2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Coffee Brewing Equipment

I’m not exactly ready to start my holiday shopping, but I do know that there are people out there that started weeks ago. I’ve heard your questions about coffee. What kind coffee maker should I get my girlfriend? Should I get my husband a french press or a coffee grinder? (The answer is both!) What’s the ultimate gift for a coffee fanatic?

It’s time for me to start answering those questions with the annual Daily Shot Of Coffee holiday shopping guide. Each week until Christmas, I’ll examine different types of coffee related gifts, from ways to brew coffee to books about coffee. Along the way, I’ll answer as many questions as I can to make sure that you get that special someone that perfect gift!

I’m going to start of this week with presents that involve brewing coffee.

French Press

If you have a budding coffee fanatic on your shopping list and they don’t have a french press, this is the year to get them one. It’s an essential item in every coffee enthusiasts collection and once they try a french press, they probably will never go back to their drip coffee maker. It really does brew better tasting coffee that brings out all of the flavors.

Pros:

• Excellent Coffee
• Price Is The Same As Most Drip Coffee Makers
• Did I Mention It Makes Incredible Coffee

Cons:

• Fragile & Lack Of Padding In Shipment
• Not As Quick And Easy As A Drip Maker To Make And Clean

Buy the Bodum Chambord Coffee Press $34.45 at Amazon.

Read my full review of the french press.

Drip Coffee Maker

If the person on your list has a beat up little Mr. Coffeemaker drip coffee maker hanging around their kitchen, it’s time to give them an upgrade. I’ve tried a lot of drip coffee makers and there’s very few that I will recommend. However there is one that I have no problem suggesting to people looking for a drip coffee maker, it’s the Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffeemaker. It brews coffee at a hotter temperature than most drip coffee makers and I can taste the difference.

Pros:

• Thermal carafe keeps coffee warm without burning it.
• Coffee brews hotter, bringing out more flavor.
• Easy to set the time and to program it.

Cons:

• Tall, may not fit under some cabinets.
• Thermal carafe with no marking for cup measurement.
• Coffee filters didn’t fit in perfectly.

Buy the Zojirushi EC-BD15BAFresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker for $69.20 at Amazon.

Read my more detailed review of the Zojirushi.

Chemex

The Chemex is the perfect gift for the family member or friend that’s really starting to get serious about their coffee. It makes great coffee, looks cool and I’m sure they will use it proudly, showing off their coffee nerdiness. I know I do! My awesome girlfriend got me one of these last year and it quickly became one of my favorite coffee gadgets.

Buy the Chemex Drip Coffee Carafe – 6 Cup for $39.95 at Amazon.

Read my review and watch my Chemex video.

Aeropress

Speaking of coffee gadgets, the Aeropress is a cool little doodad that doesn’t look like any other coffee maker that I’ve ever seen. In fact, it kind of looks like a giant syringe, but it makes amazing, extra smooth coffee. It’s small enough so that it’s perfect for the son to use in his college dorm room, the busy wife at the office or for the business man that’s always traveling.

Pros:

• Easy And Quick To Use
• Easy Clean Up
• Great Tasting Coffee

Cons:

• Fits Only On A Traditional Sized Cup
• Need A Thermometer
• Clean Up Can Be Messy

Buy the Aerobie AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker for $25.95 at Amazon.

Read my review of the Aeropress.

Moka Stove Top Espresso Maker

You say they have every coffee gadget out there and you still don’t know what to get them? Do they have a Moka Stove Top Espresso Maker? If they don’t pick one up for them. It falls into the cool, retro gadget category and is perfect for making coffee on the weekends.

Pros:

• Makes amazing tasting Italian style espresso
• Simple to use
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Can take ten (plus) minutes long, but really I’m not going to complain too loudly about that. Good coffee is worth waiting for.
• Small learning curve

Buy the Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Makers for $24.48 at Amazon.

Check out my full review of the Moka Pot.

Do you still need more suggestions or are looking for something else? Let me know in the comments or ask me your questions via the contact page and I’ll do my best to help you out!