Designing a Home Coffee Bar

For coffee lovers, a cup of joe is the best way to start the day. Whether you work the night shift or wake up before sunrise, a home coffee station is ideal for convenient, delicious coffee whenever you want it. Depending on the size of your space, furniture pieces like bar carts, kitchen islands and accent cabinets can function as an all-in-one solution to keep your coffee equipment organized.

Overview

This post will provide suggestions and tips about:

Making Room for Your Home Espresso Bar

In both small city apartments and spacious suburban homes, any amount of room will work for an in-house coffee bar. The convenience of a dedicated coffee station makes it easy to enjoy your morning ritual or late-night pick-me-up without the fuss of hauling out your coffeemaker and digging through your pantry for ingredients every time you want a hot beverage.

Before you begin to create your caffeinated haven, measure the dimensions of your space and determine how much room you need for your coffee bar furniture. You can keep it simple and just dedicate a kitchen counter to your coffee obsession, or go big by clearing space in the dining room to play barista for guests.

Proximity to water, outlets and the fridge are important factors in determining the best spot to set up shop. You’ll also want to keep in mind the amount of space your equipment will need. Electric or stovetop kettles and coffee makers will need to be placed close to your outlets or your oven, while a French press or pour-over rig requires counter space and little else.

Kitchen Coffee Bar Ideas

If you already have a coffee maker and a few mugs in your kitchen, why not develop a one-stop counter coffee station? If your kitchen has the space for it, a central island equipped with a drawer, shelves, a towel rack or cup hooks can be the perfect perch for a coffee bar.

If you have an unused edge of the room, use it to set up a corner coffee bar cabinet or kitchen organizer laden with your coffee-making essentials. Add a mug tree and decorative canisters of loose-leaf tea, or complete your space with kitchen coffee bar ideas like baskets to corral travel mugs and espresso cups.

A Dining Room Coffee and Wine Bar

A home coffee station in the dining room offers endless options for entertaining. To put all your after-dinner drinks in one place, consider a combination coffee and wine bar. A cart with bottle racks can store your finest vintages as well as syrups for specialty drinks. Likewise, a buffet table or server holds everything from sturdy mugs to delicate stemware.

Spacious dining rooms offer plenty of floor space for accent seating and serving areas, perfect for a coffee bar that doubles as a cozy breakfast nook. Create an enticing bistro-style atmosphere by placing a small pub set against your wall, or fill in a corner with a triangular bar height table so you can sip your morning cup in style.

Coffee in the Foyer

In larger houses or condos, you have a bit more leeway with the location of your DIY coffee bar. If a thermos is one of the last items you grab when leaving the house, you might prefer a coffee bar table, such as a narrow console table, for the entryway. Having a caffeinated treat waiting by the door leaves both guests and family with a warm, welcoming impression.

Coffee Bar Ideas for Small Spaces

Adding a coffee bar to homes or apartments where space is at a premium is easier than you might think. Using your space wisely, selecting the right pieces and going portable can help you design a home coffee station that’s small in size but big on style. Check out the following furniture ideas for a small coffee bar.

Coffee Bar Wall Shelf

In rooms with limited square footage, using your walls is key. Consider smart coffee bar shelf ideas that replicate the cafe experience while keeping your floor plan open. First, you’ll need to choose a wall shelf coffee station that’s deep and sturdy enough to hold the equipment you need. Once you’ve picked a shelf, remember to hang it at counter height for easy access.

Small Servers, Cabinets and Sideboards

Using a compact buffet or sideboard as a coffee bar gives you a convenient and stylish drink station with ample room for your beans, grinder and other essentials. Look for small space furniture such as accent cabinets and bar cabinets that will fit your room while providing plenty of useful storage.

Home Coffee Bar with Wheels

If you have a tiny kitchen, even the best countertop coffee station ideas might cramp your style. Instead of losing precious counter space, make your cappuccino mobile using a handy coffee bar cart with wheels. Use a kitchen cart to roll drinks into the dining room for coffee with dessert, or move the party to the living room for nightcaps and espresso.