Gifts for coffee lovers in Australia

Find out how they brew

Coffee gifts go wrong when they do not fit the routine. Before you buy, find out three things: what they brew with, whether they grind their own beans, and how many cups they make each morning.

Australia runs on cafe coffee, so think about where they drink it. A daily takeaway buyer will use a reusable cup more than a new brewer. A home brewer gets the most from an AeroPress or a pour-over dripper. An iced-latte drinker wants a cold brew pitcher before summer. A hiker wants a light titanium mug.

The grinder is the real upgrade

Most home coffee is held back by pre-ground beans, not the brewer. A burr grinder is the single change that improves the cup most for someone who already brews by hand.

The 1Zpresso Q2 S and the Delter are compact hand grinders for one cup of filter coffee, and both travel. The Comandante handles espresso too, though slowly, and is the one for a serious brewer. All of them take a minute or so of cranking.

Beans and subscriptions

For someone with a full shelf of gear, send coffee. Check the roast style first: light, fruity roasts disappoint a dark-roast drinker. Then check whether they grind at home; whole beans are wasted without a grinder.

Thieves sends a prepaid plan from rotating Australian roasters, in beans or ground; the first box can take up to 30 days. Single O sends three single origins from Sydney to taste side by side. Market Lane in Melbourne grinds for espresso, stovetop or plunger if you ask.

Budgets and timing

Under $30 covers a reusable cup, a mug or a bag of beans. From $30 to $120 buys an AeroPress, a pour-over dripper, a cold brew pitcher, a hand grinder or a short subscription. The Comandante sits well above that.

December is hot, so iced coffee gear gets used straight away. Order parcels by early December for Australia Post. A subscription works as a late gift, but the first box can take weeks, so print a card to hand over.

Questions people ask

What do you get a coffee lover who has everything?

Send coffee instead of more equipment. A prepaid subscription from a roaster in their country, like Trade Coffee in the US, Detour in Canada, Grind in the UK or Thieves in Australia, brings new beans for months. A roastery tour or brewing class is another option if they live near London or Calgary.

Is a coffee grinder a good gift?

For someone who brews by hand with pre-ground coffee, it is the most useful upgrade you can buy. A hand grinder like the Timemore C5 Pro or 1Zpresso Q2 S suits one or two cups. Check what they brew first: the Fellow Ode is for filter coffee only and will not grind fine enough for espresso.

What is a good coffee gift under $50?

The Hario V60 starter set, AeroPress, Chemex, Bruer cold brew pitcher and KeepCup Commuter all sit at or under about $50. A V60 or AeroPress suits someone new to brewing by hand. The KeepCup suits a person who buys takeaway coffee every day, and the Bruer suits an iced-coffee drinker.

Should I buy whole beans or ground coffee as a gift?

Whole beans if they own a grinder, ground if they do not. Coffee loses flavour faster once it is ground, so whole beans are better for someone who grinds at home. If you are not sure, a subscription like Thieves lets you choose either, or pair whole beans with a hand grinder.