Need outstanding coffee-themed gift basket
April 22, 2022 11:05 AM Subscribe
I need to buy someone a gift basket as a thank you for a business thing. The only thing I know about their tastes is that they like coffee. Have you seen or received an outstanding coffee gift basket? Fair trade preferred.
Many roasters have samplers, which is often the way I go to try a new-to-me roaster, e.g. (my local), e.g. ($$)
When I hear "gift basket" I worry that it'd include something like a cheap hand grinder or a pourover cone, which are both things that a coffee snob would have opinions about. If you know their preferred brew method it opens it up a little bit (Chemex cozy, anyone?)
A few good single-origin bags or a sample box are pretty safe bets. Maybe a travel mug, cool coffee spoons, or art.
posted by supercres at 11:54 AM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
When I hear "gift basket" I worry that it'd include something like a cheap hand grinder or a pourover cone, which are both things that a coffee snob would have opinions about. If you know their preferred brew method it opens it up a little bit (Chemex cozy, anyone?)
A few good single-origin bags or a sample box are pretty safe bets. Maybe a travel mug, cool coffee spoons, or art.
posted by supercres at 11:54 AM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
As a person who received a gift sampling of coffee packets this past holidays, may I steer you toward a gift card or certificate to the local coffee emporium?
The thing about those little pre-ground sample packets, is, who knows how long about those babies were ground. Several of my packets were stale beyond belief, and utterly unusable.
posted by BostonTerrier at 11:59 AM on April 22, 2022
The thing about those little pre-ground sample packets, is, who knows how long about those babies were ground. Several of my packets were stale beyond belief, and utterly unusable.
posted by BostonTerrier at 11:59 AM on April 22, 2022
Most people are picky about their coffee AND their art. Seconding no cheap grinders, kitschy cups, etc. That Onyx Box looks like a safe and elegant bet.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 11:59 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 11:59 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh geez, yeah, whole bean only. Unless their love of coffee is overstated and whole bean would be as useful to them as pre-ground would be to me.
If you're spending, say, $18 or more per 12 oz bag, I personally find it pretty unlikely that they'll turn their nose up at it. Unless they're way on the far end of the snob distribution and refuse Kenyans after reading Feran, or are like Rao and hate most naturals, or are like me and never met a Yemeni coffee they get along with, or etc etc.
Gift card *is* a safe bet; maybe something off of Food and Wine's best roasters in every state? (I agree with the picks that I've tried.)
If you want something tangible that isn't beans or a gift card, and is new and buzzy that they're less likely to have, maybe a Tricolate?
posted by supercres at 12:14 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
If you're spending, say, $18 or more per 12 oz bag, I personally find it pretty unlikely that they'll turn their nose up at it. Unless they're way on the far end of the snob distribution and refuse Kenyans after reading Feran, or are like Rao and hate most naturals, or are like me and never met a Yemeni coffee they get along with, or etc etc.
Gift card *is* a safe bet; maybe something off of Food and Wine's best roasters in every state? (I agree with the picks that I've tried.)
If you want something tangible that isn't beans or a gift card, and is new and buzzy that they're less likely to have, maybe a Tricolate?
posted by supercres at 12:14 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Onyx is fantastic! Sincerely, a coffee snob
posted by Argyle Road at 12:25 PM on April 22, 2022
posted by Argyle Road at 12:25 PM on April 22, 2022
My parents gifted me a a Mistobox subscription for a few months last year -- I like coffee, I like trying new things, my mom doesn't drink coffee and my dad is a Folgers person. This was fun for me and required zero coffee knowledge on their part.
If your budget's a bit smaller, I'd be very happy to receive just a single bag of whole bean coffee from a local roaster. You could maybe add a small mug or thermos if you wanted to round it out, and/or some small baked treats or some chocolate.
The thing about coffee people is.. we're pretty much always happy to get coffee and it doesn't usually need to be too much more extravagant than that. :D
posted by curious nu at 12:27 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
If your budget's a bit smaller, I'd be very happy to receive just a single bag of whole bean coffee from a local roaster. You could maybe add a small mug or thermos if you wanted to round it out, and/or some small baked treats or some chocolate.
The thing about coffee people is.. we're pretty much always happy to get coffee and it doesn't usually need to be too much more extravagant than that. :D
posted by curious nu at 12:27 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
I am a snobby coffee person and it would be hard to give me a gift basket that would be up to my standards and not duplicate what I already have.
How about a pivot to things that go with coffee, baked goods?
posted by chocotaco at 12:48 PM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
How about a pivot to things that go with coffee, baked goods?
posted by chocotaco at 12:48 PM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
I received one of these Coffee Tour gift boxes from Bean Box that was a fun way to try out different locations and types.
posted by msbutah at 2:28 PM on April 22, 2022
posted by msbutah at 2:28 PM on April 22, 2022
I love coffee, am not a coffee snob, have specific preferences. Artisanal, local coffee would be a nice gift; most cities have local roasteries and you can pick a selection. I do not need or want more mugs or paraphernalia, unless your company has a really nice* logo'ed travel mug. I hate coffee with non-coffee flavors, like caramel, hazelnut, or, shudder, blueberry. A variety pack of Starbucks instant coffee is a nice idea for occasional times when instant is really useful (I use it for baking and maybe when traveling and when I want instant).
* really nice travel mugs are stainless inside and have a comfortable handle.
Another option that's useful is an LL Bean Bag with monogram. Disclaimer: I work for them sometimes, but it's an excellent gift.
posted by theora55 at 12:25 PM on April 23, 2022
* really nice travel mugs are stainless inside and have a comfortable handle.
Another option that's useful is an LL Bean Bag with monogram. Disclaimer: I work for them sometimes, but it's an excellent gift.
posted by theora55 at 12:25 PM on April 23, 2022
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posted by box at 11:39 AM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]