Our Coffee Addicts 2024 Staff Picks Gift Guide

It's coming up to be our favourite time of the year! Snowflakes falling, our Christmas vinyl's on, and the smell of fresh coffee in the air (with a dash of a seasonal syrup or two!)

We love that this time of year is about celebrating the people closest to us with the most meaningful treats and gifts, and coffee is always the thing that brings us closer together. We wanted to help you prepare for this holiday season and get the best gift for the Coffee Addicts in your life!

So... We're introducing our "Staff Picks" Gift Guide! These are items that we use on the daily and have gotten to know very, very, VERY well. We love these items and they're one of the first things we recommend to folks when they're getting their coffee starter kit up and running. Since we love them, we know you will too!

From espresso machine and grinders, to fun coffee things, and more! Read on to hear about our favourite staff picks!

Our Top Choice for Espresso Machines

Chase: "Rancilio Silvia! It's a classic for a reason, and I am biased because it is what I have at home. Heats up pretty quick and holds the heat with its solid brass boiler. Packs a punch when it comes to its steam pressure too. With the added benefit of allowing hot water to come through the steam tip making, making americanos a breeze. The repairability and ease of working on it for mods, repairs, and cleaning is unmatched by any other machine. If you want a work horse that will treat you right and allow for easy service, nothing really compares."

Jonathan: "ECM Mechanika VI Slim Espresso Machine - Heritage Edition - This great piece of engineering is my favorite machine. It comes with all the features that ECM is known for—a PID controller, an adjustable OPV, and a 2.2L boiler for brewing and steaming milk at the same time—but with a distinctive design that evokes the amazing vessels from Jules Verne’s universe. The build quality is second to none, offering superb ergonomics along with anthracite and copper accents that lend a steampunk style to this outstanding machine."

Samantha: "Breville Oracle Jet! It makes my morning espresso easy peasy without compromising quality. I can set it and forget it so my americano is exactly how I want it, every morning, as well as ready to make coffee in 3 seconds. Perfect for busy moms."

Our Top Choice for Coffee Grinders

Jacque: "The Turin DF54 Single Dose Coffee Grinder. I like it because it is a bit light weight and is easy to move around! Also for the price, I think it is worth every penny because of its quality!"

Emily: "I prefer a hand grinder because of how quiet it is and how versatile they are, plus the body and texture from a conical burr set is super ideal for pour over! For my everyday brew for the team, I use the 1ZPresso J Hand Grinder due to how well it performs in the pour over range and its impressive capacity for weight; at home, I use my 1ZPresso Q Air for the perfect dose for a coffee for one!"

Marco: "Eureka Libra, is a monster when it comes to grinding with grind by weight being a super convenient feature, stepless to allow for the finest of adjustments and for its size it is extremely quiet."

Our Top Choice for Cleaning Products

Emily: "I always tend to recommend powdered espresso machine cleaner over the tablets, as a little bit goes a long way (our Pallo Espresso Machine Brushes are great at dosing out exactly what you need). Something like the Cafetto Espresso Clean Powder is a great, reliable cleaner used by anyone from home baristas to cafe owners!"

Jacque: "Liquid Descaler Cafetto is great because it is easy to use! With a measuring cup attached, it’s easy to dose and descale your machine."

Jonathan: "Without proper water, your coffee's taste can be compromised, and your machine may develop scale deposits. To protect your machine and maintain the best coffee flavor, I recommend using the Bilt OSCAR 150 or 90 Water Softener. It effectively reduces the buildup of scale in the internal circuits, extending the lifespan of your machine and ensuring consistently great-tasting coffee."

Our Top Choice for Knockboxes

Chase: "The Breville Puck Sucker simply because it is a ridiculous idea that uses a vacuum to sometimes suck out the puck. It is pretty silly but funny to look at."

Marco: "Basic Knockbox, super simple and cost effective, maybe on the small side but I find it more convenient then the bigger knockboxes as counter space can be scarce."

Samantha: "Love the Baristapro Drawer - it is efficient, lots of space but tucks under the grinder to save space!"

Our Top Choice for Scale and Timer

Jonathan: "As an espresso junkie, I use the Timemore Black Mirror Nano Espresso Scale everyday. Its compact size allows me to fit both the cup and the scale under the portafilter, helping me achieve the exact ratio for each shot. The angled screen makes it easy to read the digital display, even with a cup on top. Rechargeable, well built and easy to clean, it’s the only scale you’ll ever need!"

Chase: "The Flair Brew Scale is pretty great for its small size, and its features, all at a pretty great price too."

Marco: "Eureka Presica! I love how accurate this scale is, the little chime it gives me whenever I click a button, and the anti-slip pad is the best."

Our Top Choice for Milk Pitchers

Emily: "I love using the Barista Basics Latte Art Pitcher, specifically in the 12oz size as I make a lot of flat whites and traditional cappuccinos! The engraved volume markings are super helpful to ensure you don’t waste any milk, and the spout is perfect for pouring any design."

Jacque: "I really enjoy using the Motta Tulip milk pitchers because they’re an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore the art of latte making. The design and functionality make it easy to create beautiful, precise pours, which is perfect for beginners and more experienced baristas alike!"

Samantha: "I love the handle free milk pitcher, once you get used to the hand hold, I feel like you have better control with your pour!"

Our Top Choice for Tamping Tools

Emily: "I believe you don’t need a fancy tamper to perfect your puck prep - anything that is durable, has a good handle, and heavy enough will last you longer than any other tamper. I love using our Coffee Addicts Wood Tamper to finish off my puck preparation."

Jonathan: "If you want to achieve perfect tamping 100% of the time, with consistency and minimal effort, the Motta Spring Loaded Tamper is the tamper I’d recommend. Equipped with three different springs, it allows you to tamp your coffee puck evenly and with the same pressure every time, in just a few seconds. Definitely indispensable!"

Samantha: "The Pesado tamper is my FAV! It's a showpiece for your bar, heavy and beautiful. Worth the splurge."

Our Top Choice for Distribution Tools

Chase: "The Jack for the satisfying clicks it makes."

Jacque: "NCD is a good one because it’s designed to improve the way coffee is prepared, especially espresso! I also appreciate its anti-static coating, which helps reduce the amount of coffee that sticks to the tool! Overall, it is trusted for making coffee preparation easier and more reliable."

Marco: "Asso Jack. Beautiful wood finishes to match any setup and uber durable! Heavy price tag but it will last you a lifetime!"

Our Favourite Coffee

Jacque: "I usually put any flavoured syrups in my coffee but I really like the way my latte tasted when I used Whisky Hill Signature Espresso Blend Coffee Beans even without adding any sweeteners! The flavor was rich and smooth, with just the right balance of boldness and sweetness. It’s so good!"

Emily: "This changes every day! For espresso, either Gravity Best I Ever Had or Sam James In Bloom Espresso. For pour over, anything light and bright!"

Samantha: "REBEL BEAN Easy Rider espresso is my forever go to - classic Italian espresso that never disappoints, they make a wicked DECAF espresso as well, which is hard to find!"

Chase: "In-stock, The Dante Street from Traffic. All time, the Indonesian Blue Dragon by Whisky Hill (BRING IT BACK… I want it!)"

Jonathan: " The Bow River Coffee Co. Summit is perfect for my latte. It’s a rich and traditional coffee, easy to dial in and locally produced. The beans are full-bodied and uniformly roasted with the utmost care."

Marco: "Single Origin Espresso from Sierra Las Minas is a great coffee and company! They are completely family owned, with half of the family working on the farm in Guatemala and the rest here roasting. The coffee itself is very clean, refined and mimics a conventional Italian espresso."

Our Personal Favourite Products!

Chase: "Cafelat robot filters (If we had them in stock) they can be used on the bottom of any 58mm portafilter and help with reducing any fines making it into your espresso. I use them at home but since we are out I just cut paper filters into shape. Molykote for any service on a machine it is a must for any gasket replacement or steam wand service."

Emily: "For anyone looking to get more into coffee, I’d highly recommend doing some research into the world of pour over! I feel like I was finally able to taste and understand the profile of coffee once I started playing around with pour over recipes. The Hario V60 Pourover kit is a great option to cut down on costs and get some seriously long-lasting hardware; paired with a gooseneck kettle, you’re all set!"

Jacque: "Fellow Carter mug! First of all, I like how it looks, simple, clean, and aesthetically pleasing! So many cute colors to choose from too! I've heard a lot of nice things about how well this mug performs. It keeps your coffee or tea warm almost all day!"

Jonathan: "Making coffee is a process where each step can influence the next, so starting with high-quality coffee is essential. This is where the Planetary Design Airscape comes into play. These containers protect your beans from light and oxygen, preserving their flavor and aroma. Poorly stored coffee can go stale and result in an inferior crema. With the Airscape, you ensure your beans maintain their optimal freshness and deliver the best results in your cup."

Marco: "Pesado WDT. A great item to have to get rid of some pesky clumps from your grind, but the Pesado, in particular, is gorgeous with great metal and wood finishes."

Samantha: "I love using VST baskets - total game changer!"

What are some of your brew bar picks? Let us know in the comments below! Happy Coffee-ing everyone!