And in just a blink of an eye, another November comes around and it’s time to think about what Advent Calendar to pick this year! Seriously, where does the time go? But it’s a nice thought that Christmas is not far away – a time to allow a few indulgences, to watch far too much TV, to spend time with family and friends, and to chill out and relax if at all possible.
For me, my favourite part of Christmas is the build up. It starts straight after Halloween when I start looking for really cheesy Christmas movies to watch … the ones where the snow clearly looks like foam! And it’s picking which wrapping paper and crackers to buy – then organising family gift lists. In previous years I’ve made Christmas cakes, but I’m taking a year off as I started to find the process stressful rather than enjoyable. I love visiting garden centres to see their Christmas decorations, and to visit at least one Christmas Market for a mug of mulled wine. And of course the daily opening of our chosen advent calendar – for which the options get more diverse year after year.
Here follows a selection of our favourite advent calendars for you to consider for 2025. All of our previous gift guides can be found here. As always, we’d love to know which one you are getting this year 😊
#AD Disclaimer: Some of these products were gifted to us for consideration
RiSE COFFEE COUNTDOWN CALENDAR
‘Every coffee has a story to tell’
This is a bright and cheerful advent calendar to kick off this guide. Behind every door in the RiSE Coffee Countdown Calendar (£40.00) lies a single-origin ground coffee. Each one is unique, full of flavour, and waiting to be brewed your way.
While brewing, scan the QR code on the box to find out about your coffee – it’s origin, tasting notes, meet the farmers behind the beans, learn about what makes it unique and discover expert brewing tips.
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 we found a sachet of ‘Ethiopia – Sidamo. Stone fruit, lemongrass, black tea’
CHILLI HOT SAUCE ADVENT CALENDAR
‘Ignite your tastebuds’
Here’s something a little hot to put forward as your advent calendar for 2025 🌶🌶🌶 You could ignite your tastebuds this December with this Chilli Hot Sauce Advent Calendar (£24.99) that contains 24 x 25ml mini bottles guaranteed to blow your head off! Every bottle contains a different hot sauce. It will certainly warm you up on the cold evenings ahead!
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 is a 25ml bottle of Thai Chilli Hot Sauce
GREEN & WILD’S COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
‘For your four-legged friends’
Jack dog is officially happy now the Green & Wild’s Countdown to Christmas (£9.95) has arrived at PackThePJs HQ. He won’t leave it alone – the smells are driving him crazy! So it’s on a very high shelf until December 1st! This advent calendar contains 100% healthy natural treats, like Salmon Bakes, Duck Sausages with Cranberry, Yakity Yak Puff Nuggets, Cornish Fishcakes with Turmeric, Goose Sausages with Cranberry and Fish Deli Cubes. The packaging is totally eco-friendly too.
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 was a rather large Fish Deli Cub, which is a 100% fish skin cube from fish caught in British waters, naturally dried
CONTACT COFFEE CO. CALENDAR
‘The Original British Military Coffee Company’
Looking for a speciality coffee advent calendar to start your Christmas countdown? Look no further. The Contact Coffee Christmas Advent Calendar (£30.00) is arguably one of the best coffee advent calendar this year. Contact Coffee was founded by two serving Royal Marines with the aim of providing decent coffee to serving personnel. No more freeze dried disappointments but a decent brew that uses minimal equipment. Each of the 25 sachets in this advent contains one of 13 different filter coffee blends suitable for all brewing methods. It boasts some of the best coffees from around the world, all individually packaged, to enjoy a great coffee every morning.
The calendar is designed to sit on your kitchen surface, with an access window at the bottom, to quickly pull out your coffee one day at a time.
What’s behind door number 7?
There are no numbers with this advent calendar, just a slot at the bottom of the advent to pull through the day’s sachet of coffee. So I pulled the first sachet out – Brazil Yellow Bourbon (Nutty, Bright, Juicy)
COX & CO COLOMBIAN CACAO ADVENT CALENDAR
‘Farm to Bar Cacao’
This Cox & Co. 60% Single Origin Colombian Cacao Advent Calendar (£15.50) consists of 24 Neapolitan squares using chocolate sourced from the Luker Chocolate Estate in Colombia. The calendar packaging is 100% sustainable – no single use plastic. This is quality ethical chocolate that is 60% cacao, which delivers a slight bitter coffee and rich caramel flavour note with just the right level of sweetness. It is utterly delicious!
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 was this perfectly wrapped square of 60% single origin cacao
DEGUSTA BOX FOODIE ADVENT CALENDAR
‘The Christmas Show Starts Now!’
The Degusta Box Advent Calendar (£39.99) is HUGE and full of 24 full-sized snacks and foodie goodies. There’s a delicious item every day throughout December – no wonder this is a very (very, very) popular advent calendar! Foodie heaven! Can’t wait to see what’s behind each door.
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 is a De Dulce de Leche chocolate covered biscuit. I’ve not had this brand before (Mardel) but I’ve had similar, and that was delicious!
LILLEY’S CIDER ADVENT CALENDAR
‘A celebration of all things cider’
I need to put forward this Lilley’s Cider Advent Calendar (£70.00). It is rather epic! It has to be the heaviest box, ever – but that’s because it is full of 24 x 500ml bottles of Lilley’s Cider – every one different 🍎🍏🍎 It’s the ultimate cider tasting experience! Hurry up December 1, I’m drooling here!
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 was this rather inviting bottle of Lightly Sparkling Raspberry Mojito Cider. It’s a ‘refreshingly summery drink’, but it’s quite cold this evening and I reckon it’ll still hit the spot!
24 DAYS SPICE AND HERBS ADVENT CALENDAR
‘Gourmet food in each fine day to spice up your holiday season’
Here’s an advent calendar that will spice up your life throughout December! The Tilz Collection’s 24 Days Spice and Herbs Advent Calendar (£24.99) contains 24 different spices and herbs guaranteeing that mealtimes won’t be boring on the run up to Christmas! Behind each door is a pot containing 4g of a premium herb or spice.
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 was a pot of dried basil. This is a good find, as I use a lot of basil when cooking!
ARTCHOCOLAT LUXURY ADVENT CALENDAR
‘Give the gift of edible art’
Did anyone manage to see the Northern Lights recently? Nothing here in Wales as we had Storm Claudia wreaking havoc 🙄 I’m quite obsessed with the Northern Lights, having searched for them many times over the years (thank you Norway for eventually helping me tick them off my list!) But I digress … What about an aurora of chocolates in an advent calendar this year? The chocolates in the ArtChocolat Luxury Advent Calendar (£44.99) are works of art, a real treat – and utterly delicious. Looks amazing, tastes incredible – what more could you want?!
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 is this total work of art chocolate – and according to the recipe card it is Strawberry, Lime & Mint. Looks lush!
BEER52 CRAFT BEER ADVENT CALENDAR
‘Limited edition celebration of craft beer culture 2025’
I know beer isn’t just for Christmas, but what a nice treat to open an advent calendar door each day in December and discover a new craft beer you may never have tried before. The Beer52 Craft Beer Advent Calendar (£69.99) is beautifully packaged and would make a wonderful gift (if you can bear to part with it!) Cheers 🍺🍻🍺
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 of this large, heavy, advent calendar was this can of Queen of the Sea Hoppy Red Ale by The White Hag Irish Brewing Company. Sounds really interesting – can’t wait to try it
DENZEL’S CHRISTMAS ADVENT CALENDAR
FOR DOGS
‘The perfect way to spice up your pup’s Christmas this year’
Jack dog has had a tough year, with the loss of his bestie Izzy just a few short weeks ago. And then over the weekend two bundles of fluff in the shape of kittens turned up – and he’s been so gentle with them. For a boisterous springer spaniel, he is reading the room perfectly. I think kittens (Betty Diva and Percy Moggs) will become great buddies with Jack – but for now, we are spoiling Jack as he navigates the changes around him. Which means it’s time to pick him an advent calendar. He has had a Denzel’s Christmas Advent Calendar for Dogs (£15.00) before and loved it – so he’s having another! 24 mini bags of treats – I know already that he’ll love them!
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 was a bag of Salmon and Berries Training Bites (100% natural ingredients)
POPCORNSHED GOURMET POPCORN ADVENT CALENDAR
‘The countdown to Christmas will be merry, POPping and sweet’
Everyone loves popcorn. Christmas is that one time of the year when all around the country (world?) families sit together to watch movies … and with that must come a bowl of popcorn, or two, or three! But why settle for the plain, salty popcorn when you can have gourmet flavours like ‘Pop ‘n’ Choc’, ‘Red Velvet’, Strawberries & Cream’, ‘Pecan Pie’, ‘Salted Caramel’ and ‘Cinnamon Roll’? All these flavours – and more besides – are in PopcornShed’s 2025 Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar (£25.00). What a treat!
What’s behind door number 7?
Behind door 7 was a bag of delicious ‘Birthday Cake‘ flavoured popcorn
