Generally people shouldn't get me coffee gear - as that could lead to disappointment. But the beans themself? always well received.
I'm also into photography, and any kind of photography gear you get me is likely to be incompatible with my setups or the types of work I do.
Same with cooking. Someone got me a frying pan once for my birthday because the coating was coming off, and I had been intending to buy a new one. It was a nice frying pan, but it isn't compatible with my induction stove, so that gift pan is sitting unused in a drawer somewhere, and I had to buy my own new one that is compatible with my stove.
Basically -- Buy consumables as gifts. Never buy equipment, unless they're a enthusiastic beginner and you're an expert.
Family member once heard I was getting into cooking, and bought me these bad, half oven mitts. I feel lousy every time they come over now: their oven mitts were quickly replaced.
But yeah – buying me a small, consumable gift will always be a treasured thing, and never an inconvenience. At worst, I don't enjoy the coffee much. I still received a gift and got to hear a story of its purchase.