# Recommend me gifts for the new coffee drinker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [December 13, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137 "2014-12-13T16:44:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/1 "2014-12-13T16:44:42Z")
My wife **Mama Zappa** and I don’t drink coffee. We just never got the habit. Nothing against caffeine - I drink enough tea and cola to float a battleship. We keep a coffee maker and small amounts of coffee around and bring it out when we have guests, because most people do drink coffee and we like to have it available for our friends. Our son “Dweezil” is college aged, and has just started drinking coffee. That’s fine with us. I asked him what he wanted for $WinterHoliday, and he said a spice grinder for his coffee. Didn’t he mean a coffee grinder? Nope - a spice grinder is more versatile he says. Coffee drinking Dopers, is that so? I truly don’t know. I feel like the non-fisherman in a Patrick F. McManus story who’s buying little life jackets for the bait crickets as a birthday gift for a fishing friend, on the recommendation of a sporting goods salesman. In any case, what can those of you who are Friends of Juan Valdez recommend as gifts for the new coffee drinker? My son is very taciturn about his needs and wants, and really hard to shop for. Getting him something that he really wants or needs or can use for ChrsimaHannaKwanzaaSolstice would be very cool! Thanks in advance! And Merry Caffeine to All! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/2 "2014-12-13T17:02:16Z")
Dweezil is young and misinformed. They’re basically the same thing. Spice grinders and low-end coffee grinders use blades, while high-end models (burr grinders) use gears to crush rather than chop. This means you can get a much finer grind for specialty coffees. If you want to avoid the issue altogether, you could look into getting him a french press. They’re cheap and make wonderful coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/3 "2014-12-13T17:06:43Z")
Yes. There’s no specific difference between a small sized spice grinder and a small sized coffee grinder of [this type](http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/krups-reg-coffee-grinder/100211?categoryId=12398). There are fancier ones specific to coffee, which I think is what he is saying he doesn’t need. But at the basic level, they are the same. I’m not sure what a French Press has to do with fresh ground coffee. If he wants to brew with fresh ground coffee in a French Press, he still needs a grinder. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/4 "2014-12-13T17:22:12Z")
Using a spice grinder/coffee grinder (yes, they are identical) gets you a very coarse, uneven grind. If the giftee is serious about brewing good coffee at home, he needs a better quality grinder that produces grounds of even size and shape. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/5 "2014-12-13T17:34:59Z")
A coffee grinder should never be used to grind anything other than coffee or it will have an off taste. If he wants to grind spices get him 2 grinders and tell him to keep them separate. A spice grinder will grind the coffee too fine and you’ll get dust resulting in sludge, especially using a French press. For really good coffee, buy whole beans - only enough to use in a month, grind it fresh for every pot using a good burr grinder set for a medium grind, and use a French press for brewing. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/6 "2014-12-13T17:37:14Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Using a spice grinder/coffee grinder (yes, they are identical) gets you a very coarse, uneven grind. I don’t find this to be the case. You have to shake it as its grinding to even it out a bit. For most people, the difference between fresh ground and commercially ground is big enough that the perfection of the grinding tool is immaterial. > [@](#): > > If the giftee is serious about brewing good coffee at home, he needs a better quality grinder that produces grounds of even size and shape. LOL. Perhaps you’ve overlooked that the giftee is a college student who began drinking coffee for the first time a few months ago. With any luck, it’ll be years before he’s that pretentious about it. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/7 "2014-12-13T17:48:55Z")
a spice grinder style does make an uneven grind. also it grinds to how long you run it, which could be too course or too fine. a burr coffee grinder makes it uniform. makes much better coffee. if Dweezil might get interested in espresso, caffè latte, cappuccino, caffè macchiato, cafe mocha, or caffè Americano then a burr grinder is needed. the spice grinder is so small and inexpensive that one should be had for noncoffee uses if needed. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/8 "2014-12-13T17:57:49Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > A coffee grinder should never be used to grind anything other than coffee or it will have an off taste. If he wants to grind spices get him 2 grinders and tell him to keep them separate. > > A spice grinder will grind the coffee too fine and you’ll get dust resulting in sludge, especially using a French press. > > For really good coffee, buy whole beans - only enough to use in a month, grind it fresh for every pot using a good burr grinder set for a medium grind, and use a French press for brewing. As a coffee snob, I agree with this with this wholeheartedly. However, I don’t agree that cheap “blade” grinders are inferior. They need to be shaken as they are doing their thing, but for an average coffee drinker they produce a perfectly serviceable grind. A poor college student myself (who worships good coffee and likes to cook), I would recommend two blade grinders (less than $10 each), and a good French press–Bodum makes good presses. Maybe throw in a teakettle to heat the water. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/9 "2014-12-13T18:06:00Z")
French presses are good, but I prefer a pour-over system (glass or ceramic), like the ones made by Chemex. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/10 "2014-12-13T18:08:28Z")
We have a burr grinder and it is great. Adjustable, it gives a very uniform grind frame coarse to powder. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/11 "2014-12-13T20:21:58Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I’m not sure what a French Press has to do with fresh ground coffee. If he wants to brew with fresh ground coffee in a French Press, he still needs a grinder. The OP asked for general gift ideas for a new coffee lover. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/12 "2014-12-13T22:00:10Z")
I have two coffee grinders. One is used only to grind coffee beans. The other one is used only to grind spices. As for gifts, a French press is always good if the recipient doesn’t have one. I’m a big fan of [Community Coffee](http://www.communitycoffee.com). I just darn like it! (I usually drink the Dark Roast.) They frequently have %-off sales. I wait for the 20% off sales and buy a lot. They just had a 30% off sale for Thanksgiving, and I bought a selection of blends I haven’t tried yet (and a new travel mug). Right now they have 10% off, plus free shipping on orders of $30 or more. (Usually the free shipping is for orders over $60. you get the %-off either way.) [This page](http://www.communitycoffee.com/products/more) has some gift ideas. Note that there are ‘view all [category]’ links on the right. I would suggest looking at the last link, above, to get ideas. You can get something there, or use your imagination. Several years ago, before the SO moved in, I sent her some tea from a local shop (she used to order from them even when she lived back in Tennessee) and a basket from Pier 1 Imports and made a gift basket for her. He mightn’t want one of these if he’s new to coffee, but personally, I _must have_ a moka pot. A [Bialetti](http://smile.amazon.com/Bialetti-Express-6-Cup-Stovetop-Espresso/dp/B000CNY6UK/) is traditional and you can get one at Bed Bath & Beyond and save 20% with a coupon. [This stainless steel one](http://smile.amazon.com/Laroma-Stainless-Dishwasher-Macchinetta-Caffettiera/dp/B00K91E6FA/) is similar to my other moka pot. Stainless steel is great because it doesn’t corrode like the aluminum ones (you have to wash and dry them immediately to prevent it). OTOH, my stainless steel one doesn’t sit on my MSR camp stove and the Bialetti is better for that. Either way, it’s a great way to have ‘espresso’ at home. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/13 "2014-12-13T22:17:22Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > The OP asked for general gift ideas for a new coffee lover. :dubious: Oh I misunderstood. I thought you were saying for some reason that you don’t need a grinder if you have a french press. 😕 I get what you were saying now. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/14 "2014-12-13T23:13:26Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > As a coffee snob, I agree with this with this wholeheartedly. However, I don’t agree that cheap “blade” grinders are inferior. They need to be shaken as they are doing their thing, but for an average coffee drinker they produce a perfectly serviceable grind. > > A poor college student myself (who worships good coffee and likes to cook), I would recommend two blade grinders (less than $10 each), and a good French press–Bodum makes good presses. Maybe throw in a teakettle to heat the water. Water is something a lot of people overlook in brewing good coffee. Use cold filtered water if at all possible. not tap, not distilled. Give him a filter pitcher and tell him to keep the filtered water in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-gifts-for-the-new-coffee-drinker/707137/15 "2014-12-13T23:33:44Z")
Let’s not forget a selection of nice coffees to try. I’ve been a coffee drinker for years, and I still love getting new types/brands of coffee as gifts. I’ve narrowed my favorite down to dark roast, but there are still a lot of coffees out there I haven’t had. Local roasts are especially nice.