I did not consume my first cup of coffee until the ripe old age of 24, when I was forced by a former employer to attend an ad hoc cupping session. At first I found the taste of black coffee repulsive, but my small chain coffee shop employer didn't cover the cost of tastier options like the Minty Mocha Freeze, so my taste buds are were forced to adapt. Little by little, I learned to enjoy the ritual of preparing a fresh pot of coffee in the morning, and soon I began to enjoy the opportunity to hang out with my father and have coffee throughout the day when I visited the my parents around the holidays. Just two guys drinking Folgers from a Mr. Coffee while reruns of NCIS and Law & Order: SVU air in perpetuity on television.

I eventually moved to Portland, Oregon, during the height of the so-called "third wave" of coffee, and landed a job at a high-volume coffee shop and bakery. At this point, my coffee consumption escalated from a physiological necessity to a more considered, purposeful experience. Roasters like Stumptown and Coava taught me the basics of extraction, Black Rabbit taught me how to clean and maintain my shop La Marzocco, and a since-blinds Seattle Coffee Gear The outpost piqued my interest in the ever-expanding universe of grinders, brewers, boilers, and doodads that promise delicious cups of coffee in all manner of scenarios.

Whether your budget is $4 or $400, there's no shortage of thoughtful gadgets that make excellent gifts for family, friends, or total strangers in a hotly contested white elephant exchange. We have included only products and accessories that our team has personally tested, verified and used to make their own coffee at home.