Buying a gift for a coffee lover is harder than it looks. They already have a mug. They probably have a grinder. A gift card to a chain coffee shop feels like you ran out of time. What most coffee lovers actually want is simple: really good coffee they would not have bought for themselves.

This is a short guide to the best coffee gift for coffee lovers: what to look for, what to skip, and why so many of our customers end up giving our coffee as a present. Every quote below is a real review, and you can read all of them on our reviews page.

What makes a coffee gift worth giving

A good coffee gift checks four boxes:

• It tastes better than what they already drink. The point of a gift is an upgrade. Fresh, well roasted coffee is the easiest upgrade there is.
• It looks like a gift when it arrives. A plain foil bag from the grocery store does not feel special on the table. Packaging matters.
• It gets used. Coffee gets used every single morning, and they will think of you every time they open it.
• It has a story. A coffee with a real place and real people behind it is more fun to give than a brand everyone already knows.

Why people give our coffee as a gift

We sell a lot of coffee at Wisconsin farmers markets and holiday fairs, and every fall the same thing happens: people buy one jar for themselves and three more for gifts. Our coffee comes packed in real glass Mason jars, so it looks like a present the moment it comes out of the box, and the jar keeps getting used long after the coffee is gone.

“Friendly, unique family owned busines by 2 young entrepreneurs. Best non acid producing coffee. AND so usable or gift able in glass jar.”
Carol J, Google

“We enjoyed our visit and your signature German Norwegian style blend coffee! I had to purchase several jars for home and Christmas gifts!”
Laura, Facebook

“My girlfriend and I visited here about three weeks ago and visited with the owner. The coffee is delicious and we will be back as this coffee will make great Christmas gifts.”
Shane H, Facebook

“Awesome. The best I’ve ever had. Just ordered more. Will be ordering for gifts and myself from now on. Thank you!”
Elizabeth, website

Fair warning: sometimes the gift never makes it out of the house.

“Bought some at a holiday fair and love it so much, I didn’t gift it, I kept it.”
Stephanie M, Facebook

A great gift for someone who loves German or old world coffee

Our coffee is a German Norwegian style blend of dark and light roasted Colombian Supremo Arabica beans, slow roasted in cast iron at our family farm in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, a farm that has been in the family since 1944. It tastes like the coffee people remember from Germany, Norway, or their grandparents’ kitchen: bold and smooth, without the bitterness.

“I bought this coffee as a gift for my elderly father who loves German coffees. It was perfect.”
Heather, Etsy

“Great strong yet low acid coffee, the best I’ve had since being stationed in Germany! Highly recommended!”
Jason T, Facebook

If the person on your list misses the coffee from Germany, read looking for coffee that tastes like it did in Germany. For more ideas in the same spirit, see our list of the most German gifts in the world.

A gift for the coffee lover who cannot handle acidic coffee

Plenty of coffee lovers have cut back because regular coffee bothers their stomach. Customers regularly tell us ours is smooth and easy on them, which makes it a thoughtful gift for exactly that person.

“I absolutely love this coffee!!! I wasn’t able to drink coffee for a while because it was so acidic. I can now again drink coffee and as a benefit my son and husband loved this as well!!”
Monika K, Facebook

“I have acid reflux; this did not affect me. It’s smooth. Rich. Incredible!!!”
Linda L, Facebook

We wrote more about this in why customers say our coffee has no acid and no bitterness.

It arrives ready to give

We pack every order carefully, and customers notice.

“This was a very speedy delivery, and carefully wrapped. The packaging and presentation are just right: pleasing to the eye and also practical and recyclable.”
M, Etsy

“Shipped quickly and securely. Perfect gift for Christmas. Lovely shop.”
Charlotte, Etsy

Which size to give

• A stocking stuffer or a thank you gift: the Little Hoff (1/2 lb). Small, easy, and a great way to introduce someone to it.
• A real gift for a daily coffee drinker: the Big Hoff Half Gallon Mason Jar. This is the one that looks the most like a present.
• For the family that goes through a pot a day: the Big Hoff Bag (2 lbs) or the Queen Hoff (3.5 lbs).

Every size comes whole bean or ground. If you are not sure whether they own a grinder, pick ground. It works in a drip machine, a pour over, a French press or a moka pot.

The gift that keeps coming

For the coffee lover who has everything, a coffee subscription is the gift they use every morning. Pick a size and how often it ships, and fresh coffee shows up at their door on schedule.

You can order online here, or come find us at one of our Wisconsin farmers markets and holiday fairs, where you can taste it before you buy.