Still looking for a Father's Day or Christmas gift? Coffee with your own photo is the thing!
Finnish Father's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of November, and Christmas is already knocking just around the corner. In this post I'll tell you why coffee with your own photo is a personal gift that won't end up gathering dust at the back of a cupboard, which celebrations this personalised coffee gift suits and what kind of photo to choose for it. So if you're wondering what to give your dad, or what would make a good Christmas gift for your parents, you're in the right place.
Written by: Väinö Siitari, son of roaster Olli and a dad myself, so this coming season I'm traditionally on both the giving and the receiving end.
You probably know the situation. You ask your dad what he'd like as a gift, and every year the answer is the same: "I don't know, I don't need anything, you don't have to bring anything". Now that I really think about it, I'm guilty of the same thing. Then again, do I need anything? I've got a storeroom full of tools from my construction days, but for some reason I never have any coffee, even though I'm partly to blame for this whole Kirjalan Paahtimo thing.
Well, blow me, this year we're doing things differently!
Why coffee with your own photo?
Because coffee is a gift that actually gets used. Finns drink coffee every day, so the gift doesn't sit around waiting for the right moment. That's also why it's the best gift for friends, relatives, non-relatives, parents and grandparents who already have everything. A consumable gift doesn't take up cupboard space. And when there's a photo on the side of the bag that puts a smile on their face, the recipient remembers you every morning when they brew a pot of coffee. (Or at least as long as the coffee lasts. After that you can order a new bag, and the cycle is complete.)
So coffee with your own photo is a bit like a photo gift and a coffee gift in one package. A personal gift that tastes good.
The bag is filled with Olli's roast of either Yellow Bourbon or Topazio coffee. That's because every time I told my dad I needed photo coffee, meaning Yellow Bourbon, he brought one or the other, or a mix. But both are sure to suit Finnish taste buds! The kind that almost every coffee drinker enjoys, from filter coffee fans to the slightly pickier ones. You can choose the roast level, grind and bag colour yourself. We use these coffees at our café for espresso-based drinks, so they work brilliantly for that method too, as well as in a moka pot. These are good for all sorts of uses!
Not an ad, just a shout-out!
Coffee with your own photo costs €14.90 (225 g). A small gift under €15, and orders over €59 ship free, so four little bags and almost the whole family is sorted.
But pay attention now (definitely not my own strong suit), because here comes a little maths lesson. If the recipient drinks more than a cup of coffee a day, it's worth looking at a bigger sack. The 500 g bag costs €23.30, so the price per kilo is €46.60 instead of the small bag's €66.22. You get more than twice as much coffee and save about 10 euros compared to buying the same amount in small bags. The 1 kg bag costs €39.60, and then you're already saving almost €27. For a tired dad who brews a full pot in the morning and another in the afternoon, the 1 kg bag is really the only sensible option. Larger amounts come in a brown paper bag. To be continued…
Which celebrations does it suit?
In short: all of them. But here are a few it's pretty much guaranteed to suit:
- Father's Day (second Sunday of November). A Father's Day gift for dad, grandpa or father-in-law, with a photo of the kids or grandkids. Also works as a Father's Day gift from a child or as a first Father's Day gift for a new dad.
- Christmas. A Christmas gift for parents, grandparents, friends, your godchild's parents, the neighbour and the postie, if you're for some reason still on speaking terms. Also works as a small Christmas gift for a colleague. Order a bagful to wait in the hallway for the Christmas round of visits, and all your gifts are sorted in one go.
- Mother's Day. (Next one 9 May 2027). A Mother's Day gift for mum or grandma with the same idea. Mums deserve our good coffee too!
- Birthdays and milestone birthdays. A birthday gift for someone turning 50, 60 or 70. A photo from the birthday star's younger years puts a spring in their step.
- Wedding anniversary. An anniversary gift for your spouse. One of our customers gave the coffee to her husband on their first wedding anniversary, and judging by the review it hit the spot.
- Valentine's Day. A gift for a friend or partner: a photo of the two of you, memories of old arguments, and your friendship is once again buried and on pause for a while!
- Thank-you and remembrance gifts. A farewell gift for a retiring colleague, a graduation gift, a housewarming gift or a thank-you gift for a teacher at the end of spring term. And of course a gift for a coffee lover just because.
Tip
Sorting gifts for the whole family in one go? There's a discount code for bigger orders, but I can't just give it away, even if I wanted to. You see, Anna has been trying to get me in line somehow, because apparently I'm too "generous". The code is hidden in my New Entrepreneur of the Year story, so read the story and spot the code. Two birds with one stone: you get a discount and finally find out how this whole circus got started.
What photo should you put on the bag?
This is the most important part, so listen carefully so you don't end up red-faced.
People don't usually want to look at their own face every morning next to the coffee maker (I might not). Dad might not want a photo of himself (unless he was particularly handsome and in top shape), but of the people who mean the most to him. So the best photos are ones with something other than the recipient in them:
- Kids or grandkids. A safe bet for dad, mum, grandma and grandpa. The muddier the face, the better.
- A pet. Dog, cat, rabbit or even a cow. A pet photo always works, and nobody complains that the fluffball looks silly.
- The whole family. That one photo where everyone is looking the same way and nobody is blinking. You're sure to have one somewhere, even if I don't.
- A shared memory. The cottage jetty, a fishing trip, a holiday together or that time the car broke down in the middle of the forest.
- An old photo. A photo from the recipient's younger years or the parents' wedding photo. This will move even an older gentleman.
- A funny photo. If your family has that one photo everyone laughs at every Christmas, now's the moment to surprise them.
The exception proves the rule: if the recipient really is the type who likes their own face, then go for it. You know who that person is.
How to get the photo right
- Portrait orientation. Only vertical photos are suitable for printing.
- Size 10 x 14 cm. If you make the photo or label yourself, in Canva for example, use these dimensions (width 10 cm, height 14 cm).
- Sharp and bright photo. A phone camera is perfectly fine, as long as the photo isn't blurry or dark.
- Faces in the middle. Leave a little space at the edges so nobody's ear gets cut off.
- Add some text. For example "Happy Father's Day, Grandpa!" or "Happy Father's Day, you hottie, this is why we have kids".
How to order
- Go to the Coffee with your own photo product page.
- Choose the roast level, bag colour, grind and amount.
- Upload a photo from your gallery and add text if you like.
- Add to cart and check out. That's it, all done!
The photo isn't printed directly on the bag. Instead we stick a separate label on the bag, where we also stamp the roast date. On the back label the recipient can also read a short piece about our roastery.
Please note
Because the coffee is personalised, unfortunately it can't be returned or exchanged. So check the photo quality and orientation before you order. If the gift is urgent, Matkahuolto's Lähellä-paketti is usually the fastest shipping method. With a Posti small parcel, delivery to the door can take anything from a couple of days to over a week, so it's a good idea to order Christmas gifts in good time. It will arrive in time for Christmas when you order for delivery by 15 December, or for pickup from our café (Nuijamiestenkatu 21, Mikkeli) until 23 December.
What have recipients thought?
Coffee with your own photo has collected more than 70 reviews in our online shop, and the vast majority are five-star reviews. People have especially praised the fast delivery, the end result and the aroma that bursts out as soon as you open the parcel. Lots of people say they'll order again!
Sponsored ad
Are you a business owner looking for coffee with your company logo? My sister Anna is happy to help with designing and delivering corporate gifts and logo coffee. You can also order directly! Send a message to anna@kirjalan.fi. End of ad!
Huge thanks for reading, and have a wonderful festive season! If you'd like to see more gift ideas, you'll find them among our gift products. And if the recipient lives in Mikkeli, come together for a coffee at our café on Nuijamiestenkatu.
Coffee greetings,
Väinö from Kirjalan Paahtimo
I've heard a rumour that Noora hasn't even opened the feedback folder yet. Well, you can still send your feedback to Noora. We'll read it at the latest at the Christmas party, if she still remembers her email password...
Coffee with your own photo in brief
Coffee with your own photo is Kirjalan Paahtimo's personalised coffee gift, with the customer's own photo and text printed on the label. It comes in 225 g, 500 g and 1 kg bags of coffee roasted in Mikkeli, and the gift suits Father's Day, Christmas, Mother's Day, birthdays, wedding anniversaries and other celebrations.
| Price and price per kilo | 225 g €14.90 (€66.22/kg), 500 g €23.30 (€46.60/kg), 1 kg €39.60 |
| Coffees | Yellow Bourbon (same as Kalervo) or Topazio (same as Pellervo), in different roast levels |
| Origin | Cerrado Mineiro, Brazil |
| Producer | Ivan Junqueira Ribeiro, Fazenda Cruzeiro |
| Process | Natural |
| Altitude | Yellow Bourbon 900 to 1,100 m, Topazio 920 to 1,160 m |
| Flavour profile | Kalervo: nougat, milk chocolate, berry juice. Pellervo: chocolate, nutty, berry-like |
| Options | roast level, bag colour, grind, bag size |
| Photo | portrait, 10 x 14 cm / aspect ratio 5:7 |
| 225 g bag dimensions | 4 x 13.5 x 23.5 cm |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of photo suits a coffee bag?
A vertical, sharp and bright photo. If you make the image yourself, in Canva for example, size it to 10 x 14 cm.
What kind of photo makes the best gift?
Usually the recipient is happiest with a photo of the people or things they love: kids, grandkids, a pet, the whole family or a shared memory.
Which celebrations does coffee with your own photo suit?
It suits Father's Day, Christmas, Mother's Day, birthdays, wedding anniversaries and Valentine's Day, for example, and also works as a thank-you or remembrance gift.
Can coffee with your own photo be returned?
No. Because the product is personalised, it can't be returned or exchanged.
How quickly is coffee with your own photo delivered?
We aim to ship orders on the day they're placed. Matkahuolto's Lähellä-paketti is usually the fastest shipping method.
What do you give a dad who has everything?
A consumable, personal gift is often the best choice. Coffee with your own photo gets used every day and doesn't take up cupboard space, and a photo of the kids, grandkids or a pet makes it a personal Father's Day gift.
Is coffee with your own photo a good Christmas gift for parents and grandparents?
Yes. It's an affordable and personal Christmas gift that also suits parents and grandparents who already have everything. The 225 g bag costs €14.90, the 500 g bag €23.30 and the 1 kg bag €39.60.
