Best Coffee Gifts Ever – By the Team at Perk
It’s that time of year – the silly season, the giving season! Whether you’re a holiday lover, a grinch, a minimalist (give me no belongings) or a crazy giver and receiver of presents, we can all agree, after the year we’ve had, it’s about time to enjoy some merriment and cheer – with the best coffee gifts ever.
Yes, it can be stressful to find gifts to match all the loved ones in your circle. However, we’re here to help, so read on and meet some of our team members while getting the scoop on their favourite items and coffees. We hope this can be used as inspiration for your own gifting. May you find the best coffee gifts ever!
Paul, Perk Founder
Starting our “Best Of” list is Paul, fearless leader and founder of Perk. Paul loves his Timemore Mirror Scale. It is just plain gorgeous and useful too – an essential in any coffee loving household.
“I love the Timemore scale for its minimalist design and great functionality. A good scale is a must-have tool for anyone looking to improve and make a consistent home brew. One of my favourite features is its auto-start timer which tares the weight and begins the timer as soon as you begin pouring.”
Which is his favourite coffee to brew with? “Obviously any coffee can be used with your scale, but my favourite bean is our Yirgacheffe Ethiopia, especially brewed pour-over style.”
Serena, Perk Founder
Serena, lover of nature and a seeker of adventure. Another Perk’s founder, her favourite item is the Origami Dripper for its artistic and aesthetic design.
“In addition to bringing to life the inherent flavours of the coffee, the origami dripper enhances my morning routine.”
Which coffee would she brew in her Origami Dripper? She tells us it’s “Any coffee! As long as it’s fresh.” And of course, at Perk, we’ve got that covered.
Wan Yen, Perk Malaysia
Heading up Perk in Malaysia, Wan Yen is a true working mom (who never seems to sleep!). Her favourite item is Perk’s Double Walled Glass. Why?
“I drink EVERYTHING with it. From coffee to smoothies to just making my water look fancy. It’s probably the most used daily item next to my dessert fork.”
While it’s her job to taste every bean that Perk releases, her current favourite is Sumatra Timo for its bold, yet smooth flavours.
Alex, Perk Hong Kong and China
Lifelong entrepreneur and coffee lover, Alex heads up Perk in Hong Kong and China. He enjoys his iced black coffees sipped in cafes, at home or anywhere. His favourite item at the moment is the iconic, Ceramic Hario V60 for its’ lasting quality and design. He says, “I enjoy its ease of use, especially because I brew on it daily”.
For his coffee, he uses the following – “Timo because I like a dark roast or Altura if I want something sweeter and lighter”
Hao Shin
Singapore Brewers Cup competitor (2019), 4th place winner and professional barista, Hao Shin, ensures you get the best possible flavour from your coffee. It’s absolutely no surprise that his favourite brew item is also the Hario v60 Ceramic Dripper. In his professional opinion, “the one single large hole design allows me to have more control for my brew whether I want a fast pour or slow pour. The ceramic dripper retains heat better so I can have a more consistent temperature throughout my brew.”
For his favourite beans, he says “the coffees I usually go for are lighter roasts, for example, our coffee from Ethiopia (Yirgacheffe). I enjoy my coffee with more fruity and acidic flavour profiles. During the day, if I’m looking for something simple, I would go for Brazil Cerrado or the Sumatra Timo. Those are for when I want to enjoy something less acidic with nuttier and chocolate flavours lingering on the palate.”
Firdaus, Operations Malaysia
Firdaus is a fan of our Milk Chocolate Coated Coffee Beans. A biotech graduate, he’s actually the one behind making sure you get your coffee, looking after stock, packing and even brewing the coffee for events.
“The sweetness from the chocolate accentuates the bitterness from the coffee beans, making it a great snack. I can’t stop munching it! Send help!”
While popping chocolate coated coffee beans, he likes to drink Vanguard because “a strong cup of coffee pairs perfectly – it elevates the chocolate and coffee to the next level!”
Hui Zen, Customer Care team
Another lover of the Milk Chocolate Coated Coffee Beans, multi-lingual Hui Zhen, is an aspiring plant mom. While working for Perk and making sure YOU are happy, she also studies and multi-tasks like a pro.
Hui Zhen tells us “ they’re super convenient, yummy, not too sweet and not too bitter. I could eat handfuls of these so it’s great that they’re reasonably priced too.”
As to her favourite coffee? It’s Santa Rosa… her go-to! “I drink it as cold brew, and it has enough sweetness I don’t have to add anything else. At the same time, it’s not too sweet so I can still enjoy the chocolate coated beans!”
Lionel, Digital Marketing
Perk’s digital marketing guru, Lionel only has eyes for the coffee itself!
“It’s the perfect necessity for my intermittent fasting breakfast! I enjoy my coffee either as a hot pour-over or brewed in a chilled cold brew, over ice.”
He’s a café hopper, world traveller and has an obsession with data and analytics. Though he enjoys coffee in its many forms, his favourite is a fruity bean. He tells us “Yirgacheffe is definitely my fave coffee. I love subtle and complex fruity coffees. Perk’s Yirgacheffe delivers this in spades.”
Ryan, Operations Malaysia
If you’ve ever received a handwritten card from Perk, it’s Ryan who penned it. And while his penmanship is admirable, he also looks after Perk’s online platforms, ensuring everything runs smoothly for you. His favourite item and why?
“The Timemore Icicle Cold Brewer because it has a very sleek, modern shape, which makes it convenient for me to brew coffee using my favourite brew method.”
Which bean would he pick to brew with? “I usually make my cold brew using Santa Rosa beans, as I find the cold brew method brings out the cherry and fig taste notes of the beans.”
Angela, Content Creator
Angie is Perk’s resident-but-remote content creator, churning out blog posts while living in the wilds of New Jersey, USA. Since arriving in America, her coffee snobbery (previously only freshly roasted coffee and pour-overs) has taken a turn. She now believes coffee can be enjoyed in so many ways. The one item she loves the most is her Breville espresso machine.
“We got one just before the pandemic started and it has been a lifesaver! I live for my daily latte. Then I supplement my coffee drinking with pods, pour overs (when I have time) and just so many cups of coffee made in different ways.”
Her favourite coffee while living in Singapore was Perk’s Yirgacheffe but now she’ll take any Perk bean in any way (when she can get her hands on them). Her desperate search for freshly roasted coffee beans continues in America.
Happy Holidays to all!
From the team at Perk, we’re wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year! Be sure and share your favourite coffee product and bean on social media. Don’t forget to tag us because we really love seeing your posts and truly appreciate your support.