Perfect Christmas Gifts for Lovers of Hot Drinks

The Christmas season is nearly upon us, and the festive spirit fills the air with warmth and joy. If you’re on the hunt for Christmas gifts, you can never go wrong with a delightful selection of hot drinks.

 Whether your loved ones are coffee aficionados, tea enthusiasts, or hot chocolate connoisseurs, there's nothing quite like the comfort of a steaming mug on a cold winter’s day. 

To help you with your gift-giving this Christmas, we’ve compiled a list of perfect presents for anyone who enjoys a cosy cuppa.

1. Specialty Coffee Gift Packs

For those who can't start their day without a cup of coffee, a thoughtfully curated coffee gift set is a guaranteed hit. Opt for a selection that includes beans or ground coffee sourced from various regions. Look for brands offering unique blends, like rich, full-bodied coffees from Colombia or fruity, lighter roasts from Ethiopia. Many roasters now include detailed tasting notes, which can make the experience even more enjoyable.

Gift Idea: For a touch of luxury, consider a gift pack that includes flavoured syrups, like vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut, along with a bag of freshly roasted beans. Alternatively, subscription boxes that deliver fresh coffee every month are a gift that keeps on giving.

2. Artisan Loose Leaf Tea Sets

Tea is more than just a drink—it's a ritual. Whether your giftee prefers classic English Breakfast, soothing herbal infusions, or fragrant chai, a beautiful tea set can transform an everyday moment into something special. Look for high-quality loose leaf options presented in elegant tins or boxes. To create a truly luxurious gift, include a tea infuser and a charming mug.

Gift Idea: Consider selecting a themed set, such as a winter wellness tea box filled with blends designed to warm and comfort. Matcha enthusiasts might appreciate a matcha starter kit complete with a bamboo whisk, bowl, and premium-grade matcha powder.

3. Indulgent Hot Chocolate Hampers

There’s something undeniably nostalgic about a cup of hot chocolate. Perfect for a cosy evening by the fire, a hot chocolate gift set can be a heart-warming present for both children and adults alike. Look for kits that include artisanal hot chocolate powders, marshmallows, and perhaps even a dash of peppermint or cinnamon for added festivity.

Gift Idea: For a luxurious twist, seek out hot chocolate flakes made from real chocolate rather than powder. Add a selection of gourmet toppings like salted caramel sauce, chocolate shavings, and flavoured marshmallows for a truly indulgent experience.

4. Specialty Mugs and Drinkware

A beautifully crafted mug can make enjoying a favourite hot drink even more special. Opt for hand-painted ceramics, double-walled glass mugs to keep drinks warmer for longer, or insulated travel mugs for those always on the go. Personalised mugs with names, initials, or a heartfelt message are also a thoughtful choice.

Gift Idea: Pair the mug with a matching coaster, or include a reusable coffee cup for eco-conscious friends who love grabbing a coffee to go.

5. Luxury Drink Accessories

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a gift truly special. If you’re looking for something a bit different, consider adding a few accessories to enhance your loved one's hot drink experience. From electric milk frothers for making café-quality lattes at home to temperature-controlled smart mugs that keep drinks at the perfect sipping temperature, these gifts are perfect for the true hot drink enthusiast.

Gift Idea: A beautifully crafted tea storage box, a set of flavoured coffee creamers, or a collection of botanical syrups can elevate their daily beverage routine.

6. Themed Gift Baskets

If you’re undecided on one particular type of drink, why not combine a few? Themed gift baskets are a versatile option that can be tailored to suit different tastes. You could create a “Winter Warmers” basket filled with hot drinks, cosy socks, and a scented candle, or an “Around the World” hamper featuring coffee and tea from different countries.

Gift Idea: Assemble your own basket by selecting artisanal products from local shops or markets. You could even add some homemade biscuits or chocolates for a personal touch.

7. Subscription Services

For a gift that keeps on giving long after Christmas, consider a subscription service. Whether it's a coffee subscription delivering fresh beans from different roasters, a tea club that introduces new flavours each month, or a hot chocolate subscription with seasonal flavours, this is the perfect present for anyone who loves trying new things.

Gift Idea: Pair the subscription with a beautifully designed journal so they can keep track of their tasting notes and favourite brews.

(Christmas) Wrapping It Up: Thoughtful Extras

To add an extra layer of festivity to your gift, consider including a few thoughtful extras. You could pop in some cinnamon sticks, a jar of locally sourced honey, or a small bottle of flavoured syrup. A handwritten note with a heartfelt message wishing them a warm and cosy Christmas would be the perfect finishing touch.

This Christmas, help your loved ones find joy in the little moments—like sipping a hot drink by the fire on a cold winter’s night. With these gifts, you're not just giving a drink; you're gifting comfort, warmth, and a touch of holiday magic.

As for me? A luxury chocolate drinks hamper is Christmas gifting perfection! 

Happy gifting, and cheers to a season filled with warmth and togetherness!

Contact Coffee Co Unveils Coffee Advent Calendar Tailored for the every day missions

Contact Coffee's Their Ground Coffee Advent Calendar stands as the pinnacle of their commitment to the pursuit of quick, quality coffee, even or perhaps especially, during the festive season. 

Boasting coffee varieties sourced from all over the world, this treasure trove of individualised sachets delivers an innovative way to discover beloved and new brews in your own kitchen or wherever you happen to be. 

Each daily sachet contains 18g of freshly ground coffee, encapsulating the rich, unique flavours of 13 distinct blends. 

A carefully designed window at the bottom of the calendar allows for fuss-free retrieval, ensuring your daily coffee experience remains as smooth as the drink itself.

Conceived with their unyielding attention to detail and an unquenchable passion for coffee, this Advent calendar truly epitomises Contact Coffee Co.'s mantra. "Making and drinking great coffee with ease."

The story of Contact Coffee dates back to two serving Royal Marines who became frustrated and a little bit disgusted by having to drink poor quality freeze dried coffee during operations and exercises all over the world. (In the 24 hour ration packs! We at That's Christmas know them quite well!)

Difficulty in resupplying and low budgets resulted in either no coffee or the freeze dried substandard instant coffee only reaching deployed Royal Marines and soldiers wherever they were stationed in the world.

Obviously, they wanted to launch a military coffee company that would provide serving military personnel with good quality coffee, no matter which environment their career might take them into.

Their mantra of “Quick Coffee” drives them to seek ways of brewing the best fresh coffee with minimal equipment and in the shortest amount of time possible. Very important if you are involved in a military operation.

Field testing every product to ensure it's properly “soldier proof” and tastes delicious continues to take priority over aesthetics. Their coffee has been trialled and tested in all sorts of environments, from the Arctic circle to jungles. All of their coffee and products give theior customers the best fighting chance of making and drinking great coffee with ease. No matter where they are.

That's Christmas thinks this should be in the Christmas stockings of all military personnel and all coffee lovers, no matter where they are!

To learn more or to place your order please visit http://www.contactcoffee.com

New coffee brand Rage will be gifted all over the UK this Christmas

A Leeds-based marketeer, coffee lover, and sporting enthusiast has managed to bring all of his interests into play to enter into the world of entrepreneurship and he is celebrating having joined forces with his favourite Indian cricketer, as he brings a new coffee brand to the UK.

Taking care of Influencer Marketing and Brand Partnership for Myprotein India, Pradeep Singh Narwal, who was born and raised in Haryana, North India, has worked with a large number brands and celebrities but it was cricket legend Virat Kohli who recently captured his attention, and his association with a new coffee brand, which it is reported is an ideal alternative for the health conscious coffee drinker, which has led him to become an entrepreneur in his own right.

Pradeep, 35, who joined us in the UK in 2018 to pursue a Master's degree in Sports Business at Leeds Beckett University, is, as you'd expect, a massive sports fan and from a young age aspired to play cricket professionally. 

Although life's circumstances led him to pursue a different path, he still loved to play cricket and his passion for sports never waned. 

With a Masters degree in Sports Business and a background at MyProtein as an influencer marketing specialist, he got the chance to connect effectively with athletes. Having grown up in Bangalore, India, Pradeep developed his love for the rich taste of filter coffee from a young age but motivated by his own health and wellness goals had recently started to look for alternatives. 

He said: “Bangalorean filter coffee is absolutely, really amazing. There's a stall at Bangalore airport named Hatti Kaapi where we used to go almost every weekend, but if not, but at least once a month to have coffee. Even the small vendors, local vendors, used to sell filter coffee and drinking coffee was always a big part of my social life too -  we used to have late night talks with friends, with a coffee.”

“When I moved to the UK, I still missed that taste of coffee but I got used to the coffee here over time. Now I'm a black coffee drinker, so I need my black coffee early in the morning, and I just can't start my morning without having a black coffee, and I often go for butterscotch or dark chocolate flavours now, which is an enjoyable energy kick.”

Which brings us to Rage Coffee.

Rage Coffee is infused with plant vitamins, focusing on gut health to avoid acidity and bloating and offering flavours that evoked nostalgic memories, such as the rich butterscotch and dark chocolate varieties that reminded him of his days in Bangalore, Pradeep was drawn in- but it was the fact that Virat Kohli, one of his all time favourite sportsmen, was an ambassador that turned his head the most..

Pradeep said: "As a huge Virat Kohli fan, his involvement with the brand initially caught my interest but when I was introduced to it I was amazed by its strong caffeine kick without the bitterness and its qualities as a healthier alternative to traditional filter coffee, using no artificial syrups for its flavours. 

"I also love the science behind it and I learnt that the 100% natural extracts included in the blends are typically found in foods, but not always easy to get from one's diet alone.  I am a huge coffee lover, after all it’s a part of my heritage, but as I have matured, like many of us I have become more health conscious and try and make better nutritional choices. 

And he's not alone. Recent research indicates that 53% of UK coffee drinkers are showing an interest in information about caffeine levels and products offering varied levels of it, yet only a few brands highlight this aspect.

Featured in media worldwide including Forbes, The Statesman and BBC Good Food Guide, every 3.25 gms serving contains 275 mg of all-natural plant extracts including:

L-Theanine - Tea extract that balances daily anxiety; Ginkgo Biloba - The only living fossil consumed since the earliest days of human history;Panax Ginseng - Known to improve work efficiency, physical stamina and athletic endurance; Bacopa Monnieri- Used for improving memory and better cerebral blood flow; Rhodiola Rosea - Adapts to any kind of stress like anxiety, fatigue, and also nervousness; and L-Glutamine - Amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins.

Pradeep is passionate about helping to give coffee a new, brighter image, and is passionate about putting the customer back in control, helping them understand exactly what it is we are consuming. 

He went on to say: “We clearly indicate the caffeine content, and all the plant based ingredients in each blend. It's about giving people the choice and control over their coffee experience. I’m really excited to now build this business and to find ways to spread awareness of how we do things differently."

Rage Coffee is available as both filter and instant coffee, for purchase in the UK. 

To learn more visit them at https://ragecoffee.uk. 

Seeking out the ideal Christmas present for a coffee lover? We've found this for you from KitchenAid

Just check out the all new KitchenAid Espresso Collection which has recently launched. 

The NEW KitchenAid KF8 Fully-Automatic Espresso Machine includes some fantastic new features, spiffing cutting-edge technology, a durable metal body, best-in-class performance, a Quiet Mark certificate AND a prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

They are available from kitchenaid.co.uk in Stainless Steel, Cast Iron Black, Porcelain White and Juniper for a RRP of £1,899.

Also available in the new Fully-Automatic Espresso Collection is the KF6 - RRP £1,299 and KF7 - RRP £1,599. 

Or for a more hands on coffee experience, why not go for the Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder £699? These are available in Porcelain White, Cast Iron Black and Stainless Steel.