Coffee Makers & Machines
Giftable brewing gear, from a first espresso machine to a pour-over that looks like art — with the one thing new buyers always get wrong.
A coffee maker is the big, memorable coffee gift — the one that ends up on the counter and gets used every single day. But “coffee maker” covers everything from a $20 French press to a $500 espresso machine, and the difference between a great gift and an expensive mistake is matching the machine to how the person actually drinks.
The first fork is simple: do they drink espresso(small, strong, with crema — the base of lattes and cappuccinos) or coffee (a full mug of drip, pour-over or French press)? If you’re not sure, our coffee vs espresso guide settles it in a couple of minutes, and it’s worth the read before you spend real money. Buy an espresso machine for someone who only wants a big mug of black coffee and it’ll gather dust.
For espresso, the sweet spot for a gift is a forgiving first machine like the Breville Bambino — fast, compact, and genuinely good — or, for someone who wants a hobby, a metal Gaggia Classic they can grow into. We compare the two directly in Bambino vs Gaggia Classic. For regular coffee, a French press, a pour-over like a Chemex, or a stovetop moka pot each makes a lovely, affordable gift that looks far more special than a plastic drip machine.
Everything in Coffee Makers
Best Espresso Machines for Beginners
Six honest picks for a first espresso machine — from a $150 starter to a Bambino — and the mistake almost every beginner makes.
Our top pick
Breville Bambino (BES450)
$299.95 · View on AmazonPrice as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Coffee Makers to Gift
The best coffee makers across every style — pour-over, French press, stovetop and cold brew — matched to the person you're buying for.
Our top pick
Chemex Classic Series (6-cup)
$47.95 · View on AmazonPrice as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Breville Bambino vs Gaggia Classic
The two classic first espresso machines, compared head-to-head — which suits a beginner, and which to grow into.
The one thing new buyers get wrong
The most common gifting mistake is spending the whole budget on the machine and forgetting the grinder. With espresso especially, a good machine fed stale, unevenly-ground coffee makes worse shots than a cheap machine fed fresh grounds. If you’re gifting an espresso machine, either budget for a decent grinder too, or gift a bag of good pre-ground beans so they can start on day one and add a grinder later.
The second thing people get wrong is buying up. A beginner does not need a dual-boiler or a super-automatic; they need something forgiving they’ll enjoy learning on. It’s a gift, not a test. Start people simple and let them upgrade if the hobby sticks — which is exactly how we’ve ordered our beginner espresso machine picks.