If you’re married to a chef, you can always buy them another knife or condiment and they’ll be happy. If you need a gift for a teacher, a metric ton of pens and Post-Its will always be appreciated. Chemists, though…
Especially in fields like molecular biology, the only ones who really know what they do at work are often their colleagues. Most of them probably have hobbies outside of work, but they might just not need another golf club or squash racket.
Also, one of the things to look for when selecting a gift is not just that it be both useful and beautiful, but that the person you’re giving it to will use and see it as often as possible. After all, the point isn’t just to buy them something they can afford themselves, but to remind them that you care. And, of course, most people spend the majority of their time and energy at work.
This “Powered by Caffeine” mug may be just what you need if shopping for someone who works in chemistry, medicine, or a related field. It’s shaped just like a lab beaker (but with a handle) and decorated with the skeletal diagram for caffeine – which is also, as everyone knows, called C8H10N4O2.
On the back, you’ll find measured indications of how much coffee you need based on how alert you feel, ranging from “Genius” through “Apathetic” up to “Inanimate”. Students, in particular, are sure to appreciate this feature, and also the fact that it holds a full 14 ounces.
The beaker itself is made of laboratory-grade glass and quite durable; you can pour boiling water into it without worrying about it cracking. Coffee won’t stain it. The handle, unfortunately, feels kind of fragile and is not at all comfortable to hold. This is by far its worse feature, though, so by all means go for it if you know or are a scientist.
