Adult Birthday Present Ideas

[Canada_Mom]

Hi. Dh and I have been invited to a surprise b-day party for a new friend of ours. We haven't known him that long (so, not very well) and of course I've left it until the very last minute to get a gift. Help me with some prezzie ideas PLEASE!!! He's a contractor, turning 36, married, 5 kids.... Not looking to spend a lot but don't want to show up empty handed. Thank you!!

[Myrtle]

I just gave someone a Bodum Santos vacuum coffee brewer. It looks like chemistry equipment. Basically, the coffee goes in the top, the water in the bottom, then as it's heated all the water gets sucked up through a tube to the top, then when the pressure decreases the coffee rushes back down to the bottom and you can serve it. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4150GRD6WTL._AA280_.jpg

The cool thing is that it costs $35 (look at places other than Amazon!)

If you want to see a YouTube video of this piece of geekery in action. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scnuFxALlPk)


The supposed advantage of this kind of coffee brewer is that you can use lower water temps and that supposedly reduces the acidity. Don't know. I can't taste the difference but it's a lot of fun in the morning.