In every circle of friends, there's one brew snob who wouldn't touch a Starbucks cup with a ten-foot pole, one coffee fiend who's better at detecting notes of Arabica terroir than balancing a checkbook, one caffeine aficionado who worships at the altar of Chemex.
For this person, a Dunkin' Donuts gift card just won't do. Go the extra mile and show your favorite coffee snob some love. Here are six gifts sure to bring joy to their caffeine-fueled hearts.
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6. Breville Duo-Temp Espresso Maker
There are few gifts more impressive, more sophisticated, or more useful than an espresso machine. Even at $349.95 a pop, if you line it up against coffeehouse costs, it'll pay for itself in a month or two. And the gift recipient will be forever grateful that you made their coffee dreams come true.
For espresso drinkers, pounding those grinds is some serious business, and a good coffee tamper makes all the difference. Opt for a handcrafted, stainless-steel, European version. Because if anyone understands the importance of coffee, it's the Europeans. They run $33.99 to $37.99 from Bed, Bath and Beyond, depending on size.
Keurigs?! Mr. Coffees?! Ha! Discerning drinkers aren't into anything automatic. Aficionados swear by Chemex as the most legit way to brew good beans. For a basic cup, nothing but hot water, a filter, and the best coffee money can buy. A three-cup classic runs $37.50, so it won't break the bank either.
3. Hario Skerton Ceramic Coffee Grinder
Again, automatic is out for the true enthusiast. A hand grinder gets you closer to the beans by making you do the dirty work yourself, no fancy machinery involved. The Hario Skerton runs $47.50 and is known for its painstaking precision.
Despite what many coffee manufacturers would lead you to believe, their beans are often less-than-pristine. Many are loaded with chemicals and grown in questionable conditions. But newbie brand Bernhardt has its act together. Its Arabica beans are certified organic, certified fair trade, certified shade grown and bird friendly, and certified high elevation (for better flavor). They offer light, medium, dark, and decaf options. Oh, and their decaf uses the certified Swiss Water Process -- versus the standard chemical wash most coffee companies use. You can surprise your environmentally conscious, coffee-loving friend with a monthly subscription. They run $15 for one bag a month, $29.50 for two, and $44 for three.
The latest research suggests that the color of your cup can influence the way your coffee tastes, and any cafe connoisseur would want to take advantage of such an opportunity. Word is, coffee in a white mug tastes less sweet when compared to other colors, and a blue cup (in the experiment) made the coffee taste the sweetest. So keep your giftee's specific palate in mind when picking an optimal color. Mug Revolution makes stunning handmade mugs in various colors. Its classic mug runs $23.
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