2023 Holiday Coffee-Gift Guide
NextLevel PULSAR $65
The hottest new dripper of 2023 is also the best manual dripper ever made. This should surprise no one, since astrophysicist-coffee nerd Jonathan Gagné collaborated with NextLevel to design it. Every detail of the Pulsar is just right: the gentle shower spray, the height of the shower screen, the amount of turbulence, the valve, and the heavily creped filter paper. I’ve received an extraordinary number of messages similar to “I am not even dialed in yet, but my first Pulsar brew was already better than my best pourover.” Those messages are testament to the Pulsar’s clever, foolproof design. Finally, even extractions are virtually automatic, with no skill required.
Spinware Studios Ceramic cupping bowl set $75
Last Christmas my friend Martina at Spinware Studio made me a gorgeous set of three ceramic cupping bowls. This year, I suggested she fire a few sets as gifts for coffee lovers. These limited-edition cupping bowls are the perfect size, shape, and aesthetic to maximize enjoyment of the cupping experience, and they double as beautiful latte mugs. Their heavy construction cools coffee quickly to drinking temperature.
@spinware.studio / www.spinware.studio
AutoComb $200
If you’re looking for a special gift for a cafe owner, pro barista, or avid home barista, the AutoComb is a must-have tool. AutoComb solves puck prep, the biggest challenge to consistent espresso quality.
The AutoComb spins 12 carefully arranged needles to achieve perfect distribution in five seconds, every shot. Nothing says I love you like helping your loved ones eliminate channeling.
**Now until December 22, buy AutoComb + any other other item at www.scottrao.com and get $20 off using the discount code HOLIDAY20
Fellow Carter Slider Travel Mug $35
| have a few requirements for a travel mug: vacuum insulation, durability, an easy open/close mechanism, and a leakproof design, even when the mug is turned upside down. The Fellow Oscar has all of that, plus Fellow’s signature good looks. Fellow offers a version with a standard screw-on lid, though I prefer the design shown here, with the clever slide-to-open lid.
Steady State Jarmillo Panama Natural Pacamara $34
I visited Elliot at Steady State a few weeks ago and he offered me a cup of a natural pacamara with a promise that I would love it. I laughed because he knows both “pacamara” and “natural” are red flags for me. But damn if this wasn’t the best coffee I’ve tasted outside of Prodigal’s cupping table in the past few months. The stated tasting notes of kiwi, honeydew, and banana ring true, and for the nerds, I’d score this coffee 89 points. If you buy this coffee as a gift for someone, you may want to get an extra bag for yourself to avoid coffee envy.
Zojirushi push-button travel mug $42.44
I’ve been using this travel mug regularly for tea at least a decade. I love that the lid doubles as a cup for drinking and the leak-proof push-button mechanism has lasted through a decade of almost daily use. It isn’t pretty, but it gets the job done.
NEW!! The Business of Specialty Coffee by Maxwell-Colonna Dashwood $45
The Business of Specialty Coffee by Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood is the brand new, definitive book about the specialty-coffee business. I’ve often considered writing a similar book, and am pleased Maxwell decided to write this much-needed book. Whether you are a cafe owner, an aspiring cafe owner, or just interested in the business of specialty coffee, this book is for you. The Business of Specialty Coffee is a deep dive into the economics, ethics, strategies, and of the coffee business. Maxwell did a great job, and I expect this book to influence a generation of cafe owners.
*Orders to US addresses ship December 11. International orders ship in early January.
“De-Caffeinate” $25.99
De-Caffeinate could be an interesting, quirky gift for someone who sometimes must consume more caffeine than they prefer.
I don’t want to recommend anyone use this, as I do not offer medical advice. And it’s not known whether regular use of this supplement could have any detrimental effects, though the FDA considers it GRAS (generally regarded as safe). I occasionally take one of these when I get over-caffeinated. My caffeine tolerance is low, and this supplement has been a godsend when I need to cup dozens of coffees.
De-Caffeinate contains a plant extract called rutaecarpine, which induces the body to produce more CYP1A2, the liver enzyme responsible for 99% of caffeine metabolism. In my experience, if I take De-Caffeinate when over-caffeinated, I feel normal and non-jittery in about an hour later. My n=1 is an unscientific, biased study, but De-Caffeinate has been useful to me.
