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Father’s Day is always a challenge, mostly because Jason is relatively simple and doesn’t typically ask for much. Even when he does identify items he could use, it’s often something practical like a new pair of jeans or a replacement for his wallet. Whenever I struggle to find a gift that is unique and meaningful, I like to think about what the recipient is interested in. Because he is an avid coffee drinker, I decided to compile 5 affordable gifts for coffee lovers. Our local Walmart has a relatively expansive home section, so I headed over to see what I could find.
Affordable Gifts for Coffee Lovers
Perhaps the most important consideration is thinking about the type of coffee the dad in your life enjoys. Does he prefer his coffee black or with milk and sugar? Iced or hot? Whole bean or ground? Dark, medium, or light roasts? All of these questions will help guide your selection of coffee.
Since Jason prefers a medium-strength brew, I picked up Starbucks’ House Blend Whole Bean 100% Arabica Coffee. He only uses a French Press to brew his coffee and prefers to grind the beans himself. Grinding the beans at home ensures the best flavor of the coffee is preserved, helps match the coarseness of the grind with the method of brewing, and ensures that overall the coffee is at its freshest. A 12 ounce bag of Starbucks’ House Blend Whole Bean 100% Arabica Coffee retails for $11.95, but Walmart’s everyday low price is the lowest I’ve seen anywhere at just $6.98! This particular blend merges nuts and cocoa and includes a hint of sweetness. Interestingly enough this is Starbucks’ first blend and a widely-loved favorite so if you’re not sure which blend to pick, this is a great place to start!
Now that you’ve selected your coffee blend, you’ll want to pick up a coffee grinder. If that special dad in your life is a true coffee aficionado, you’ll quickly learn that the type of grinder does in fact matter. While there truly is a science to grinding and brewing coffee beans, what I find to be most important is that you strive to grind your beans right before brewing to preserve the freshness and flavor of the coffee.
If you’re interested in reading more about how to choose a coffee grinder based on how you plan to brew your coffee, you can view this video on Epicurious by Mike Phillips of Intelligentsia Coffee.
I picked up Hamilton Beach’s Fresh Grind Coffee Grinder which can be used to grind coffee and spices. While affordable, quiet, and easy-to-use, it doesn’t allow for variances in the consistency of the grind. If you’d like a Custom Grind Coffee Grinder, I suggest Cuisinart’s Programmable Conical Burr Grinder, which is currently on rollback at Walmart for just $89.
If you’ve delved into the java world, you know that the variety of machines is virtually endless. While some machines can be as much as $2800, we both prefer to brew our coffee using a French Press. Not only is it incredibly easy, it allows for the full body and flavor of the coffee to be experienced. Walmart and Walmart.com offer a wide variety of reasonably-priced French Press Coffee Makers, but I like this 3-cup glass/stainless steel model from BonJour. Along with an aesthetic design, the BonJour Coffee Bijoux French Press features a Flavor Lock stainless steel filter system and a filtering lid to reduce sentiment in the brewed coffee.
For on-the-go dads, a durable, portable to-go cup that keeps coffee warm (or cold) for an extended period of time is a must. After perusing the entire section at my local Walmart, I decided on Savor’s Vacuum Insulated Tea Tumbler. What compelled me to this particular mug was the fact that it will keep any drink hot for 6 hours or cold for 12 hours due to its double wall vacuum insulation. It’s sleek and stylish, and I can also use it to brew tea!
If you have a true coffee connoisseur in your household, you might consider including a book that provides information about the “how to” of coffee or a cookbook with coffee-inspired recipe ideas. This Complete Book of Coffee by Mary Banks, Christine Mcfadden, and Catherine Atkinson piqued my interest because it details coffee processing, roasting, grinding, blending, and brewing and includes over 100 classic coffee recipes.
Since we’re talking java, I thought I’d share a very easy Cold-Brewed Coffee Recipe! You’re probably wondering what cold-brewed coffee is and why I would even venture to take on such a process (which takes at least 12 hours). I love the taste of coffee, but very often I find most brews to be bitter and too strong for my palate. Interestingly enough, coffee can be quite acidic and very often I’ll find my stomach upset if I’ve had a brew that is too strong. Cold-brewed coffee is the answer and offers a lower acidity brew with a naturally sweeter flavor. Because heat is not used to extract the flavor of the coffee beans, cold-brewed coffee has an entirely different chemical profile, allowing the full flavor and body of the coffee to be experienced without the uncomfortable (and less palatable) acidity.
Cold-brewed coffee is simple to make but you’ll definitely need to plan ahead since it will take 12 hours. Here is my recipe for Cold-Brewed Coffee!
- 7 tablespoons Starbucks' House Blend Whole Bean 100% Arabica Coffee
- 3 cups of filtered water
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Coarsely grind coffee beans
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Place ground coffee beans in French Press.
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Add filtered water, ensuring the beans have been saturated.
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Cover with plastic wrap and allow to brew for 12 hours.
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Using the French Press, filter the grounds out of the water. If you don't plan on drinking the entire carafe of coffee, be sure to remove and store in a container since the coffee will continue to brew becoming bitter.
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Serve over ice with milk, cream, or half and half.
I absolutely loved the rich, sweet flavor of this coffee and a touch of half and half and some ice is what I needed on this refreshing summer day. Compliment this delightful brew with a hint of chocolate or your favorite syrup!
Do you have a coffee lover in the house? Be sure to check out Walmart and Walmart.com for affordable Father’s Day gifts for coffee lovers.
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