How To Style a Kitchen Coffee Bar
Calling all coffee lovers! You may think there’s absolutely no way to make your regular caffeine intake even better than it already is. But, what if we told you that having a kitchen coffee bar can better your morning drink? Whether you’re a one-cup-a-day person or basically need a straw for your coffee pot, it’s wonderful to have a beautiful coffee set up to enjoy. Plus, it can make your sunrise routine smoother by having everything you need all in one place. And, if you’re not a coffee drinker, you can still set up a bar in your home for smoothies or teas.
If this sounds appealing to you, but you’re unsure how to actually set up a kitchen coffee bar, don’t fret. There are several style options that may appeal to you — and match your already fabulous kitchen space.
So, grab your piping hot (or ice cold) cup of joe, and let’s get started with some coffee bar ideas.
Kitchen Coffee Bar Styles
Before setting up your caffeine station, it’s helpful to know what you’d like it to look like and where it will go. You may believe your kitchen doesn’t have the space to set up a cafe-style bar, but there are several arrangements that may work for your home. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
Refurbish a Pantry
If you have a home with a built-in pantry, it can be a great place to make your kitchen coffee bar. You can either leave the doors closed and hide the area easily, or you can take off the doors completely for a more open style. The great part about this style of coffee bar is that there are plenty of shelf options that you can use for your coffee machine, coffee beans or grounds, syrups and sugar. And, adding this to your kitchen doesn’t take up any additional space, which is great for kitchens that are a bit smaller or have less available room.
Reorganize a Cabinet
Depending on your kitchen setup, you may have a cabinet that could be transformed into your coffee bar. Completely blend your brew and equipment into the rest of your kitchen’s design by tucking it away where only you can see it. Whether you have counter-to-ceiling cabinets or elevated ones, you can utilize the shelves and counter space to meet all your caffeine needs in your kitchen coffee bar cabinet.
Utilize a Cart
Find a cute bar cart or short table and turn it into a designated cafe for you and your fellow coffee drinkers in the house. Generally, a coffee cart has two parallel shelves that are wide enough apart to fit an entire coffee machine, espresso machine, pour-over set or any other method that you use to get the perfect cup. This station style works well if you have a bit of extra space along a blank wall or in a kitchen corner. They don’t take up very much space, and they can be extremely beneficial for storing and displaying your coffee equipment.
Designate a Corner
For those who have ample counter space for everyday items and plenty to spare, consider designating a corner of it to make a coffee bar. Place your coffee maker on the counter, and put up a hanging rack for your mugs where you can easily grab them without having to move to another part of the room. For your coffee nook, store items in the drawers below this section of the space, or get a storage container or rack to set on the kitchen counter. If you have the space, you could even hang floating shelves above the coffee corner to store coffee goods like sugar, coffee grounds and syrups.
Floating shelves are a great storage option.
One of the most important elements of any kitchen coffee setup — no matter the style you choose – is the bar’s functionality. Yes, it’s important that it looks nice and works with your kitchen’s overall design, but it’s also essential that the setup makes sense to you and makes your morning routine easier rather than more difficult.
The right layout will be both functional and fashionable — which is easier said than done. Continue reading to learn some tips on how to accomplish this combination with ease.
How To Set Up Your Coffee Bar
After you’ve made up your mind on what coffee station style you’d like in your kitchen, you need to assemble the necessary items. Some essential coffee supplies that most bars need include:
- Coffee maker of your choice.
- Coffee beans.
- Coffee grinder (if using whole beans).
- Coffee pods.
- Coffee cups.
- Spoons.
- Napkins.
- Sugar and accompanying bowl.
- Creamer (if there’s refrigeration at your coffee station).
- Cinnamon and other spices.
- Snacks that pair well with coffee.
- Tray for easy transportation if needed.
- Bowls or canisters for storage.
Now, what you’ll put in your coffee bar is completely up to you. If you prefer straight black coffee in your absolute favorite coffee mug, then your setup will be less extensive. But if a pumpkin spice latte calls your name, you’ll require a few more coffee essentials and pieces of equipment.
Once you’ve gathered everything you need, it’s time to construct! Again, ensure you make your morning coffee process easy by having everything within reach and easily accessible as you need it. One tip we have for this step is to go through your regular routine of making a cup of brew.
What do you generally put in your mug first? Do you use a spoon to stir the contents of your cup? Do you need a napkin at any point during your coffee creation? These questions may seem unnecessary, but they truly can help you understand where items should be placed on your bar to make the space functional.
How To Decorate a Kitchen Coffee Bar
With your coffee station fully functional and ready to use, it’s time to make it fun to look at and make its aesthetic work cohesively with the rest of your kitchen space. Here are some decor ideas that could work for your coffee station:
Signs
One fun way to add coffee-themed decor is by including signs on the wall behind or beside your coffee bar. This home decor could be a simple, white framed picture of a coffee pot or a more rustic, wooden sign with a funny pun or phrase that you wouldn’t mind seeing every day. Not only can this be a chic way to spruce up your space, but it also helps specify that designated area as your coffee station.
Decorative Bowls
For people who have Keurigs or other types of coffee machines that use k cups or coffee pods, find colorful bowls or canisters to store them in. You could even match them to your kitchen’s color scheme. Let’s say you have light blue kitchen walls with pastel yellow patterned curtains: Pull the yellow and blue hues into the storage containers you use to make the coffee station feel like a united part of the room. If bowls aren’t your thing and you want a simpler storage container, try neutral-colored baskets for a more modern look and feel.
Colored Coffee Maker
Coffee lovers have the ability to pick and choose bright colors for their machines — a luxury that has become widespread by various companies creating vivid coffee makers. Gone are the days when you could only select from multiple styles of black equipment. You can now choose any color under the sun and make that your focal point for your coffee station.
Greenery is a great decor choice for kitchen coffee bars.
Greenery
Adding plants or flowers is one easy way to bring some color and life into your kitchen coffee bar. If you don’t have a green thumb, fake plants are a great alternative and hassle-free. Try placing smaller greenery like succulents or cacti in more compact setups like a kitchen counter or cabinet bar. For a coffee bar cart, you may have more space for medium-sized plants like snake plants and pothos — both easy to care for and absolutely beautiful.
How Decorating Den Can Help
If you’re taking a look at your kitchen and wondering how on earth you can make coffee bars using the space or design that you currently have, let Decorating Den Interiors step in and help. We have the know-how and the determination to transform your kitchen into the cafe of your dreams! Here’s how partnering with us works:
Upon contacting our team, we’ll set up a free consultation with you as a way to visit your kitchen and get to understand your vision. If you’d rather have this chat over the phone, that works fine, too. After that initial meeting, we’ll go to the drawing board and come up with a game plan to take your existing space and make room for a kitchen coffee bar. We’ll work with your ideas and budget to make it all come together.
Ready to create a five-star coffee station in your own home? Contact Decorating Den Interiors to get started.