If you know someone who loves coffee, a coffee subscription box makes a great gift. It's fun, practical and a lovely way for them to explore beyond the supermarket coffee aisle.
Not sure where to start, or why Blue Coffee Box is a good choice? The 3 reasons below will help you decide, whether you're buying for your best friend, partner, grown-up children, relatives or anyone else in your life. Further down, you'll find tips on choosing the right options and 20 Christmas gift ideas for coffee lovers, from gadgets and mugs to stocking fillers.
Giving coffee as a gift?
A Blue Coffee Box gift subscription sends speciality coffee from the UK's independent roasters through the letterbox for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. It never auto-renews, delivery is free, and you choose the posting date. Add a message and we'll print it on a special gift card in the first box.
Why freshly roasted coffee makes a good gift
Not all coffee is created equal. Coffee is never just coffee:
- There's coffee sourced carefully from ethical farms, and there's neglected coffee.
- There's stale supermarket coffee, and there's freshly roasted coffee.
- There's coffee roasted with precision, and there's coffee burned to a crisp.
All of this makes a big difference to the cup. Poorly roasted coffee tastes bitter, dull and flat. Carefully grown, well-roasted coffee is vibrant, with flavours and aromas like blueberries, spice and rose.
3 reasons a coffee subscription box makes a great gift
1. They get to try new speciality coffees
One of my favourite things about Blue Coffee Box is that each delivery brings one or two new coffees I would never have picked for myself. I tend to stick to what I know, so a subscription opens my palate up to new flavours.
Every coffee comes with a tasting notes card, so you know where it's from and which flavour notes to look for. It's less a coffee delivery and more a regular gift of freshly roasted beans.
2. They're supporting small businesses
Whenever I can, I support small businesses. Blue Coffee Box was founded by a father and son in 2017, and every coffee comes from one of the UK's independent speciality roasters. When you give a subscription, you're supporting them too, so thank you!
3. The coffee is freshly roasted by independent roasters
We look for small-batch roasters who are building their business on a passion for great, freshly roasted coffee. We choose roasters who work closely with the farms their beans come from, and every coffee is 100% arabica.
How long coffee stays fresh depends on the roast date, how it's stored (here are our favourite ways) and how it's brewed. Because we send it freshly roasted, it arrives at its best.
Bonus: it works for any occasion
A coffee subscription works for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, Christmas, students moving out and more.
How to choose the right coffee gift
You don't need to be a coffee expert to get it right. Here's what to decide when you build the gift.
Whole beans or ground?
If they have a grinder, choose whole beans. Otherwise, pick the grind that suits how they make coffee: Cafetière, Dripper, AeroPress or Espresso. If you're not sure what they use, select Dripper.
Which roast?
Choose light, medium or dark, decaf, or half and half. If you don't know their taste, "Surprise me" is a good choice.
The Bag, The Box or the Big Box?
The Bag is one 227g bag of coffee, which makes about 15 cups. The Box is two 227g bags, which suits bigger coffee drinkers or households. The Big Box is four different coffees, about 60 cups, and is our best value.
How long?
Choose 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. Gift subscriptions end after the last delivery, so there's nothing to cancel. If you'd rather give a gift that keeps going, choose a standard subscription, which can be cancelled anytime.
Christmas gift ideas for coffee lovers
Buying for a coffee lover this Christmas? Here are 20 ideas, from our gift subscription to gadgets, mugs, stocking fillers and homemade treats. Most of them pair well with a bag of fresh coffee.
Looking for something smaller? See our 15 coffee gifts under £25, from a month of coffee to handmade mugs and coasters.
- Best overall: a coffee gift subscription, with fresh speciality coffee through the letterbox every month.
- For Secret Santa or a stocking: the Coffee Selection Box, a one-off box with no subscription.
- If you're not sure what they like: a gift card, so they can choose for themselves.
- For the coffee geek: an AeroPress, a burr grinder or a set of digital scales.
- For under the tree on a budget: a jar of homemade chocolate coffee beans.
Our coffee gifts
1. A coffee gift subscription
Our favourite gift, and the one that keeps arriving long after the decorations come down. Each month they get fresh single-origin speciality coffee from a UK independent roaster, from a different region every time. You choose 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, whole beans or a grind, and the roast (including decaf). It never auto-renews, delivery is free across the UK, and it fits through the letterbox. Pick the posting date, and we'll print your message on a gift card in the first box.
Choose a coffee gift subscription
2. The Coffee Selection Box
Two 227g bags of speciality coffee, our pick of this month's coffees, in whole beans or ground. The Coffee Selection Box is a one-off, so it's ideal for Secret Santa, a stocking, or a thank-you for the neighbour who always makes you a coffee.
3. A gift card
Not sure whether they drink espresso or filter, light roast or dark, or even coffee or tea? A Blue Coffee Box gift card for £40, £80 or £120 lets them build their own subscription. We can email it to them with your message on the date you choose, or send it to you to print and give in person, so it's a good last-minute present too.
4. A KeepCup
For the commuter or dog walker, our 340ml KeepCup is light, virtually unbreakable and has a splashproof lid, with the Blue Coffee Box logo on the band.
Coffee gadgets
5. An AeroPress
Small, tough and quick, the AeroPress makes a smooth, rich cup in a couple of minutes and packs into a suitcase or rucksack. It's a favourite with coffee geeks and a great first step up from instant. See our AeroPress guide.
6. A pour-over brewer
A pour-over brewer, such as a Chemex or a V60, makes a slow, clean cup that brings out the fruitier flavours of speciality coffee. Pair it with the Dripper grind. See our pour-over coffee makers guide.
7. A burr grinder
Coffee starts to lose its aroma soon after it's ground, so grinding just before brewing makes the biggest difference to flavour. A burr grinder gives a more even grind than a blade grinder. If you give a grinder, choose whole beans for their subscription. See our guide to choosing a coffee grinder for home.
8. A gooseneck kettle
The long, thin spout gives a slow, steady pour, which is exactly what pour-over coffee needs. Some models let you set the temperature too, which is handy for tea drinkers in the house.
9. Digital coffee scales
Weighing coffee and water is the easiest way to make a great cup every time. Scales with a built-in timer are ideal for pour-over and AeroPress brewing.
10. A milk frother
For the latte and flat white fan, a milk frother makes café-style drinks at home, from a simple handheld whisk to a jug that heats and froths at the touch of a button. Not sure which drink they prefer? See flat white vs latte, and our guide to the best non-dairy milk for coffee.
11. A cold brew kit
Cold brew makes smooth, low-acidity coffee in the fridge overnight, a gift they'll thank you for next summer. Pair it with the Cafetière grind. See our cold brew guide.
12. A cafetière
Simple, reliable and still a UK favourite. A good double-walled cafetière keeps coffee hot for second cups. Pair it with the Cafetière grind. See our cafetière guide.
Mugs and cups
13. A handmade mug
A handmade or personalised mug from a local potter or craft market is a present they'll reach for every morning, and it's lovely to give with the first box of a subscription.
14. Double-walled glasses
Double-walled glasses keep coffee hot while the outside stays cool to the touch, and they show off a layered latte beautifully.
15. Espresso cups
A set of small, thick-walled espresso cups keeps a shot warm and makes the perfect stocking filler for anyone with an espresso machine or stovetop pot. See our stovetop guide.
16. An insulated flask
For walkers, anglers and football parents, a good vacuum flask keeps coffee hot for hours. See our tips on keeping your coffee hot and choosing a coffee travel mug.
Stocking fillers
17. An airtight coffee canister
Once a bag is open, an airtight, opaque canister keeps beans fresher for longer. See how to store coffee.
18. A coffee scoop and bag clip
A wooden or brass scoop and a sturdy bag clip are small, useful and look good on the kitchen counter.
19. A reusable coffee filter
A stainless steel or cloth filter for their pour-over cuts down on paper filters and lets more of the coffee's natural oils through for a fuller cup.
20. Chocolate coffee beans
Easy to make and very moreish. Follow our recipe for dark chocolate covered coffee beans, pack them in a jar and tie it with a ribbon.
Homemade coffee gifts
A homemade present always goes down well. Bake a tin of espresso brownies or a coffee and walnut cake, or mix a jar of our coffee spice rub for the barbecue fan. Add a bag of fresh coffee and you have a thoughtful gift for very little.
Buying for a tea drinker too? See our gifts for tea lovers.
Finally
If you've been on the fence about giving a coffee subscription, don't be. It's an easy, affordable way to enjoy high-quality single-origin coffee from well-regarded roasters, delivered through the letterbox with no trip to the supermarket.
Buying for Christmas? Check our Christmas delivery dates. Buying for staff or clients? See our corporate coffee gifts, with bulk discounts of up to 20%.
