Inexpensive and Homemade Gifts for the Coffee Lover

The holiday season is here yet again! That means it's gift-giving time. Are you out of ideas? Would you like to make something more personalized for your coffee lover? Here are a few gift ideas that are inexpensive and easy to make. Whether you use a few as stocking stuffers or make the whole lot and toss them into a gift basket, your coffee lover will be pleasantly surprised!

1. Flavored Coffee Stirs

The creativity will flow while making these tasty additions to your coffee-lover's mug. Any sort of chocolate chip can be used; white, dark, or milk. While melting the chocolate, you can add flavored liqueurs or extracts to add that extra little zest. Other flavored candy chips, such as butterscotch or mint, can also be used and are available at most craft stores.

After melting the chocolate and adding any flavors you choose, dip each spoon separately to coat. For added touches, the spoons can be drizzled with an opposing color of chocolate or sprinkled with crushed candy cane. After dipping, set the spoons face down on wax paper to cool. When they're all set, wrap each one in plastic wrap and tie them off with a tiny decorative bow. Toss them into a unique coffee mug alone or add them to a gift basket. Either way, your coffee lover will be in flavor heaven!

2. Biscotti

Biscotti are actually fairly simple and inexpensive to make and they come in many different flavors; chocolate hazelnut, almond, orange, and vanilla to name a few. Recipes can be easily found all over the internet.

After cooking up the biscotti, they can be dipped in chocolate and some chopped nuts, or even served as is. If you find your time is scarce, biscotti can be purchased and added to your gift basket.

3. Flavored Syrups

Flavored syrups can turn a dull cup of coffee into a tasty treat. Simple syrup is easy enough to make. In a medium saucepan, bring to boil 1 cup water with 1 cup granulated sugar. Boil until the sugar completely dissolves. In order to flavor the syrup, add the flavoring at this point. You could add such flavors as cinnamon extract or sticks, vanilla, amaretto, or almond extract. Let the syrup cool completely before packaging.

Pour the syrup into small, decorated mason jars or decorative glass or plastic bottles. Make sure to label each bottle. If you make more than one flavor, they could be given as a set or placed in the gift basket as well.

4. Coffee

If you were already sneaky and figured out their favorite coffee, that's great! Wrap that baby up and you're off! If not, most coffee connoisseurs agree that imported European roasts, such as Illy or Lavazza, are excellent. Though a simple bag of coffee may still do the trick, the imported blends are a welcomed variation from the norm.

Additionally, the elite coffee drinker probably enjoys freshly ground coffee. If this is the case with your coffee lover, do opt for the whole bean coffee over the ground.

5. Grinder

If your gift this year is to a coffee lover who can't seem to pay the mortgage because they are always running through the drive thru at the local coffee shop, try giving the whole bean coffee and a fantastic little coffee grinder. Grinders sell for as little as $10 and just may save your buddy some money in the long run from making his own gourmet coffee at home.

6. Coffee Mugs/Cappuccino Cups

If you're making a basket, mugs or cups make a nice addition. Additionally, if you are giving only the flavored stirs or biscotti, a personalized or unique mug could be an attractive gift presentation. If you really wanted to get creative on these, they could be painted and glazed at a local ceramic shop.

7.Mug Warmer

Unless the cup is full of ice and topped with whip cream, cold coffee is not something easily swallowed. Handy and compact, a mug warmer can be an easy way to keep coffee warm while sitting at work or even relaxing outside on the porch. These little items are fairly inexpensive, running from $10 to $15.

Whether you make a batch of flavored coffee stirs for the office Christmas party or a bit of everything to make a wonderful basket array, coffee lovers will enjoy these delicious gifts and you'll enjoy the money you saved!