Before you get too excited, know that growing your own coffee can be very difficult depending on where you live, I speak from experience! Still, even if you never end up with a giant fruit-producing tree, smaller coffee plants are still beautiful houseplants and great conversation starters. I came across a nice starter kit over at ThinkGeek, which is essentially just a small greenhouse and seeds. It’s reasonably priced at $10, though you could also make your own similar setup with parts from your local hardware store. Fun gift for coffee lovers!

The popular website Kickstarter is proving to be a great way for entrepreneurs to launch product ideas, and the latest that caught my eye there is this new espresso machine. It uses a PID controller to more precisely regulate the temperature of the water (or steam, depending on what’s desired). It’s a great idea, and the huge level of support on Kickstarter so far shows there’s demand and enthusiasm for this…though bringing a complex product like this to market is no small feat and I remain a bit skeptical of its success. I do wish them the best though…I’d love to see more high tech, affordable espresso machines on the market (and on my kitchen counter!). Check it out at their Kickstarter page.