I didn’t eat my first cup of coffee until I was 24 years old, when I was forced by a former employer to attend an ad hoc cupping session. At first I found the taste of black coffee disgusting, but my small chain coffee shop employer didn’t cover the cost of more flavorful options like Minty Mocha Freeze, so my taste buds were forced to adapt. Little by little I learned to enjoy the ritual of making a fresh pot of coffee in the morning, and soon I began to enjoy the opportunity to sit with my father and have good coffee all day when I visited my parents during the holidays. Just two guys drinking Folgers from Mr. A cup of coffee while recharging NCIS again Law & Order: SVU forever on the air on television.
I eventually moved to Portland, Oregon, during the heyday of the so-called “third wave” of coffee, and got a job at a high-volume coffee shop and bakery. At this point my drinking of coffee rose from a physical need to a subjective, imagined experience. Roasters like Stumptown and Coava taught me about extraction principles, Black Rabbit taught me how to clean and maintain my shop’s La Marzocco, and the since-closed Seattle Coffee Gear outhouse piqued my interest in the ever-growing world of grinders, brewers , boilers, and doodads that promise great cups of coffee in all kinds of situations.
Whether your budget is $4 or $400, there’s no shortage of thoughtful gadgets that make great gifts for family, friends, or complete strangers in the hot white elephant trade. We have only included products and accessories that our team has personally tested, tested, and used to make their own coffee at home.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides. We have several coffee-related guides, including our favorite cold brew coffee makers, espresso machines, portable espresso makers, and cappuccino machines.
Updated October 2024: We’ve removed a few old selections and added new ones, and updated links and prices throughout.
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