Father’s Day Gift Guide for Coffee-Obsessed Dads

My dad and I have always had a pretty awesome relationship. Music was our thing starting way back when ”he took me to my first concert (Cyndi Lauper) when I was 10. After I grew out of teeny bopper-hood, we went on to swap CDs on a regular basis, and I kept him in mix tapes for his daily commute. Out of college, I worked for The Oakland Tribune and went on to become its music critic. Dad got first dibs on my plus-one tickets, and with four to five shows a week on the docket for me to review, he had a lot to choose from. I loved going to hear music at the Fillmore, the Great American Music Hall, the Warfield, and other legendary venues in San Francisco with him, especially since he’d been seeing music in those places since he was my age.

Part of why I fell so fast for the coffee industry and the barista community is because they’re similar to the best parts of the music industry: coffee creates a forum for geeks and visionaries and dreamers and punks. Dad had always been into coffee ”he and my mom raised us in Berkeley, after all, so Peet’s in its hey-day was our household standard. My dad saw the bridge between indie rock and specialty coffee, just like I did, and we crossed it together.

But when Ken and I started Barista Magazine eight years ago, my dad really let himself go: supporting his daughter’s livelihood was a good excuse for seriously geeking out about specialty coffee. I love talking gadgets with him, and these days, mix tapes have been replaced with special bags of micro lots from some of the best roasters in the world, kettles, thermometers, Pallo gear ”basically all things coffee I can get my hands on to share with him.

In 2007, I was visiting my parents in Berkeley over the same weekend as the Southwest Regional Barista Competition, which was being held in nearby Sonoma, and I brought my dad to watch the finals. It was his first (but hardly his last) barista competition.
Me and my dad, Steve, at the 2007 Southwest Regional Barista Competition in Sonoma, California.

He’s getting something pretty cool for Father’s Day on June 16 this year ”I’m totally positive he’s going to love it. But if you haven’t chosen what to get your coffee-crazed dad for Father’s Day yet, here are some ideas. (What’s that? You say your dad isn’t a fanatic? Well then now’s the time to get him started!) (What? You say  you’re the coffee-obsessed dad, yourself? Then casually leave this blog post up on your computer for your partner and/or kids to see as they walk by.)

To find out what real coffee dads really wanted, I asked you on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, and here’s what you asked for…

Jon Lewis wants this mug from MOMUGS.
Jon Lewis wants this mug from MOMUGS.
J. Atkinson and Co. (@coffeehopper) wants this Hario Skerton Ceramic Burr Hand Grinder.
Stephen Sarine and J. Atkinson and Co. (@coffeehopper) wants this Hario Skerton Ceramic Burr Hand Grinder.
Howaythemags (@CoffeeJonny) would like this Nuova Simonelli Musica.
Howaythemags (@CoffeeJonny) would like this Nuova Simonelli Musica.
Casper Hauge, Banana Dang, Tony Acord, and Andrew Bemis all hope they're kids get them a Kalita Wave!
Casper Hauge, Banana Dang, Tony Acord, and Andrew Bemis all hope they’re kids get them a Kalita Wave!
Kurt Tetrault, Nicolas Castagno, and Alejandro Menefego all want subscriptions to Barista Magazine.
Kurt Tetrault, Nicolas Castagno, Phil Roberts, and Alejandro Menefego all want subscriptions to Barista Magazine.
Ryan Zachos @ryanzachos wants a Red Rooster Espresso Tamper
Ryan Zachos @ryanzachos wants a Red Rooster Espresso Tamper
Dave Jameson (@DavidJamesonUK) would appreciate it if his cat and ill-behaved beagle got him this electric Hario Buono kettle for Father's Day.
Dave Jameson (@DavidJamesonUK) would appreciate it if his cat and ill-behaved beagle got him this electric Hario Buono kettle for Father’s Day.
ste d (@kopstar) says he'd love a measured shot glass for helping him calibrate.
ste d (@kopstar) says he’d love a measured shot glass for helping him calibrate.
Since Danish Father's Day was last week, Casper Hauge is excited for the Kalita Glass Server he received!
Since Danish Father’s Day was last week, Casper Hauge is excited for the Kalita Glass Server he received!
In case you're reading, Aya and Van, Jon Lewis wouldn't mind a subscription to Tonx either.
In case you’re reading, Aya and Van, Jon Lewis wouldn’t mind a subscription to Tonx either.
Juan Luna would be stoked if his kids got him an AeroPress.
Juan Luna would be stoked if his kids got him an AeroPress.
New dads Darren Jennings (pictured) and Nicely Abel Alameda love that they can pour latte art while holding their sons in a Moby Wrap.
New dads Darren Jennings (pictured) and Nicely Abel Alameda love that they can pour latte art while holding their sons in a Moby Wrap.
Raymond Gichohi dreams big: he wants a La Marzocco Strada EP for Father's Day.
Raymond Gichohi dreams big: he wants a La Marzocco Strada EP for Father’s Day.
Yolac Acero and Jon Lewis would love to get an Able Kone.
Yolac Acero and Jon Lewis would love to get an Able Kone.
Jim Grimes would simply love a Rancilio lever machine.
Jim Grimes would simply love a Rancilio lever machine.
Wes Presso would like a bag of La Mutura from Milano Coffee in Vancouver, BC.
Wes Presso would like a bag of La Mutura from Milano Coffee in Vancouver, BC.
Stephen Sarine and Juan Luna would love to get a Chemex for Father's Day.
Stephen Sarine and Juan Luna would love to get a Chemex for Father’s Day.
Greg Costello wants a bench cleaning brush for general cleaning around coffee work area.
Greg Costello wants a bench cleaning brush for general cleaning around coffee work area.
Erik Sonesson says he would definitely like an Espro Press.
Erik Sonesson says he would definitely like an Espro Press.
Chris DeMarse really, really wants this new one-group Slayer.
Chris DeMarse really, really wants this new one-group Slayer.

Here were some requests I wasn’t quite sure how to illustrate:

“A hand-drawn picture of a coffee shrub. Drawn by my kids.  ”Danny Goot
“How about a nice origin vacation for myself and my fam?” ”Tony Acord
“The spirit.” ”Joseph Bryant-Wyatt

But my favorite request for a Father’s Day gift came from Alexander Ruas of Drop Coffee in Sweden:

A weekend with Pete Licata!
A weekend with Pete Licata!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU AWESOME COFFEE DADS OUT THERE! And to my own dad, I say this: The gift I have for you is not one of the things listed above! What could it be…? All will be revealed on Sunday. I love you, Dad!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Sarah 929 Articles
Sarah Allen (she/her) is co-founder and editor of Barista Magazine, the international trade magazine for coffee professionals. A passionate advocate for baristas, quality, and the coffee community, Sarah has traveled widely to research stories, interact with readers, and present on a variety of topics affecting specialty coffee. She also loves animals, swimming, ice cream, and living in Portland, Oregon.