Podium is the coffee subscription I’d give as a gift to the true bean nerd in my life, the one who thinks of coffee as an equal-parts mix of agriculture and process and magical thinking—the one who knows what a co-ferment is, who wants to know whether the beans are washed or natural process, gesha or bourbon, Sidama or Guji. Unless you’re one of them, you almost can’t choose for such people. Let Podium choose for you: Podium sends just one bag a month. All coffees that have won some of the most prestigious prizes in coffee. All are light roasts, aromatic and delicate, made for drip or pour-over or the nerdiest of espressos.
If your nerd friend likes balanced coffee and that’s what they talk about, get the Gold subscription. If they talk about fruit and funk and how “crazy” this new coffee tastes? Get the Platinum. Your friend, partner, or weird brother-in-law will thank you. Everything I’ve had from Platinum has been special in one way or another.
Another great multi-roaster subscription: Note that some of the best multi-roaster coffee subscriptions, like Trade Coffee, might offer a broader array of subscriptions and options and roasters—and will let your friend choose for themselves. I like my gifts to be a little wonderful surprise box, à la Podium, but if you want to give your geeky friend some say in the matter, send them a Trade subscription instead. —Matthew Korfhage
