A gift idea? Flavoured coffee

A present is a pleasure for the recipient, but choosing it can be a headache for the giver. What should you buy your in-laws for their name day, or a colleague celebrating a promotion? What can you take to a friend's housewarming without spending all your savings? The answer is simple: coffee. Not just any coffee, but flavoured coffee.

Coffee — something rather special

We may not always notice it, but coffee is woven into everyday life. Why should it not be an excellent present for someone close to us, especially someone who adores it?

For an extra surprise, choose flavoured whole-bean coffee. Alongside the familiar taste and inviting aroma, added flavourings bring a new dimension for the senses. You do not need to prepare your own spice blend or add a syrup.

Shops and online stores offer a wide variety of flavours and aromas. Chocolate, toffee, vanilla, nuts and orange are only a few possibilities.

How can coffee smell of strawberries?

Arabica is often chosen as a base for flavoured coffee because its character works well with added aromas. After roasting and cooling, the beans can be treated with food-grade flavourings in a controlled production process.

These are not the fragrance oils used for aromatherapy. Only flavourings suitable for food should be used; formulations vary and can include extracts associated with herbs, flowers and fruit.

Flavoured coffee is often sold by weight, and you may also see it described as “flavoured coffee beans”. The range is enormous, with popular choices including chocolate, coconut, hazelnut, vanilla, toffee, whisky, advocaat, rum and raspberry.

You can even combine different flavoured coffees to create a blend of your own. Brew them in much the same way as traditional coffee, while checking that your grinder or machine is suitable for coated beans. They can be enjoyable on their own and can also form the basis of desserts.

Choose flavoured coffee from a trusted supplier

Good flavour depends on the producer and on proper storage. When looking for a gift, visit a specialist shop where staff can help you choose a flavour and offer advice about brewing and keeping it fresh.

Flavoured coffees are often presented in decorative packaging that is a pleasure to look at. Yet the best part is inside: the aroma of coffee with a floral, fruity or dessert-inspired twist, chosen to suit the person receiving it.