Gifts for coffee lovers in the UK

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.

Someone happy with instant or a pod machine gets the most from an AeroPress or a cafetière set, both simple and forgiving. Someone already brewing pour-over will notice a gooseneck kettle with a set temperature. A household brewing for four is better served by the Kinto carafe set. A commuter wants a thermal mug with a one-handed lid.

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 Timemore C3S Pro is the hand grinder in this edition: all metal, with a folding handle that packs for travel. It suits one or two cups of filter coffee and takes a minute of cranking each morning.

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.

Grind, the London coffee shop, sells a prepaid run of deliveries, which keeps arriving after Christmas. Workshop pairs its house blend with wool socks. For a London-area coffee drinker, the Square Mile tour turns coffee into an afternoon out.

Budgets and timing

Under £20 covers cold brew, a mug, a thermal cup, espresso spoons or chocolate to go with the coffee. From £20 to £60 buys a grinder, a cafetière set or a coffee and socks bundle. The Dualit kettle sits at the top.

Order parcels by early December to beat the Royal Mail rush. For a last-minute gift, the Square Mile tour sends a shareable code and runs on set Fridays only, so check the dates. A subscription also works late; print a card for the day.

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.