When you're thinking about buying a gift, do you think about what they drink on a regular basis? Of all the beverages consumed around the world, I think coffee ranks as number one. I also think the only drink consumed more than coffee is plain drinking water, good tasting water or otherwise. Anyway, it makes sense to buy gifts for devoted coffee drinkers because they tend to appreciate them as they use them.

Coffee Cups and Coffee Mugs

I'm a devoted coffee drinker. I drink more than a couple of cups per day. I can never have too many coffee cups or coffee mugs in the house. I also like to share my coffee with friends and relatives and I never force them to go and get their own cups or mugs.

When I spotted the beaker mug at ThinkGeek's page for mugs & glasses, I immediately thought of this:

That's a picture of Austin Powers in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me NOT drinking coffee. Well, when I saw the beaker mug at ThinkGeek, I knew I had to add it, or one like it, to my coffee mug collection.

Coffee Makers

The automatic drip coffee maker is so commonly found in homes nowadays that buying one as a gift, especially for a coffee connoisseur, would probably be received as an insult. The recipient may or may not display their feelings to spare yours, but I'm sure he or she wouldn't be too happy about it.

A pod coffee maker would be a better choice, as would a coffee press pot. The press pot is something I've only seen on TV so far (in an episode of Rubicon).

A collector would surely appreciate an old-fashioned glass coffee percolator which still works and would probably appreciate a supply of the right kind of grind to go with it. If this is what you choose to give, good luck finding one.

Other Gifts for Coffee Drinkers

There are more gifts for coffee drinkers out there than you can shake a stick at, if you just look in the right places. If you're buying for a senior citizen (quite a few years older than I am right now), you can't go wrong with a novelty gift like the "Over the Hill Starter Kit" from Spencer Gifts.

For lesser occasions than full-blown holidays, you can get by with giving edible gifts or coffee drink certificates. Coffee candy, coffee cake donuts and coupons for Starbucks come to mind without any real effort.

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If you're a coffee connoisseur, you probably spend a significant amount of time and money on choosing and purchasing the perfect beans. Then you carefully budget your time in the morning so you can grind those beans just before brewing and drinking for the freshest possible flavor. And there's all that effort you put into cleaning your grinder and pot after each use so no stale remnants can contaminate your next cup. When you love your coffee and make it to perfection, why not use every drop? The following tips are fun and tasty ways to use extra brewed coffee so it doesn't go down the drain.

1. Coffee cake and banana nut muffins: these breakfast foods are the perfect complement to coffee, so why not include it in the recipe when you make these baked goods? Add a tablespoon or so of coffee for flavor that will help you get your day off to a lively start.

2. Ice cubes: for those of you who enjoy iced coffee, pour the unused coffee from your morning caffeine fix into an ice cube tray and pop it into the freezer. The next time you want a cup of cold joe, drop in your coffee cubes so your drink won't get watered down.

3. Desserts: soak lady finger cookies in your leftover coffee, then make tiramisu or add to ice cream. Inject a little coffee flavor into your brownies, chocolate mousse, cakes, cookies, or icing. If you have a homemade ice cream maker, add coffee to a sweet cream or vanilla recipe to punch up your dessert.

4. Marinades and salad dressings: use one part coffee and one part red wine to make the perfect flank steak marinade. Combine coffee, vegetable oil, and a little sugar to make red eye gravy that goes well with ham. Coffee vinaigrette is also an innovative and delicious way to use morning leftovers to liven up a salad or seafood dish. Mix equal parts coffee and sugar with 1 cup of olive oil and ½ cup balsamic vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve at room temperature on salad or use as a marinade for grilled prawns.

5. Soups and chili: add just enough to flavor your beef stew, chili, taco meat, or pinto beans. Anywhere from one or two teaspoons to a tablespoon should do the trick, so be sure to taste your creation before you add too much.

6. Frozen treats: save that coffee to pour over ice cream for your dessert tonight. On your next grocery shopping trip, pick up some popsicle sticks and a plastic popsicle maker. Fill it up with coffee or a mixture that includes cream, sugar, vanilla, or other flavors. Add the popsicle sticks, freeze, and enjoy.

Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships.org. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

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