NEW YORK -- Coffee lovers can also be lovers of other things, clearly, but the true java head surely wouldn't scoff at a related holiday gift.
Some ideas:
NOT YOUR AVERAGE TO-GO CUP: A coffee lover AND a tech nerd's dream come true is rolled into the Ember coffee mug. Smart technology allows it to rapidly cool down your liquid to your desired temperature for up to two hours on the go or hours more when placed on its special coaster. Sleek, black design. Holds 12 ounces. The creation of entrepreneur and coffee lover Clayton Alexander and his Ember team. On pre-order in November. . USD $149.95.
This undated photo provided by Ember Technologies shows the Ember mug, holding 12 ounces of liquid. With smart technology, a dial at the base will keep liquid at a user's preferred temperature for up to two hours, or longer when placed on its own coaster. (Ember Technologies Inc. via AP)
LITTLE ROCKET SHIPS: Speaking of technology, the 3D-printing loving folks at Shapeways.com offer the . By designer Craig S. Kaplan, it's the little java ship that could in porcelain that's food, oven and dishwasher safe in a variety of colours, or in white plastic. Hey 1 percenters, you can get one of these printed up in platinum for $150,000. For the rest of us, the plastic is USD $40 and the porcelain versions USD $33.17. .
This undated photo provided by Craig S. Kaplan shows the Rocket Espresso Cup, designed by Craig S. Kaplan and available at Shapeways.com. (Craig S. Kaplan via AP)
COFFEE AND ESPRESSO COMBO: Higher end and lower end combination machines are out there, so shop around if you're on a budget or have a truly dedicated coffee fanatic who's in search of the ultimate pour but looking to combine. Some have steam wands and brew at the same time. Some are compact. Generally, they take up less space than two or more machines. Look to for some nice ones.
PODS WITH A PURPOSE: Oakland Coffee, owned by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, offers fairly traded organic beans packaged in plant-based rather than plastic bags. Oakland, based in Oakland, California, has partnered with San Francisco Bay Coffee Co. on fully compostable single-serve soft pods of arabica blends from small farms in Peru and Honduras. The pods contain no plastic. A 10-count costs USD $12.99 on Amazon but are currently out of stock. Worth waiting for. Details at
This undated photo provided by Oakland Coffee Works shows a soft, single-serve coffee pod from Oakland Coffee Works that is fully compostable. . (Yasamine June/Oakland Coffee Works via AP)
IT'S ABOUT THE GRIND: Fancy automatic coffee grinders can make the taste and are abundant, but they can be pricey. Treat your java lover but do your research. Not looking to break your bank and got a DIY-er? Go for a manual grinder. There are plenty, including the available at for USD $49.95. It promises burrs that easily adjust to produce a range of grind sizes, from super fine espresso to coarse for French press brewing. And it looks cool.
