A great gift is a high quality conical burr grinder. Even if your coffee lover who already grinds their own beans - which is the very easiest way to ensure that you're getting all the flavor you can from them - can benefit from the increase precision offered by a machine like the KitchenAid Pro Line Burr Coffee Grinder. $200.

The design of the Midas Touch Cups is a part of the "Craft-Industry" collection from designer Marek Cecula. Apparently, the idea is to combine industrial products with more delicate ceramics. And although a gilded saucer doesn't exactly seem like an "industrial product," it does make for a very unusual and attractive set for serving coffee. The porcelain cup holds 15ml of liquid and is probably microwave safe, although we really recommend leaving the saucer aside when heating. Price, for a pair: $150 .

Carafes, like decanters, are usually items that are sold separately from the glass ware that they will be used with, but the Hargreave Carafe not only comes with a matching glass, but the two actually fit together. This makes a lovely presentation at the breakfast table, where you can put out an individual carafe for each guest to pour from, and makes it easy to store whatever is left over, since it is easily covered by the (cleaned) cup to prevent anything unwanted from drifting into the container. The carafes are made in Denmark and come in lime, blue and pink. Price: $220.

[via BLTD]

Perhaps I shouldn't go so far as to say that coordinating dinnerware is overrated, but these Geo Espresso Cups are definitely more visually appealing than the average matched set. The four white porcelain cup and saucer pairs all feature a different geometric design that has been adapted in to cup form. While you can use them to serve espresso, they would also make great individual servings of creme brulees or tiny pot de creme at a holiday dinner party. Price: £55.

Kate Spade's Larabee Road pattern, which covers this After Dinner Cup and Saucer Set, seems guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of anyone served with one. Sold in a set of four with red, yellow green and pink polka dots, the pieces have a sense of fun about them that is not often found in after-dinner cups, a typically staid delineation of the tableware world. Use them for cappuccinos or tea, or bring them out with a breakfast service for coffee and scones. The set is also available in a bright stripe pattern. Price: $75.

I recently became aware of the Float Glassware collection when several new pieces drew my attention. The collection was designed by Todd Macallen and Stephanie Forsythe for Molo Design. Each piece is handmade of pyrex-type glass, making it resistant to both very hot and cold liquids. The glasses have an outerwall that suspends an inner cup, making any liquid appear to be floating in air. The above 28-oz. "animal soup" bowl ($119) features a small chicken that is raised above bottom of the bowl and appears to float above soups or snacks that are served in it.

More pieces from the collection are after the jump.