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The best Christmas gifts for coffee lovers in 2024
Amazon
Many of us love to start our morning with a cup of Joe, but we all know someone who takes their coffee really seriously. Whether it’s the coffee snob who only drinks a blend made from the finest beans or the person who always needs to have a fresh cup in their hand throughout the day, coffee enthusiasts are a special breed.
If you or someone you love can’t start the day without a warm cup of coffee, you’re definitely not alone. In a 2020 survey, over 50% of those surveyed said they “can’t have a positive morning” without coffee.
Here at CBS Essentials, we’re serious about finding you the best of the best in any category. From tool kits to the latest in cleaning trends, we’ve got you covered.
In our quest to give you the latest information on the best products, we’ve gone and done a deep dive into all things coffee — gifts for coffee lovers to be exact. Whether you’re looking to gift a killer espresso machine (how nice of you) or you want some help deciphering milk frothers, latte wands and cold brew, we’re here to help you find the best Christmas gift for the coffee lover in your life.
Give the gift you’ll also buy for yourself: Electric self-stirring mug
Amazon
They’ll be hard-pressed not to squeal “it’s so cute” when looking at this (yes) cute self-stirring mug. Affordably priced, this mug is designed for mixing milk in coffee or whipping up a matcha that’ll give their local barista a run for his or her money.
Why they’ll love an electric self-stirring mug:
- The mug is made from high borosilicate glass, which is capable of holding just boiled hot water or ice-cold water.
- The handle offers storage for stirring sticks so they don’t get lost.
For the coffee lover always on the go: BrüMate insulated coffee mug
BrüMate/Amazon
We tried BrüMate’s 32-ounce Toddy XL insulated coffee mug expecting another heavy mug that connotes an arm workout when carried throughout the day. To our surprise, Toddy doesn’t feel heavy, keeps our coffee and tea as warm as we like it, features a terrific no-spill top and is just the right size to avoid the unintended arm workout. Toddy has quickly become our go-to travel mug.
Why they’ll love the BrüMate insulated mug:
- This mug is generously sized and doesn’t feel as heavy as its competitors.
- The no-spill top really is leakproof.
- We like the color offerings, which have something for everyone.
Give the gift of coffee that’s always hot: Ember smart mug
Amazon
This smart coffee mug is built to keep hot beverages hot without back-and-forth trips to the microwave or necessitating a new pot of java. Its long-lasting battery ensures The recipient’s drink will stay at their preferred temperature between 120 and 145 degrees on a full charge.
The mug works with or independently of the Ember app, which can set the temperature, customize drink presets and more. The mug will even remember the last temperature it’s set to. It’ll go to sleep after two hours of inactivity or when the cup is empty, then wake up and start heating when it senses liquid or movement.
Why they’ll love the Ember smart mug:
- It keeps coffee warm for up to 80 minutes on a single charge or all day when used with the included coaster.
- It’s great for students or remote workers who like to keep their coffee warm through meetings or study sessions.
- It features a durable scratch-resistant coating.
For the traveling coffee connoisseur: AeroPress Go Travel coffee press
Amazon
The AeroPress Go Travel coffee press is the answer to bad (or overpriced!) hotel coffee and staying caffeinated while camping. This portable coffee press can brew delicious coffee in under a minute, or make cold brew in two minutes.
“The Aeropress Go Travel Coffee Press Kit is an absolute game-changer for coffee enthusiasts on the go! As someone who appreciates a good cup of Joe, I cannot recommend this portable coffee maker enough,” an Amazon reviewer says.
Why they’ll love the AeroPress Go Travel coffee press:
- It brews smooth, rich coffee without bitterness or grounds sneaking into the brew.
- It’s a portable option for coffee fans who love to travel or go camping.
- It can be used for hot coffee, cold brew or espresso.
For the cold brew enthusiast: Chamberlain Coffee cold brew starter kit
Chamberlain Coffee
Cold brew is a coffee drinker’s favorite, but many people don’t realize how easy it can be to make at home. This cold brew starter set comes with a mason jar system cup with a handle and lid, a reusable metal straw, and a pack of coffee bags that can be used to make cold brew. Simply steep the coffee bags (similar to tea bags) in water for 8 to 24 hours, then remove the bag and enjoy.
“{This is the] best cold brew coffee I have ever had! I do the single servings and brew them for 24 hours and they are so good and a fun surprise each morning,” a reviewer says.
Why they’ll love the Chamberlain Coffee cold brew starter kit:
- You can choose what coffee blend to include in the kit.
- It’s a beginner-friendly at-home cold brew coffee kit.
- The recipient will be able to enjoy their beloved cold brew right at home each morning.
For the coffee enthusiast that loves to try new blends: Atlas Coffee Club coffee world tour gift subscription
Atlas coffee club
Real coffee lovers like to explore new tastes and terroirs. Plus, coffee drinkers are likely going to buy new coffee each month anyway, so this subscription is a great clutter-free gift that any coffee enthusiast will enjoy.
Each month the Atlas Coffee Club subscription features a coffee from a different country. You can select whole beans, ground coffee, espresso, Keurig cups and more. There are also different roast options, so your gift recipient can get a light, medium or dark roast to suit their preferences.
Get a one-year coffee subscription for $189 (regularly $240).
Why they’ll love the Atlas Coffee Club coffee world tour subscription:
- Each coffee comes with a postcard from the coffee’s country of origin with tasting notes and the origin story of the coffee.
- It’s a fun way for the recipient to try all kinds of coffee while still getting their preferred bean style and strength.
- It’s a gift that keeps on giving for an entire year.
For the friend in need of an at-home coffee upgrade: Keurig milk frother
Amazon
Gifting this standalone frother is a great way to upgrade the recipient’s coffee experience without buying them a whole new coffee maker. This kitchen gadget is great at frothing milk for lattes and cappuccinos. It offers hot and cold frothing modes, so you can also make iced drinks with it.
It can be used alongside standard drip coffee makers, Keurig brews or any other coffee maker for the perfect latte experience. This frother is also a bit easier to use than handheld frothers. All you have to do is add your desired milk type and push a button.
This milk frother is currently $52, reduced from $80.
Why they’ll love the Keurig milk frother:
- It works with milk, cream and non-dairy milk alternatives.
- It provides nicely frothed milk with foam, so the recipient can have the coffee shop latte experience right from their own kitchen.
- Amazon reviewers call it quiet and easy to clean.
For the at-home barista: Torani Syrup coffeehouse variety set
Amazon
Give the gift of coffeehouse flavor with this Torani Syrup coffeehouse variety pack. It comes with four flavors: vanilla, salted caramel, classic hazelnut and French vanilla.
“I love to get coffee shop-level lattes at home and having these on my coffee bar makes it super simple to whip one up,” an Amazon reviewer says.
Why they’ll love the Torani Syrup coffeehouse variety pack
- It comes with four popular flavors to help the recipient make fun flavored lattes.
- Torani syrups are used in thousands of coffee shops.
- They have a two-year shelf life.
For the French Press newbie: Bodum Chambord French press coffee maker
Walmart
For the coffee fan who is looking to transition to a more involved coffee-making process, the French press is an easy, hands-on way to get more familiar with your morning brew.
“The coffee made with this press is smooth, not bitter,” a Walmart customer says. “No matter how strong I make it, it’s still smooth and delicious! Don’t waste your money on another electric coffee maker. This is a coffee lover’s dream.”
Why they’ll love the Bodum Chambord French press coffee maker:
- The French press brews rich coffee in only four minutes.
- It features a stainless steel plunger designed to prevent grounds from getting into the brewed coffee.
- French pressing coffee is more environmentally friendly than several of today’s popular brewing methods.
For the friend that loves the smell of fresh coffee: 96North coffee soy candle
Amazon
Know someone who loves the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning? Get them this candle to keep the smell of roasted coffee in the air all day.
“First of all, it came in the most beautiful presentation,” an Amazon reviewer says. “The scent is exactly as represented. It fills the air with a non-overpowering scent of coffee. It burns nice and slowly. I love it and would buy it again.”
Why they’ll love the 96North coffee soy candle:
- The candle has a delectable roasted coffee scent, making it the perfect gift for a true coffee lover.
- It’s made with all-natural soy wax.
- It comes wrapped up nicely in a giftable box.
For the latte addict: Nespresso Vertuo Next espresso maker
Amazon
Do you know someone who can’t go a day without heading to the coffee shop for their favorite latte? Consider gifting them a machine that will let them make it right from their own kitchen — and save themselves a ton of money.
The Nespresso Vertuo Next allows you to brew single-serve coffee or espresso at the touch of a button. The espresso maker can brew three cup sizes and offers an ultra-fast, 25-second heat-up time.
Even better: The company is always introducing new coffee flavors and seasonal favorites, like Pumpkin Spice Cake for the fall.
This espresso maker is currently $170, reduced from $209.
Why they’ll love the Nespresso Vertuo Next espresso maker:
- The espresso machine is only 5.5 inches wide, making it a compact option that works even in small spaces.
- It offers six cup size options.
- They can discover new flavors and seasonal favorites throughout the year (hello, pumpkin spice).
- Comes with a 37-ounce water reservoir so you can make several cups without having to add more water.
For the indecisive coffee drinker: Keurig K-Duo Plus coffee maker
Amazon
If you’re looking for a coffee maker to gift the person who likes to change things up and can’t decide between a traditional drip coffee maker and a single-serve model, we’ve found the perfect choice. The Keurig K-Duo Plus coffee maker allows you to use single-serve K-cups or brew a larger serving with ground coffee. The coffee maker features a 60-ounce water reservoir, so you don’t need to refill in between every brew. There is also a pause feature that allows you to stop the machine for 20 seconds while brewing a pot of coffee so that you can pour yourself a fresh cup right away. It’s rated 4.5 stars on Amazon.
“I am absolutely thrilled with the Keurig K-Duo Plus coffee maker! This versatile machine has revolutionized my morning coffee routine and has become an indispensable part of my kitchen,” one verified Amazon purchaser says.
This coffee maker is $199, reduced from $229.
Why they’ll love the Keurig K-Duo Plus coffee maker:
- You can use K-cups to make individual cups of coffee or brew larger pots with grounds.
- Auto-brew setting allows you to schedule a brew up to 24 hours in advance, so hot coffee is waiting for you when you wake up.
- The adjustable multi-position water reservoir can be positioned to the left, right or back of the brewer.
Gift our readers’ favorite espresso maker: Philips 3200 series fully automatic espresso machine
Philips via Amazon
If your gift recipient’s Keurig coffee maker is collecting dust because they’d rather enjoy a daily latte — without the Starbucks costs — gift them this fully automatic espresso machine from Philips.
The 4.3-star-rated device can make up to five black and milk-based coffee varieties at the touch of a button. Its classic milk frother system dispenses steam, allowing you to prepare silky smooth milk froth for your cappuccinos and more. This kitchen gadget even lets you adjust the strength and quantity of your beverage, and choose from three settings to suit your preferences. It was also a Black Friday best-seller among CBS Essentials readers last year.
“I’ve simply never had a better cup of coffee,” an Amazon reviewer says. “I go to sleep thinking about the delicious cup I’m going to have in the morning and wake up excited to have it. If you haven’t dipped into the world of fully automatic machines before, you’re in for a serious treat.”
Regularly price at $700, this machine is currently $599.
Why they’ll love this espresso machine:
- It can make a variety of coffee drinks with just the press of a button.
- You can adjust the intensity of your beverages to suit your taste.
- It features a milk frother.
CBS News
2 soldiers killed by landmine blast in Mexico day after 2 troops killed by booby trap in same region
A blast killed two Mexican soldiers in the second deadly incident this week involving an improvised landmine in a crime-plagued western state, authorities said Wednesday.
According to the El Universal newspaper, the soldiers were trying to deactivate the device when it exploded.
The blast happened late on Tuesday in Buenavista in Michoacan, the state prosecutor’s office said.
A military source who did not want to be named said that troops were looking for similar devices believed to have been planted in the area.
On Monday, a blast caused by another improvised landmine killed two Mexican soldiers and wounded five others in the same region. Before the explosion, the soldiers had discovered the dismembered bodies of three people, officials said.
The device was suspected to have been planted by members of a local criminal group waging a turf war with a bigger drug cartel, Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla said Tuesday.
Six other soldiers had been killed by similar improvised devices since late 2018, he said.
Mexico is plagued by widespread drug-related violence that has seen more than 450,000 people killed since the government deployed the army to combat trafficking in 2006, according to official figures.
In the only previous detailed report on cartel bomb attacks in August 2023, the defense department said at that time that a total of 42 soldiers, police and suspects were wounded by IEDs in the first seven and a half months of 2023, up from 16 in all of 2022.
Overall, 556 improvised explosive devices of all types – roadside, drone-carried and car bombs – were found in 2023, the army said in a news release last year.
Oklahoma is preparing to execute a man who killed a 10-year-old girl in what would be the nation’s 25th and final execution of the year.
Kevin Ray Underwood is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Thursday, his 45th birthday, at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Underwood, a former grocery store worker, was sentenced to die for killing Jamie Rose Bolin in 2006 as part of a cannibalistic fantasy.
Underwood admitted to luring Jamie into his apartment and beating her over the head with a cutting board before suffocating and sexually assaulting her. He told investigators that he nearly beheaded the girl in his bathtub before abandoning his plans to eat her.
Sue Ogrocki / AP
Oklahoma uses a three-drug lethal injection process that begins with the sedative midazolam followed by a second drug that paralyzes the inmate to halt their breathing and a third that stops their heart.
During a hearing last week before the state’s Pardon and Parole Board, Underwood told the girl’s family he was sorry.
“I would like to apologize to the victim’s family, to my own family and to everyone in that room today that had to hear the horrible details of what I did,” Underwood said to the board via a video feed from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
The three board members in attendance at last week’s meeting all voted against recommending clemency.
Underwood’s attorneys had argued that he deserved to be spared from death because of his long history of abuse and serious mental health issues that included autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar and panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizotypal personality disorder and various deviant sexual paraphilias.
His mother, Connie Underwood, tearfully asked the board to grant her son mercy.
“I can’t imagine the heartache the family of that precious girl is living with every single day,” Connie Underwood said. “I wish we understood his pain before it led to this tragedy.”
But several members of Bolin’s family asked the board to reject Underwood’s clemency bid. The girl’s father, Curtis Bolin, was scheduled to testify to the board but became choked up as he held his head in his hand.
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” he said.
Prosecutors wrote in opposing Underwood’s clemency request that, “Whatever deviance of the mind led Underwood to abduct, beat, suffocate, sexually abuse and nearly decapitate Jamie cannot be laid at the feet of depression, anxiety or (autism).
“Underwood is dangerous because he is smart, organized and driven by deviant sexual desires rooted in the harm and abuse of others.”
In a last-minute request seeking a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court, Underwood’s attorneys argued that he deserves a hearing before the full five-member parole board and that the panel violated state law and Underwood’s rights by rescheduling its hearing at the last minute after two members of the board resigned.
When Michael Adams was researching health insurance options last year, he had one very specific requirement: coverage for prosthetic limbs.
Adams, 51, lost his right leg to cancer 40 years ago, and he has worn out more legs than he can count. He picked a gold plan on the Colorado health insurance marketplace that covered prosthetics, including microprocessor-controlled knees like the one he has used for many years. That function adds stability and helps prevent falls.
But when his leg needed replacing in January after about five years of everyday use, his new marketplace health plan wouldn’t authorize it. The roughly $50,000 leg with the electronically controlled knee wasn’t medically necessary, the insurer said, even though Colorado law leaves that determination up to the patient’s doctor, and his has prescribed a version of that leg for many years, starting when he had employer-sponsored coverage.
“The electronic prosthetic knee is life-changing,” said Adams, who lives in Lafayette, Colorado, with his wife and two kids. Without it, “it would be like going back to having a wooden leg like I did when I was a kid.” The microprocessor in the knee responds to different surfaces and inclines, stiffening up if it detects movement that indicates its user is falling.
Alana Adams
People who need surgery to replace a joint typically don’t encounter similar coverage roadblocks. In 2021, 1.5 million knee or hip joint replacements were performed in United States hospitals and hospital-owned ambulatory facilities, according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ. The median price for a total hip or knee replacement without complications at top orthopedic hospitals was just over $68,000 in 2020, according to one analysis, though health plans often negotiate lower rates.
To people in the amputee community, the coverage disparity amounts to discrimination.
“Insurance covers a knee replacement if it’s covered with skin, but if it’s covered with plastic, it’s not going to cover it,” said Jeffrey Cain, a family physician and former chair of the board of the Amputee Coalition, an advocacy group. Cain wears two prosthetic legs, having lost his after an airplane accident nearly 30 years ago.
AHIP, a trade group for health plans, said health plans generally provide coverage when the prosthetic is determined to be medically necessary, such as to replace a body part or function for walking and day-to-day activity. In practice, though, prosthetic coverage by private health plans varies tremendously, said Ashlie White, chief strategy and programs officer at the Amputee Coalition. Even though coverage for basic prostheses may be included in a plan, “often insurance companies will put caps on the devices and restrictions on the types of devices approved,” White said.
That means that a patient’s costs can also fluctuate significantly, depending on that person’s coverage specifics, the plan’s restrictions and even geographic cost differences.
An estimated 2.3 million people are living with limb loss in the U.S., according to an analysis by Avalere, a health care consulting company. That number is expected to as much as double in coming years as people age and a growing number lose limbs to diabetes, trauma and other medical problems.
Fewer than half of people with limb loss have been prescribed a prosthesis, according to a report by the AHRQ. Plans may deny coverage for prosthetic limbs by claiming they aren’t medically necessary or are experimental devices, even though microprocessor-controlled knees like Adams’ have been in use for decades.
Cain was instrumental in getting passed a 2000 Colorado law that requires insurers to cover prosthetic arms and legs at parity with Medicare, which requires coverage with a 20% coinsurance payment. Since that measure was enacted, about half of states have passed “insurance fairness” laws that require prosthetic coverage on par with other covered medical services in a plan or laws that require coverage of prostheses that enable people to do sports. But these laws apply only to plans regulated by the state. Over half of people with private coverage are in plans not governed by state law.
The Medicare program’s 80% coverage of prosthetic limbs mirrors its coverage for other services. Still, an October report by the Government Accountability Office found that only 30% of beneficiaries who lost a limb in 2016 received a prosthesis in the following three years.
Cost is a factor for many people.
“No matter your coverage, most people have to pay something on that device,” White said. As a result, “many people will be on a payment plan for their device,” she said. Some may take out loans.
The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed a rule that would prohibit lenders from repossessing medical devices such as wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs if people can’t repay their loans.
“It is a replacement limb,” said White, whose organization has heard of several cases in which lenders have repossessed wheelchairs or prostheses. Repossession is “literally a punishment to the individual.”
Adams ultimately owed a coinsurance payment of about $4,000 for his new leg, which reflected his portion of the insurer’s negotiated rate for the knee and foot portion of the leg but did not include the costly part that fits around his stump, which didn’t need replacing. The insurer approved the prosthetic leg on appeal, claiming it had made an administrative error, Adams said.
“We’re fortunate that we’re able to afford that 20%,” said Adams, who is a self-employed leadership consultant.
Again, out-of-pocket costs – even if the patient has health insurance and a doctor’s prescription – can be cost-prohibitive because of the plan’s co-insurance requirements as well as coverage caps or other limitations.
Leah Kaplan doesn’t have that financial flexibility. Born without a left hand, she did not have a prosthetic limb until a few years ago.
Growing up, “I didn’t want more reasons to be stared at,” said Kaplan, 32, of her decision not to use a prosthesis. A few years ago, the cycling enthusiast got a prosthetic hand specially designed for use with her bike. That device was covered under the health plan she has through her county government job in Spokane, Washington, helping developmentally disabled people transition from school to work.
But when she tried to get approval for a prosthetic hand to use for everyday activities, her health plan turned her down. The myoelectric hand she requested would respond to electrical impulses in her arm that would move the hand to perform certain actions. Without insurance coverage, the hand would cost her just over $46,000, which she said she can’t afford.
Working with her doctor, she has appealed the decision to her insurer and been denied three times. Kaplan said she’s still not sure exactly what the rationale is, except that the insurer has questioned the medical necessity of the prosthetic hand. The next step is to file an appeal with an independent review organization certified by the state insurance commissioner’s office.
A prosthetic hand is not a luxury device, Kaplan said. The prosthetic clinic has ordered the hand and made the customized socket that will fit around the end of her arm. But until insurance coverage is sorted out, she can’t use it.
At this point, she feels defeated. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long,” Kaplan said.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.
2 soldiers killed by landmine blast in Mexico day after 2 troops killed by booby trap in same region
Oklahoma set to execute man who killed girl, 10, during cannibalistic fantasy
Health insurers limit coverage of prosthetic limbs, questioning their medical necessity
2 soldiers killed by landmine blast in Mexico day after 2 troops killed by booby trap in same region
Oklahoma set to execute man who killed girl, 10, during cannibalistic fantasy