Coffee Bars For Kitchens

Design Ideas: Coffee Bars for Kitchens

Calling all coffee lovers!

You may think there’s absolutely no way to make your regular caffeine intake even better than it already is. 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 physically set up a kitchen coffee bar, don’t worry. There are several style options that may appeal to you — and match your already fabulous kitchen space.

Styles of Coffee Bars

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. Try creating a Pinterest board of ideas that will help guide you. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

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.

Coffee bars for kitchens. Convert your pantry example.

Reorganize a cabinet

Depending on your kitchen setup, you may have a cabinet that could be transformed into your coffee bar. Tuck away your brew and equipment into the rest of your kitchen’s design by placing it 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.

Coffee bars for kitchens. Designate a corner

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:

The 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 (I like to use clear containers & pour my products in. Makes it easier to use and they become design features.)

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.

Coffee Bars for Kitchens

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

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 photos — both easy to care for and absolutely beautiful.