I didn’t consume my first cup of coffee until the ripe age of 24, when I was forced by a former employer to attend an ad hoc cupping session. At first I found the taste of black coffee repulsive, but my small-chain coffee shop employer did not comp the cost of more palatable options like the Minty Mocha Freeze, so my taste buds were forced to adapt. I slowly learned to enjoy the ritual of brewing a fresh pot of coffee in the morning, and I soon began to relish the opportunity to hang with my dad and chug coffee all day when I visited my parents around the holidays. Just two guys drinking Folgers from a crusty Mr. Coffee while reruns of NCIS and Law & Order: SVU air in perpetuity on the television.
I eventually moved to Portland, Oregon, during the height of coffee’s so-called “third wave,” and landed a job at a high-volume café and bakery. At this point my coffee consumption escalated from a physiological necessity to a more considered, bespoke experience. Roasters like Stumptown and Coava taught me about the principles of extraction, Black Rabbit taught me how to clean and maintain my shop’s La Marzocco, and a since-shuttered Seattle Coffee Gear outpost stoked my interest in the ever-expanding universe of grinders, brewers, boilers, and doodads that promise exquisite cups of coffee in all manner of scenarios.
Whether your budget is $4 or $400, there’s no shortage of thoughtful gadgets that make excellent gifts for family, friends, or total strangers in a hotly contested white elephant exchange. We’ve included only products and accessories our team has personally tested, vetted, and used to brew their own coffee at home.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides. We have a few coffee-related guides, including our favorite cold-brew coffee makers, espresso machines, portable espresso makers, and cappuccino machines.
Updated October 2024: We removed a few old picks and added new ones, and refreshed links and prices throughout.
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