Specialty Coffee beans
As any coffee lover knows, great coffee always starts with great coffee beans. We’re not talking the expensive stuff from your local supermarket. Instead, you’re looking for specialty coffee beans. Fortunately in the UK, there are now literally hundreds of specialty coffee roasters making some amazing coffees from loads of different countries. You may be lucky enough to live close to a specialty coffee shop but if not, many sell their coffee online, which can easily be shipped to your home in time for Valentines Day! The great thing about specialty coffee is that they often have a great story behind them and are usually fully traceable and ethically sourced. Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like the delicious aromas from a bag of freshly roasted coffee.
Specialty coffee is grown in many parts of the world, but there are a couple of coffee growing regions that you could look out for. Whilst it’s difficult to say which one is best because it’s often down to personal preference, there are a couple of good rules of thumb to follow. Coffees grown in Africa often have descriptions highlighting floral or fruity notes. In South America, they may be described with chocolate or nutty notes. In Asia, spiced or earthy flavours. Like fine wines, specialty coffees are impacted by the soil, altitude, climate and the capabilities of the coffee farmers themselves so this is not a hard and fast rule. And as important is how they have been processed by the farmer or roasted by the roaster.
Confused yet? Fortunately, to be classed as specialty coffee, highly trained coffee experts grade the coffee to check that it meets the technical definitions of specialty coffee. In other words, if it’s specialty coffee, you know it will taste delicious. You can even find online coffee subscriptions that will send your loved one a different coffee at your chosen interval; a great option if they’re into experimenting.
If you’re interested, why don’t you take a look at our current offering here to see if anything takes your fancy.
Coffee makers
Unlock their inner barista with the gift of a coffee maker! These days the options are endless, but it is no longer true that you have to go out to drink really delicious coffee. The other great thing is that there are some really budget friendly options that will soon have them showing off their newfound coffee making skills. We recommend starting with the humble pour over and there are loads of options including the Hario V60 through to the Kalita Wave. There are even fancier options like the iconic looking Chemex, sure to add a touch of style to any home. These produce a great cup of coffee and are easy to use. You could also try the try a cafetiere or French press, which is probably the simplest coffee maker to produce great results at home.
Looking to splash the cash? There are some amazing espresso coffee makers designed for the home user if you have a bit of space in your kitchen. Not only do they look great and will impress their friends, but they also make a pretty awesome cup of coffee. Each machine has its own quirks, and some are basically fully automated so that at the press of a button your perfect cup of coffee appears. Others are going to require a bit more input from your budding barista but, we promise, that’s half the fun!
Travel mugs and flasks
So you’re supposed to be saving for that deposit for a new home or that holiday of a lifetime. You’re doing your bit to economise, but your coffee addict lover needs their daily fix on their commute to work. At over £3.50 a cup each day in this cost-of-living crisis, your financial goal is looking further and further away. We feel your pain, but don’t worry. Your new home barista champion doesn’t need to buy that expensive stuff anymore as they can make it at home for a third of the price! Almost. How are they going to carry that delicious brew without spilling and keeping it warm? They’re going to need a travel mug or flask. Oh, and the other great thing is no more paper cups for your sustainability conscious coffee lover when they just ‘have to try that new coffee place around the corner’!
There are literally hundreds of options to choose from and some are definitely better than others (recalling coffee spills on white shirts just before important client meetings!) So here are a few of our favourites that we’ve tried and tested and would recommend.
Klean Kanteen is the go-to brand for eco-conscious individuals who appreciate quality drinkware. They've taken sustainability to the next level with their climate-neutral, B Corp, and 1% For The Planet certifications. But that's not all – their insulated tumblers are a real game-changer. What sets these tumblers apart is their remarkable insulation, and a big part of that is thanks to their top-notch lids.This five-part, screw-on lid not only keeps your drinks hot or cold for ages, but it's also leak-proof. Plus, it features a nifty twist-and-click mechanism for easy sipping. Klean Kanteen's tumblers aren't just functional; they're sleek and slim in design, making them a perfect fit for standard cup holders and your hand. So, whether you're commuting, hiking, or just chilling at home, Klean Kanteen has your drinkware needs covered – with style, sustainability, and exceptional insulation.
Hydro Flask, as the name suggests, started out as a water bottle company but they've got an amazing lineup of coffee flasks too. This brand is all about embracing the great outdoors, catering to adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. Their range of insulated tumblers is impressive. They have excellent temperature retention keeping your specialty coffee hot for at least six hours. The sleek, tapered shape of the small and mid-size tumblers makes them fit perfectly into standard cup holders and easy to carry. So, whether you're hitting the trail or just commuting to work, Hydro Flask tumblers are your ideal companions for both functionality and style!
Frank Green, the Aussie sensation in the world of insulated tumblers, has taken the market by storm thanks to its unique and eye-catching designs. While their tumbler lineup might be smaller compared to some competitors, it's a standout in terms of style and versatility. Frank Green tumblers are not only functional but also fashion-forward. They come in nearly 20 vibrant colours, and you can even customize the body, lid, and push button to match your personal style.
The iconic KeepCup also makes our list of recommended travel mugs. Describing themselves as a barista standard reusable cup, the KeepCup has eco-credentials and a stylish and unique look compared to other brands. The original Brew Cork model is made of tempered glass with an upcycled cork band and a BPA-free plastic lid, but they’ve added stainless steel to their line up recently. We love it for it’s looks, but we’re not going to lie, it’s insulation is less impressive than other options.
Precision scales
Ok, so it’s going to get a bit geeky now. We’re sorry, but we promise this is actually very important for making good coffee at home. Strong or weak, coffee essentially is ground up coffee beans and water. The ratio between the two is how you determine if it’s too strong or too weak and basically the only way to do that is to measure it. This is where precision scales come in. There are loads of options to choose from and you can buy them for less than £10 on Amazon all the way up to (we kid you not) over £100. Some will have timers so you can time your brew, some will have precisely measure to the milligram. Basically, you need to be able to reasonably accurately know whether you’re brewing to the right coffee-water ratio for your palate. Trust us, embrace your inner coffee geek. It’ll be worth it!Gooseneck kettle
This bit is only really relevant if your loved one brews their specialty coffee using a pour over method like the Hario V60 or the Kalita Wave so feel free to skip if they’re a Cafetiere afficionado. The reason for this is simple. Pour over coffee requires controlled pouring of hot water over the ground coffee beans to extract those amazing intricate flavours. That’s hard to do with a normal kettle, which tends to gush out unevenly. The gooseneck kettle makes this process a lot easier and much less messy! There are loads of options to choose from; Ones that you pour the hot water from a normal kettle in before using like the Hario V60 Drip Kettle AIR, to stove top versions like the Hario V60 Buono Drip Kettle, to electric versions like the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle if you’re feeling fancy! So if they make their specialty coffee using the pour over method, or you’re helping to upgrade their coffee maker kit, make sure you consider the awesome looking gooseneck kettle.
Hopefully this has been useful inspiration for a gift for your specialty coffee loving lover. We wish a happy and romantic Valentine's Day with your loved one!
