33 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Mari Uyehara and Samantha Schoech

For the holidays, we’ve added some fun new discoveries, including a beloved how-to book, a sweet pour-over ornament, and an actual coffee arabica plant.

Coffee drinkers are a diverse bunch—after all, about 75% of adults in the US drink the stuff, according to The Journal of Nutrition. There are cappuccino devotees, bean nerds who rave about washed-process varietals, and those who just want a cheap, fast caffeine hit. Whether your giftee is serious about their morning ritual or just serious about chugging it all day long, we’ve got top-tier recommendations from a designer stovetop kettle to a roasted-to-order coffee sampler.

For even more coffee gear, our kitchen team has tested all manner of coffee and espresso brewers, grinders, and even instant coffee. And if you’re looking for food gifts, check out these stellar gift baskets.

This handsome, teal tome covers the techniques and science of buying, tasting, and brewing coffee, hitting the right balance of expertise and approachability.

Resident Wirecutter coffee expert Ciara Murray Jordan says that How To Make The Best Coffee At Home is “for everyone interested in coffee, regardless of where they are in their coffee journey.” Author James Hoffmann, a 2007 World Barista Champion, covers the techniques, history, and science of buying, tasting, and making coffee with approachable how-tos and helpful graphs. Newbies will learn fundamentals (such as how to figure out what flavor profiles they like), while aficionados can dial in their technique for a wide variety of brew methods (Moka pot, espresso machines, pour-overs, and so forth). “It’s also just a fun book to read,” notes Ciara. “There’s little pretension, which can be a rare thing for a book as encyclopedic as this.”

In this novel blend, the Chicago roaster mixes in barrel-aged beans, which lend a hint of booze and a sweet finish.

As far as third-wave coffee trends go, barrel aging—the process of aging green beans in liquor barrels—can get a little gimmicky. But Dark Matter Coffee’s Machete, which blends richly flavored Central American coffee with barrel-aged beans, is a nicely executed expression of it—and catnip for coffee nerds. “It has more balance than ones we tried from other roasters,” says kitchen supervising editor Marilyn Ong. “Anchored with a chocolaty depth, this coffee also has a hint of heady booze and a long, sweet finish.” And its groovy, brightly colored design also makes for one sweet package.

This 4.5-inch-tall glass ornament pays tribute to the iconic Chemex brewer, with the classic wood neck and dangly leather straps.

Designed in 1941 by chemist Peter Schlumbohm, the shapely glass Chemex brewer has a place in the MoMA’s permanent collection. If your giftee is a Chemex devotee, they might love the Codie Foster Pour-Over Ornament hanging from their tree or a hook. The charming glass ornament is detailed with a paper filter, a classic wood neck with leather straps, and brewed coffee at its bottom.

Available in three sizes, the coffee arabica plant requires a few hours of direct light each day and a weekly watering. You can opt for either a plastic grow pot or colorful ceramic vessel.

Hardcore coffee obsessives may already be stocked up on high-end beans to their liking and the best brewing gear. You could surprise them with a Rooted Coffee Plant from one of our favorite online plant services. Sporting shiny, oblong green leaves, the plant comes in three sizes (small, medium, extra large), and is relatively low maintenance, requiring just a weekly watering and a few hours of direct light daily. We suspect that anyone who has taken the time to learn proper coffee-making technique may also have the patience to coax this plant to flower. If the conditions are right, the tropical plant may eventually bloom white flowers that turn to little fruits containing two coffee beans; as the fruits ripen they turn from green to red to brown.

With nine settings, this dishwasher-safe, pitcher-style frother can heat and foam milk, to suit a variety of preferences.

This chic, USB-rechargeable frother makes thick milk foam and has two speeds: fast and super-fast.

Every latte enthusiast—whether they prefer an ube, an oat, or a straight classic version—needs a great milk frother, and our kitchen team tested 14 of them for an upcoming guide. It takes the handheld Golde Superwhisk—among the team’s top two favorites—less than a minute to whip up thick milk foam. This whisk is comfortable to hold and rechargeable via the included USB cord, and it elegantly incorporates any powdered mix-ins (like protein powder, matcha, and cocoa). Meanwhile, the pitcher-style Instant Magic Froth 9-in-1 froths and also warms milk, with nine settings for a range of preferences. It makes silky, decadent foam for both dairy and non-dairy milks. And it can even melt and blend mix-ins, such as chocolate shavings or chips, for hot chocolate.

Made with recycled 14-karat gold, this tiny charm—with a removable lid—is an expensive, adorable ode to the iconic takeout cup.

Whether or not your giftee is a New Yorker, this adorable tribute to the iconic takeout cup is sure to delight. The late Leslie Buck, Sherri Cup’s director of marketing, designed the original paper cup with a visual nod to Greece, in order to break into the hot-cup market of the city’s many Greek diners. At just 8 by 4 millimeters, the 14-karat yellow gold Catbird New York Coffee Cup Charm is too petite to display the 1963 design’s “We Are Happy To Serve You” script. Instead, it’s simply embellished with “New York.” It does, however, have a removable lid, to mimic a plastic topper—a sweet extra for fidgeters.

An excellent partner to coffee, these crumbly, buttery rounds—made by a family-operated bakery in Scotland’s capital—are a favorite of upscale British food purveyors.

In name and appearance, shortbread is an unassuming treat. But this butter-centric cookie—a centuries-old Scottish luxury purportedly refined by Mary, Queen of Scots—makes the case for old-fashioned deliciousness in its simplicity. The outstanding Shortbread House of Edinburgh Original Shortbread biscuits are made in a family-owned bakery in Scotland, and they’re the best ones that staff writer Mari Uyehara has ever had. They have a melt-in-your-mouth butteriness and a pleasingly gritty crunch (thanks to the novel addition of ground rice), so they’re an ideal counterpoint to coffee’s bitter and acidic notes. These biscuits, which are housed in pretty, colorful tins, also come in different flavors, including Spanish clementine, Sicilian lemon, and clotted cream.

This illustrated poster cleverly documents all the ways people make and drink coffee.

Pop Chart’s Compendious Coffee Chart illustrates all of the ways people brew and serve coffee. (Whoever made it must have been fully caffeinated.) Trace it backwards, and you can figure out how to make your favorite drinks, since it outlines the ratios, ingredients, and equipment. Really, though, it’s just a fun way for a coffee lover to display their devotion to the art of the bean. The 24-by-18-inch print comes unframed; you can have it mounted on a birch-plywood panel for an extra fee.

This precise-aim gooseneck kettle is perfect for anyone preparing pour-over coffee. Your favorite coffee fan will geek out over its spot-on temperature accuracy.

The Cuisinart GK-1 Digital Gooseneck Kettle—our top pick for electric gooseneck kettles—has a precise, angled spout that’s perfect for making pour-over coffee, perhaps with the Kalita Wave Dripper or the Chemex. Its technical details are fine-tuned: The temperature control is adjustable by five-degree increments, and its rounded handle is easy to maneuver. It has a matte black finish, so it doesn’t pick up fingerprints like stainless steel does. And with its shapely design and small footprint, it looks lovely sitting on a kitchen counter.

The ceramic version of the classic New York City takeout coffee cup is nostalgic, and this one is dishwasher-safe.

One of New York City’s few affordable amenities: grabbing a coffee from a street cart before running to catch the subway on a harried morning. The Ceramic Greek Coffee Cup pays tribute to the classic takeout design from 1963 with a sustainable twist. Unlike the disposable paper original, this cup is dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

For those who want a high-quality manual grinder that’s portable yet affordable, this aluminum canister is the best of its class in speed, grinding ease, and consistency.

The lightweight Timemore Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder is our favorite model under $100. Our testers appreciated its impressively smooth and speedy grinding action. And the handle comes off, so this grinder is easy to store or to travel with—excellent for outdoorsy coffee devotees who don’t want to sacrifice fresh grounds. They can dial in the coarseness and chop through about 3 tablespoons of coffee at a time.

These durable and functional Japanese porcelain mugs nest for easy storage, and they come in a range of muted, coordinating tones.

The Japanese ceramics company Hasami (which takes its name from its district) has been making porcelain objects for more than 400 years. And the handmade, hand-glazed Hasami Mug, which is microwave- and dishwasher-safe, is a longtime favorite of many Wirecutter staffers. Because these sleek mugs stack effortlessly, they even look cohesive when collected in different sizes and complementary colors.

The heat source is built into the base of this somewhat pricey mug, so it stays warm even when you’re on the move. And in true tech-era fashion, it lets you control the temperature via an app.

With this simple coffee warmer, sippers can warm their favorite mug to just the right temperature.

No one likes a lukewarm cup of coffee. And in recent times, a number of keep-it-hot tech products have popped up as solutions. In our mug-warmer testing, we were impressed by the Ember Mug 2, which allows you to control the temperature (from a toasty 120 °F to a piping-hot 145 °F) via an app on your phone. The Ember, however, has to be washed by hand. So if your coffee-drinking friend prefers to throw everything in the dishwasher or to use their own mug, consider the more affordable Bestinnkits Smart Coffee Warmer, which plugs into the wall and heats a cup from the bottom instead.

Available in a variety of colors, this travel mug offers amazing heat retention, and it comes with a locking, leak-proof lid that you can operate with one hand.

At Wirecutter, we’re obsessed with the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug, which has remained our top pick for years. When your loved one receives this travel mug, they will be equally enthusiastic. With its vacuum insulation, the Zojirushi mug keeps coffee hot for hours, even in cold environments, like on a winter hike or in a chilly apartment. (It’s equally good at keeping iced coffee cool.) And thanks to the secure lid-locking mechanism, this vessel doesn’t spill a drop. The Zojirushi mug also comes in several cute color options, so you can choose the one that suits your gift recipient’s style.

This handmade, dishwasher-safe ceramic cup holds just 3 ounces, so instead of an impossibly tiny loop, it has an easier-to-grab ceramic tab.

The espresso drinker on your list will adore the tiny, colorful Felt+Fat Espresso Cup. This mini cup is available as a single piece or in sets, and it comes in an assortment of colors (including off-white, gray, red-orange, and blue). It holds 3 ounces of liquid, so it’s just the right size for a pick-me-up shot. Senior editor Marguerite Preston, who has used these little cups for a few years, said she would get them for “anyone who makes espresso at home, whether with a machine or a moka pot.”

These sleek, stylish cups are made of a heat-resistant borosilicate glass that’s comfortable to hold and dishwasher-, microwave-, and freezer-safe.

It’s annoying when hot coffee gets cold or when iced coffee turns lukewarm. To keep drinks at a relatively steady temperature, senior staff writer Lesley Stockton swears by the Bodum Pavina Double Wall Glasses. Made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass, the stylish tumblers have a double-wall construction, which keeps beverages at their desired temperatures longer. These smooth, rounded glasses are also just nice to hold, and they can be put in the dishwasher, microwave, and freezer.

Your loved one will never have to buy another paper coffee filter. This fine metal mesh cone comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Made from titanium-coated stainless steel, the Barista Warrior Reusable Coffee Filter saves money and eliminates paper waste. Unlike paper filters, this fine mesh filter doesn’t strip the natural oils from the coffee, so it can produce a richer cup, but that also means it will let a minimal amount of silt through. (If your coffee-loving friend isn’t a fan of French press coffee’s slight grittiness, they may want to stick with paper filters.) This filter fits the Chemex and the Hario V60, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee. Staff writer Samantha Schoech has been using hers for more than 10 years (and she admits she’s never done the recommended vinegar soak), and it still works beautifully.

This lightweight, all-in-one grinder, brewer, and insulated mug works well anywhere—just add beans and hot water.

Yuki Izumi, coffee director at Hi-Collar, a café and sake bar in New York City’s East Village, recommends the Cafflano Klassic All-in-One for someone who is always on the go. “I bought it for one of my friends who constantly tours as a musician, and he loves it.” The multi-tasking vessel contains everything a person needs to brew and hold their coffee: a ceramic burr grinder, a kettle, a stainless filter dripper, an insulated tumbler, and a lid.

This elegant Japanese stovetop kettle offers excellent pour control.

Wirecutter’s coffee aficionados (including a former barista) swear by this little stovetop kettle from a Japanese enamelware maker. The Tsuki Usagi Jirushi Slim Pot’s spout provides excellent precision and control. And with its slender profile and elegant design, it looks beautiful on any shelf. Some people even water plants with it.

This flat-bottomed dripper produces evenly extracted, flavorful coffee, and it goes directly into a cup.

This dripper should appeal to pour-over experts because you have to pay extra-careful attention to the rate and aim of your pour. In our tests, it produced some of the best brew.

In our search for the best dripper, we brewed more than 150 cups of pour-over coffee. And we found that the single-cup Kalita Wave 185 Dripper made consistently flavorful, balanced cups, thanks to its even water drainage. This easy-to-use dripper comes in three simple materials: glass, ceramic, and stainless steel—all of which resist staining. If your favorite coffee drinker prefers a bit more sartorial flair, and they have their technique down, the Hario V-60 Coffee Dripper Size 02 (our runner-up pour-over pick) now comes in a variety of muted, modern colors, including dune, matte pink, and purple heather.

This miniature, more-affordable espresso machine makes the same great-tasting espresso as much-pricier Nespresso machines.

In our tests, drinks made in the pint-sized Nespresso Essenza Mini were of the same quality as those made in machines costing $400 or more. Our testers were also smitten with this machine’s simplicity. Espresso enthusiasts need only fill the reservoir with water, pop in a capsule, and choose espresso or lungo. What follows, in seconds, is a rich crema atop a flavorful shot. Even more wonderful, the Essenza Mini comes with a two-year warranty, lifetime access to Nespresso’s technical hotline, and flat-fee repairs in perpetuity.

This French press offers superior filtration and excellent heat retention, thanks to a double-walled carafe. It’s available in brushed stainless steel or matte black.

For someone who doesn’t have a copious amount of counter space and wants a full-bodied cup of joe in a jiffy, a French press is a great brewing method. After testing 15 presses and making more than 75 pots of coffee over the years, we’ve selected the shapely Espro P6 French Press as our upgrade pick. It makes great-tasting, grit-free coffee, and it also keeps that coffee hot for hours, thanks to its insulated double walls. As is the case with all Espro models, the P6 is designed to stop extracting once you’ve pressed, so if coffee sits in the press for a couple of hours, it won’t turn as bitter or sour. And, best of all, the P6 is dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is a breeze.

This easy-to-assemble maker consistently produces the strongest, boldest coffee.

Anyone who loves drinking iced coffee year-round will likely love receiving a good cold-brew coffee maker. For this method, you soak grounds for several hours in cold water; the process creates a sweeter, milder-tasting coffee that’s also low on bitterness and acidity. (There’s even a camp of coffee drinkers who heat up their cold brew to get a smoother hot cup.) After testing, our very favorite cold-brew model is the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It produces cold coffee with balanced acidity, a stronger aroma, and a cleaner finish than what you get from the competition. On top of that, we found that the OXO model was the easiest to use and clean.

We love the classic design of this moka pot. It’s especially simple to use, and it brews rich, flavorful coffee.

The 1933 classic Italian coffee maker gets an update from a luxe Italian designer, with colorful, mixed-pattern motifs.

Senior staff writer Sarah Witman tested six moka pots (which make an espresso-like coffee on the stovetop). And she confirmed that her beloved Bialetti Moka Express was the best, in terms of both function and fashion. This pot has a simple design, so it’s easy to use and clean, and it brews smooth-tasting coffee. With its art deco–inspired shape, it looks chic on any countertop, too. That’s particularly true if you opt for the Dolce & Gabbana version, which has a striking, cherry-red bottom and an intricately patterned top inspired by two-wheeled, horse-drawn Sicilian carts. This moka pot is pricier than the original, but it’s still a fraction of the cost of an actual espresso machine.

This lightweight, compact coffee and espresso maker is perfect to travel with—it produces an excellent-tasting cup of coffee, without electricity.

Wirecutter’s coffee fanatics are obsessed with the original AeroPress. In 2005, inventor Alan Alder wanted to create a device that brewed pour-over coffee, sans the fussy process, and it has been a hit with coffee nerds ever since. Just add ground coffee and hot water to the tube-like chamber. After two minutes, plunge the coffee through a paper filter for a bright, smooth brew. While the original is certainly portable, the AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press conveniently houses all of its accessories (stirrer, scoop, filters) in a container that doubles as a cup. When she worked in an office, staff writer Mari Uyehara kept an AeroPress in her desk drawer. The coffee’s that good.

This bamboo stand is a pretty vessel for storing cone coffee filters.

If the coffee drinker on your list brews using several methods, they may appreciate having a better way to organize all of those filters. The Unibene Bamboo Coffee Filter Holder neatly stores filters for a standard coffee maker, for an AeroPress, and for a pour-over dripper. And it looks so much neater than a random stack of cardboard boxes with filters spilling out.

This cleverly packaged, roasted-to-order coffee sampler will surprise and delight even the most expert coffee enthusiasts.

This cardboard box, containing eight 4-ounce bags of beans, looks unassuming, but it unfurls like a scroll, revealing intricate line drawings and brewing advice. Each bag within the Onyx Coffee Lab Collection Box indicates the roasting date, the coffee’s origins, tasting notes, details on how the beans were processed (natural or washed), and where the flavor falls on a scale of “traditional” (chocolaty, nutty) to “modern” (citrusy, floral). If your coffee-loving pal happens to fall for a certain bean, they can order bags up to 5 pounds directly from Onyx or start a subscription.

Atlas takes subscribers on a world tour of coffee, with beans arriving from a different country each month.

Wirecutter staffers love coffee subscription services. Our resident coffee snob, supervising editor Ben Keough, insists that the Atlas Coffee Club makes the best gift. Each month’s coffee comes from a different country, and not just from Colombia or Ethiopia (as with many other services). Atlas also gets beans from countries such as Peru, Rwanda, and Papua New Guinea—ideal for coffee drinkers looking to expand their horizons. Each package includes a postcard with fun facts about that country’s coffee industry. And through an onboarding questionnaire, the recipient can select their roast and grind preferences.

This hand-roasted instant coffee has notes of citrus, apple, and molasses, and it blows away old notions of instant coffee.

For busy coffee drinkers or those who travel a lot, instant coffee would be a boon. It’s a shame, then, that it’s long had a reputation for tasting awful. Not so anymore: Our kitchen team tested 15 instant coffees and found some great ones. Verve Coffee Roasters’ Streetlevel Craft Instant Coffee makes a particularly good gift. With notes of citrus, apple, and honey, it has some acidity, and its mild flavor is unlikely to offend anyone. Note: We prefer it brewed with 9 ounces of water, instead of the recommended 10.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.

Dorie Chevlen contributed reporting. This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.

Mari Uyehara

Mari Uyehara is a staff writer for Wirecutter’s gifts team. She was previously an editor at GQ, Saveur, and Vice, and she won a 2019 James Beard Award for her column on American cooking in Taste. The daughter of a potter, she has long been a believer in the power of a well-made thing.

Samantha Schoech

Except for the time she gave a boyfriend her mother’s old toaster for Christmas, staff writer Samantha Schoech has a reputation as an excellent gift giver. She lives in San Francisco with two teens, two cats, a geriatric betta fish, and a bookseller husband. Her first book of short stories, My Mother’s Boyfriends, is coming out in 2024.

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33 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter