Caffeine lovers rejoice, not any are there more tea and coffee advent calendars available this year than ever before, but there are bargains to be bagged before December 1
With autumn turning to winter and coffee shops moving from pumpkin spiced to candy cane flavoured goodies, it’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas. But for caffeine lovers keen to have a bit of a daily boost between now and December 25 there’s still time to snap up the ultimate countdown to the festive season.
Gone are the days when an advent calendar involved 24 individual pictures or even small chocolates. The humble tradition seems to get more and more elaborate every year with options aimed at everyone from gamers to gardeners. Meanwhile, beauty advent calendars have become huge business, with some offering massive savings on big name brands.
But if you’re looking for something fun that isn’t going to eat too much into your Christmas shopping budget, for caffeine lovers at least, a tea or coffee advent calendar is a really good option – offering a warming brew and five minutes of much-needed me-time throughout December. I got my first coffee advent calendar a few years ago and it’s now my December must-have. I started out with Pact’s excellent offering, which opened me up to the unusual and delicious brews they sold that I signed up for a subscription from then onwards which is one of the best things the Royal Mail delivers to my house each month. Then, a year later, when trying to cut back on my caffeine consumption and trying different fruit and herbal teas I discovered Bird and Blend’s tea offering – now my December is punctuated by excellent hot drinks.
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There are more great tea and coffee advent calendars on the market for 2024 than ever before, with prices ranging from £10 to considerably higher – although it’s always worth keeping an eye out for Black Friday deals as retailers try to entice last minute shoppers before December strikes.
Bird and Blend Tea Advent Calendar – £38
Bird and Blend are ending the year on a high with a fantastic calendar to keep everyone smiling throughout December – and with two teabags for each day you can even share the joy.
Packed full of quirky flavours, the calendar felt like it had been put together by Willy Wonka and putting a tea bag in a mug every morning bought a little moment of anticipation – there was never a ‘oh, it’s just Earl Grey today’ moment because even the more ‘plain’ teas had something a bit extra, like the Chocolate Digestives Tea which mixes Sri Lankan traditional tea with cocoa, liquorice root and fenugreek and, yes, really does have a bit of a biscuity taste to it that will make you grin.
The calendar showcases Bird and Blend’s special Christmas teas – including the standout mince pie flavour – as well as some big name collaborations with musicals legend Carrie Hope Fletcher and influencer Ruby Granger. There’s even a caffeine free version.
Pact Coffee Advent Calendar – £34.95
If Pact as a brand hasn’t been on your radar before then this advent calendar is a fantastic introduction. The calendar contains pre-ground coffee which can be used in cafetieres, Aeropress, a V60 or for drip brewing.
As someone who loves coffee but ends up mostly sticking with instant because I hate cleaning out cafetieres, this was a perfect time to bust out a V60 – a tiny mini filter coffee gadget that sits on top of your mug that allows you to brew directly (and can then be dishwashed afterwards).
Each day’s sachet comes with tasting notes, full details of where in the world the coffee has come from and information on the best way to brew it. There were lots of unusual coffees I’d never tried before and learning about them all as I tested them was really interesting and fun.
With the coffees being so unusual as well as unashamedly fair trade I think the calendar works out as real value for money. These are the kind of coffees I’d pay £4 a cup for if I was treating myself while out and about, so they felt like a lovely decadent treat and the ultimate caffeine boost.
Pukka Advent Calendar – £9.95
Herbal tea lovers rejoice. While it’s lovely to buy expensive, decadent looking advent calendars this Pukka version is the most reasonably priced on the market and has minimal packaging, won’t take up space on the side and will give you a refreshing pick me up every day without costing the earth.
The only down side perhaps is that if you are a regular Pukka drinker it might not feel like much of a treat as lots of the flavours are familiar. That said, if you’ve been keen to sample more of their range this is a great way to try new flavours before buying a full box of anything that might end up languishing in your cupboard because it wasn’t your cup of tea.
Rise Coffee Advent Calendar – £36
If you’ve been dithering about picking up Rise’s festive offering for 2024 , now is the time to do so – they’ve just reduced it by 10% as part of Amazon’s Black Friday sale.
Each window contains a 17g pouch of ground coffee, which founders Ben and Alice say could stretch to two coffees although, if you like your brew to pack a punch it’ll give you a really great morning kick.
Another option perfect for true caffeine afficionados, this is packed with unusual medium and medium dark coffees from across the world and tasting notes to help try something a little bit different to normal.
Caffe Nero Advent Calendar – £19.99
If you’re a pod coffee fan then Caffe Nero’s first ever advent calendar might just be the best option for you this December.
The Nespresso compatible pods contain a range of different flavours and strengths of coffee including Classico, the signature premium blend served in every Caffe Nero and Siena, a brand-new blend made with 100% Arabica beans with hints of brown sugar and berries. You can pick the calendar up in store while bagging your takeout, or just order it from Amazon and get it delivered to your door.
Settling down with a coffee is a great way to carve out a little moment of calm in a busy day but if you’re trying to cut down on caffeine another great last minute advent calendar option perfect to take a little time out and relax comes courtesy of Craft Buddy.
The brand, whose all-age friendly mindfulness gifts were named one of Mirror Choice’s top ten Christmas picks for 2024 has launched a Christmas advent calendar with 24 individual decorations to make which can then be added to a magnetic tree.
