, and the hand-grinding is part of the ritual.
8. A Fellow Stagg EKG gooseneck kettle — $165
If they already have a burr grinder and a decent brewer, the next upgrade is the kettle. A gooseneck spout gives you precise pour control, which matters more for pour-over than any other method.
The Stagg EKG is the most popular pick. Variable temperature control (matters for tea, less for coffee), holds temperature for an hour, looks great on a counter.
If $165 is too much, the Bonavita variable-temp kettle is $100 and does the same job without the form factor.
How to choose (tier by recipient)
If you're not sure which to pick, here's the cheat sheet:
- Someone who doesn't drink much specialty coffee: the Colombia bag (pick 1)
- Someone who likes coffee but you want to surprise them: the Whiskey Barrel Aged (pick 2)
- Someone who's talked about wanting to try pour-over: the V60 + Costa Rica (picks 3 and 4)
- Someone who has a French press but you've never seen them use it: the Brazil Santos (pick 6) — they'll rediscover the brewer
- Someone who's serious about coffee but has a blade grinder: the Baratza Encore (pick 7)
- Someone who has everything and you want to splurge a little: the Fellow Stagg kettle (pick 8)
What we're skipping (and why)
We left a few common picks off the list:
Espresso machines. Most home espresso machines in the $200-500 range are frustrating for beginners. If the person doesn't already have one and isn't specifically asking for one, this isn't a gift. It's a project.
Travel mugs. Most coffee people have opinions about travel mugs. Unless you know exactly which one they want, skip.
Coffee books. "The World Atlas of Coffee" and "The Monk of Mokha" are both great. So are 50 other coffee books. If the person isn't a reader, skip.
Subscription services. Most of us are skeptical of coffee subscriptions (we wrote why we don't do subscriptions yet). If you want to give them coffee regularly, buy them a few bags upfront instead.
Decorative mugs. Most coffee people have mug preferences that aren't decorative.
What to skip from us
A few of our products that aren't great gifts:
- Our 2lb bulk bags — better for daily drinkers who already know what they want, not great for gifting
- Our Latin American Blend — works as espresso, but it's a daily-driver bag, not a special-occasion bag
If you're unsure whether they'd like a specific coffee, the Colombia is the safest pick from our catalog.
A note on shipping
If you're ordering from us for the gift, place the order by December 15 for delivery before Christmas. We roast on Wednesday and ship Thursday — orders placed after Dec 15 might not arrive in time.
We can ship directly to the recipient if you include their address at checkout. No pricing info in the package. Just the coffee.
For more on shipping deadlines and the holiday season, our holiday shipping post walks through the dates. And if you want a more general gift guide that includes tea drinkers, our tea drinker's gift guide is the companion post.
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If you're ordering from us — every bag you buy helps fund animal rescue efforts through our partnership with ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, and local shelters. The gift does double duty: something the recipient will actually use, and support for organizations doing rescue work.
Brew slow. Sip slow. ☕
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P.S. If you're not sure what the coffee person drinks and don't want to ask, get them the Colombia. It's the bag we give to people who don't know what they like. It'll work for them.