2020 Coffee Gadget Gift Guide
Every coffee enthusiast loves their gadgets almost as much as their favorite coffee (just ask our wives!), so we decided to round up some gift ideas for that special coffee enthusiast in your life. Below are recommendations that we personally own, we think would make great gifts, or are essentials for coffee enthusiasts. We couldn't list every gadget out there, so please comment with your favorite gadget not listed and share this post so all of your coffee friends can benefit from this awesome list!
Let's start with the most important gadgets to preserve and enjoy the quality of your freshly roasted beans and work down the list to the "nice to haves".
COFFEE STORAGE
First on the list is coffee storage containers. We can't stress enough the importance of properly storing your whole or ground coffee. The minute after coffee is done roasting, the degradation process begins and the best way to slow that down is by properly storing your beans in an airtight container. Here's a highly rated container on amazon
GRINDERS
Outside of proper storage, your grinder is your single most important coffee gadget. You can have the freshest, most amazingly flavorful beans on the planet, but if you have an inconsistent grinder, then you aren't going to get a uniform extraction of both the flavor and caffeine. Spend the extra money on a burr over a blade grinder as they produce a more consistent grind. Blade grinders have a tendency to provide some small grinds but also some larger pieces of the coffee bean. This can lead to over and under extracted coffee during the brewing process (it's harder to get water into larger pieces of coffee beans). No one likes a rough bitterness that burns the throat (over extracted) or sour tasting coffee (under extracted). We personally have this Baratza grinder and absolutely love the grind quality and almost infinite number of grind settings it offers, from a Turkish (fine powder) all the way up to your coarsest of coarse grinds for cold brews and french pressing.
SCALES
Before you can get that perfect grind though, you need an accurate scale. Each coffee brewing recipe either calls for a certain number of grams of coffee or a coffee to water ratio. Either way, a great scale is invaluable to dialing in your recipes. No more eyeballing your quantities like a mad scientist! We recommend a scale with a large base in case you are weighing directly in your brewing gadget, option to tare the weight, and can read in grams. A nice add on would be a built in timer. The Acai scales are on the more expensive side but are super nerdy with their bluetooth capabilities that pair with their brewing apps to log brew times, scale data, etc. A highly rated yet more economical option would be the Timemore scale
KETTLES
After your grind, you want consistent water temps so you can match your favorite recipes! Look for a kettle that has a goose neck for easier pouring. The Stag Brew Kettle is a more expensive option but highly recommended by barista's for home use. It has precise temp control as well as the ability to keep the kettle at 200 degrees for up to an hour. The Hario Brew Kettle is for a more economical option and is used on the stovetop.
COFFEE BREWERS
Now it's time to get nerdy! There are endless ways to brew your coffee from the tried and true drip machines all the way down to the single espresso hand presses. First on our list, because it's our more favorite one to use is the Aeropress (and Aeropress On The Go). This brewer is one of a kind in that it uses lower water temperature and a manual piston like process to produce 1-3 cups of bold flavorful coffee without the bitterness, in as little as one minute. On top of that, it's super easy to clean and has compact storage, making it perfect for the kitchen or camping.
If you are really into the "process" of brewing the perfect cup by manually manipulating multiple factors (water speed, brew time, etc), then both a Chemex glass pour over coffee maker and Hario V60 coffee dripper would be great choices. (Don't forget the paper filters!) A few other brewing methods would be french press for a more bold, full bodied brew and cold brew for a smooth, less acidic cold coffee option. The Bodum french press makes plenty of coffee for a small get together and has a classy look. The Dash cold brew system is one of the fastest ways to to make cold brew we have seen (under 15 minutes!) and we have personally made hundreds of cold brew batches from this machine!
OTHER OPTIONS
Two more ideas in case you're buying a gift for those coffee people who have said they already have every gadget on the planet. One would be a barista notebook for those looking to experiment and document their recipes. The second idea is a book on coffee! The World Atlas of Coffee provides a great overview of the many coffee regions of the world.
Do you have a favorite from above or even one not mentioned? Drop a comment below!