S3: Episode 5: Coffee Gifts Worth Spending Money On
With the festive season upon us, the pressure to buy ‘the perfect gift’ can be immense and as the clock ticks down may lead to the desperate purchase of items which are at best vaguely related to the recipient's interests. In this episode I take you through a few choice gifts that most keen coffee lovers would be very happy to receive - and in this week’s FACQ some that they would definitely not be impressed with!
Coffee equipment worth buying as a gift:
For espresso aficionados:
A better tamper, distribution tools, a knock box, milk pitchers, a milk frother or micro-scales (precision scales with 0.1g accuracy).
For all coffee lovers:
Brewers such as: an aeropress, a siphon brewer e.g the Cona (size D) vacuum brewer which is a thing of beauty (not sponsored!) or a travel version of their favourite brewing method.
Thermometers, a pouring kettle or temperature controlled kettle, travel coffee mug, smart mug or an airtight coffee storage container e.g the Airscape or Fellow Atmos containers (not sponsored!). And of course, a burr coffee grinder!
Get in touch!
Please note that although I read all texts, I don’t have the facility to reply to them, but you can also get in touch via Instagram and email.
Email: thecoffeedrinkersguide@gmail.com
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Lusona Publishing and Media Limited website: https://www.lusonapub.co.uk
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Hello and welcome to The Coffee Drinker’s Guide, a podcast for the coffee curious where I explore and explain the world of specialty coffee to make your daily coffee better and more satisfying.
I’m Angela Holder a coffee roaster and writer on a mission to fight back against bad coffee by giving you the knowledge you need to help you get good coffee and a happier (coffee) life in coffee-break sized episodes. So grab your coffee, pull up a chair and take a break…
With the festive season upon us, this week’s episode is the first of two tackling the knotty problem of what to buy the coffee lover in your life…and later I’ll be answering the equally important question of what not to buy so you should definitely stay tuned for that…!
There are so many options these days when it comes to buying gifts for the coffee drinker or home barista that it can make your head spin. From all the different types of coffee brewing equipment to the ancillary bits and bobs that go along with them, to books, kitchenware et cetera - the list goes on! And that’s even before you consider the coffee itself. It would be impossible to go through all of it in a useful way and also I reckon not a little boring to listen to; so in this episode I am picking a path through those bits of coffee kit, setting aside big ticket items like espresso machines, that I know are actually useful and that would be genuinely welcomed as gifts. Next week I will be talking about how to buy coffee beans as a gift as there are some key things you can arm yourself with before you head to the shops to smooth your gift buying experience - especially if you do not aspire to geek levels of coffee knowledge yourself! Now before I get into this week’s guide I should say that this episode is not affiliate-linked or sponsored in any way but I will put any items I mention in the show notes so you can refer back to them.
So firstly coffee related gifts and the brew
Serious, and some not so serious, coffee drinkers will probably have various bits of coffee kit already, so its a good idea to avoid duplicating their equipment by checking what they do have - and importantly, what they want - before you splash the cash. That said, espresso coffee aficionados would gladly receive a better tamper or distribution tools to break up the clumps in their coffee - and yes that is a thing! They are also likely to appreciate a knock box for their spent coffee grinds, milk pitchers, a milk frother, or micro-scales. And most coffee lovers would be happy to receive such brewers as an aeropress, a siphon brewer or a travel version of their favourite brewing method if they are the outdoorsy type. Thermometers, a pouring kettle or temperature controlled kettle and a travel coffee mug are also all solid gift options. And if you are feeling flush I will always advocate buying a burr coffee grinder, whether that’s an electric, hand or travel version. And if you are thinking ‘surely they already have a grinder?’ you’d be surprised by how many people who don’t, including many coffee professionals! And in case you’re wondering, I am the proud owner of 3 burr grinders but would very happily receive another!
Next coffee related gifts and the taste
An option for those with deep pockets and a giftee who takes a long time to drink their coffee but hates the taste of cold coffee is a temperature controlled smart mug. Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like: a mug that keeps your coffee at the precise temperature you want for hours. Would I buy one for myself? No. But then I always finish my coffee within 15 minutes of brewing it. For those who absentmindedly let their coffee go cold and don’t want to keep brewing coffee time after time, or keep it in an insulated flask - which definitely changes the taste, or horrors of horrors ruin it by reheating it in a micro-wave, I’m told it’s a game changer.
Finally coffee related gifts and the bean
The best way to store roasted coffee at home is in an airtight, opaque container kept in a cool place. If the bag the coffee came in is resealable and has a one way valve, you can leave it in the bag. However for those coffees that need to be transferred out of the bag you can buy coffee containers which are specifically designed to keep the coffee fresher for longer. To do this the coffee needs to be allowed to degas while keeping oxygen away from the beans. With this in mind, there are two types of container available. The first type removes as much air from the container as possible when you close it, either by creating a vacuum inside or by physically pushing out the air above the beans. The second type have an airtight seal and a one way valve to let the beans degas but stop the oxygen getting in - although this type doesn’t stop oxygen being trapped in the container with the beans when you close the lid. The first type would do a better job of keeping the coffee fresher for longer but either type would be a useful gift for a coffee lover who likes to decant their beans out of the coffee packaging.
And now its time for a Frequently Asked Coffee Question…
And this episode’s question is…
So what things should I avoid buying as a gift for a true coffee lover?
The pressure to buy gifts at this time of year can lead to the desperate purchase of items which are at best vaguely related to the recipient's interests. Or in other words, novelty gifts. You all know the kinds of things I’m talking about! And I get it, I really do, but please don’t waste your money on novelty coffee related items such as sugar cane lumps fused to wooden coffee stirrers, coffee scented candles or soap, coffee wall art or weird and amusingly flavoured coffee beans - or indeed any artificially flavoured beans - as you should know that they are all destined to be relegated to the back of a cupboard or the bin. I would strongly recommend that if you find yourself seriously considering one of these types of gifts, step away, and go buy some decent coffee beans for them instead. I can absolutely tell you that that gift will be appreciated!
Thank you for listening to this episode of The Coffee Drinker’s Guide and that was all about coffee related gifts. I hope you found this useful. If you have any other coffee gift ideas I’d love to hear them - send them to me on Instagram @thecoffeedrinkersguide, email me at thecoffeedrinkersguide@gmail.com or leave me a text message using the link in the show notes. In the next episode I am continuing the coffee gift theme by taking a good look at how to buy the coffee itself as a gift. Its not quite as straightforward as it seems, so be sure to hit follow so that you don’t miss it, if you haven’t already. If you know someone who you think would also find this useful or perhaps needs a hint please tell them about the show and rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts to help other coffee curious people find the show too. Thanks to my executive producer Viel Richardson at Lusona Publishing and Media Limited. You can find him at lusonapub.co.uk. Until next time I’m Angela Holder thanks for taking your coffee break with me - the best way to tackle life is one coffee at a time and here’s to better coffee!
The Coffee Drinker’s Guide is a Blue Sky Coffee Project