Mouthwatering Gifts for the Foodies in Your Life

It's easy to think of foodies as gourmet snobs who insist that all their olive oil be extra virgin, their bread made by artisan bakers and their chocolates imported from Belgium.

But not all foodies care about all foodstuffs. That is, they're not equal-opportunity snobs but ones with specific areas of interest and expertise.

Some have a sweet tooth. Some have a savory one.

With that in mind, here are last-minute gift suggestions for a half-dozen distinct types of foodies.

We've included items available in stores as well as those that must be ordered by mail -- keep in mind the cutoff dates for holiday delivery with the latter (and be prepared to pay shipping surcharges, although that's standard with perishables in any case). Many mail-order merchants will also give you the option of ordering a gift certificate up until the true last minute.

For the java junkie: Yes, it's the most familiar name in high-end coffee, but that makes Starbucks (SBUX Quote)all the better an option for holiday shopping (i.e., they're everywhere). The gift options are many, from a cool set of espresso shot glasses in a chrome carrier ($12.95) to a newly released espresso blend, Espresso Regalo ($8.95 per half pound).

For those java lovers with a sentimental streak, Mr. Coffee has come out with a Classic Edition Programmable Coffeemaker ($90) to mark the brand's 35th anniversary -- it does a good job brewing a cup of joe, plus it has such features as backlit ambient lighting and a top cup rack for storing your mugs. Conversely, if you're looking for something new in coffee brewing, consider the single-cup machines, which are becoming very popular: Breville has a new Gourmet Single Cup Brewer ($300), that has lots of, well, perks -- a built-in water filtration system, a 60-ounce tank (good for 10 cups) and a starter kit of 18 "K-Cups" (the machine uses Keurig-style coffees).