Think about how much more of a luxury it would be to sip your favorite coffee drink in the morning if you didn’t have to wait in line for 15 minutes to get it or spend so much of your hard-earned cash on it. Luckily, these strategic, expert-approved coffee bar ideas could bring you closer to that dream morning routine.
“I don’t know about you, but coffee is the first thing I think about when I wake up,” Abbey Stark, home furnishing direction leader at Ikea US, says, adding that the morning ritual sets up your day for success and creates a sense of well-being.
Most quests for coffee begin well before you’ve formulated a single thought, so an at-home coffee bar promotes efficiency. “On those groggy mornings when you’re barely awake, having everything in one place means you can make the perfect cup of coffee with minimal effort,” Amanda Wyatt, interior designer and founder of Design Insider, says. “No need to search for what you need, even if you’re still half asleep.”
While setting up a coffee bar can feel like a significant upfront cost, it’ll pay for itself when you consider the time and funds you’re saving by skipping barista-made coffee. It’s also a great option for entertaining. “This setup not only keeps your kitchen tidy but also makes it easy for guests to help themselves to a cup of coffee,” Wyatt says.
Whether you’re a drip, pour-over or cold brew kind of person, an at-home coffee station unlocks immediate access to your favorite kinds of caffeinated beverages, all while adding a boutique hotel aesthetic to your living space.
Coffee bar cabinetry
“If the homeowner is great at keeping things neat and has beautiful drinkware and accessories, some open shelves can be a great way to display those items while keeping them easily accessible,” Melissa Kanfi, principal interior designer and owner of Olive & Neon, says. These light oak floating shelves come unfinished, so you can play around with color to suit your space or leave them as is for a minimalist Scandinavian look. At 24 inches per plank, they provide adequate space for your drinkware, accessories and decor.
“I’d usually recommend including at least some closed storage, like drawers for items that aren’t as visually appealing,” Kanfi says. If you’re not able to rip out your current cabinets but you want the convenience of drawers, grab these smooth-glide pullout drawers for easier access to your coffee essentials. They’re compatible with cabinets at least 12.5 inches wide and 16.9 inches deep, and they're easy to install.
“Pantries are not only ideal for dry food storage but also serve as the perfect spot to house a coffee and tea bar,” Wyatt says. “When designing the pantry, I always make sure to include a countertop with easily accessible cabinets right above or below. This setup is perfect for plugging in a coffee or espresso machine and storing all your coffee essentials like beans, pods, tea, sugar, spoons and mugs.” This all-in-one solution features enough closed cabinetry, open shelving and counter space to store supplies and craft your go-to beverage.
While Stark says open or closed storage and cabinetry is a personal preference, she tends to lean toward closed storage for a clean and modern aesthetic. The Sektion horizontal wall cabinet features a nifty push-open feature and is available in dozens of unique finishes from sage green to high-gloss white.
Running out of counter space? A stationary island is a smart way to turn your coffee bar into a veritable oasis. This option features a marble-like surface perfect for playing barista with loads of genius hidden shelving (think: a dedicated space for all your flavored syrups, adjustable cabinets for your glassware and drawers for your coffee pods and silverware).
Styling a bar cart is not only fun for spirit drinkers but also a great way for “coffee cups, glassware and accessories to shine,” Stark says. This two-toned option will sit beautifully in any space with its timeless marble-and-steel construction while housing all your coffee essentials on its two 31-inch levels.
Coffee bar storage
“To keep your coffee bar organized, I recommend using containers to neatly store coffee pods, beans and other accessories,” Wyatt says. “The goal is to make everything easily identifiable while ensuring it blends in with the rest of your kitchen or pantry design.” While you can certainly repurpose old jam jars, consider using this opportunity to imbue your space with some vintage charm using these fluted mismatched jars. They feature a bamboo airtight lid that locks in flavor.
“If you’re a tea drinker, definitely consider some drawer organizers to keep your tea collection tidy and accessible,” Kanfi says. Pop this one in its own drawer or, if you’re particularly proud of your stash, display it on your countertops. It’s got eight compartments and a stackable design to keep everything tidy.
Wyatt calls this “a great box but with a drawer that can be a great all-purpose storage solution.” Use it to display your coffee maker and conceal and organize smaller loose items from coffee pods to spoons.
Nothing’s sweeter than a dedicated space for your sugar that also doubles as a style moment. “Storage containers for sugar or sugar cubes along with neatly arranged spoons add a touch of order and elegance to the setup,” Wyatt says.
Coffee stations come with lots of unsightly cords. Streamline your space with this box, which Wyatt says is “great for hiding cords and also giving a coffee maker or grinder a place to sit.”
Coffee makers
Wyatt calls the Ratio Six an ideal at-home coffee brewer. In fact, we named it one of the best drip coffee makers on the market for its ability to automate flavorful coffee, temperature and drip rate.
Get back to basics with a reliable pour-over that streamlines your morning brew, no confusing mechanisms included. “A regular pour-over is great,” Daniel Mikhail, a barista at Améa Café in Montreal, Canada, says. “The flavors come out very well all the time, it’s easy to control and it’s consistent.” We wholeheartedly recommend the Japanese-made Kalita Wave for its ability to produce a robust sip, control temperature and saturate grounds evenly.
While a French press tends to produce a slightly more acidic cup of coffee, Mikhail recommends it if you prefer that flavor profile since the trade-off is how easy it is to use (simply steep your grounds as you would a cup of tea). Don’t build a coffee bar from the ground up without our favorite French press that produces the brightest flavor among all other models tested.
Though it requires plumbing, Wyatt says “if you know how to make your own espresso, there is no better home choice than the La Marzocco Linea Mini,” which features a pre-infusion system, works in compatibility with a brew-by-weight scale and offers a pump pressure adjustment for a seamless brewing experience. For more affordable espresso machine recs, check out our list of best-tested models.
Coffee bar accessories
“Mugs should be within easy reach, either stacked on a shelf or displayed in a stylish holder,” Wyatt says. Taking the term “mug tree” to new heights, this charming six-mug holder in a treelike silhouette is the ideal place to display your drinkware. Just be sure to keep up with dusting if you’re going to keep your drinkware outside your cabinetry.
“People always invest in the machine, but if you have a good grinder, it’s a good investment,” Mikhail says. Our favorite budget-friendly grinder gets the job done with its numerous adjustable settings, its steel conical burrs that work to retain flavor and aroma, and an antistatic and dishwasher-safe borosilicate glass catcher.
Mikhail recommends wide-mouth and thin-lipped mugs for their enhanced comfort. This showstopper of a mug and saucer deserves to be displayed between coffee breaks.
Wide-mouth cups, as opposed to those that are narrow and tall in silhouette, tend to be most comfortable to sip from while also accommodating for ice (always cubes, says Mikhail). Coming in either red or blue glazed stoneware, this mug with old-world appeal gives you enough surface area for a comfortable sip and latte art display.
Our favorite splurge-worthy kettle, which has a precision gooseneck spout and an LCD screen, is also designer approved: “Fellow makes some of the best-looking and -functioning electric kettles on the market,” Wyatt says.
Coffee bar decor
For Kanfi, function always precedes fashion, but once you’ve got all your utilitarian gear squared away, it’s time to have some fun and “add some organic elements to the decor,” she says. “A wooden tray can be perfect for corralling things like cinnamon, sugar and syrups.” This one has a unique geometric design and cutouts for easy handling.
“A vase with fresh flowers adds a touch of life,” Kanfi says. Spruce up your coffee station with seasonal blooms or dried springs in this unique milk jug-inspired vase that’s right at home with the rest of your essentials.
It’s not a coffee station without a coffee table book (or two, or three). If you’ve got a few extra inches of open shelving space, consider a bright and beautiful hardcover book that’ll inspire a sense of wanderlust while you sip your morning Joe. Choose colors that tie in with your coffee accessories or introduce a whole new color palette for an exciting addition.
If you’re worried about earth or falling leaves creeping their way into your cup, a coffee station is the perfect opportunity for a lifelike faux plant. These four adorable potted succulents won’t overwhelm a cramped coffee space and add a touch of charm.
A coffee bar evokes all the high tea vibes. Keep this beauty front and center and use it to serve scones and small sandwiches with your hot beverages or simply serve as a statement piece.
How to set up an at-home coffee bar
Where you set up your coffee bar is just as important as how it functions. Wyatt says to choose a section of your kitchen countertop that’s only lightly used and arrange your coffee maker, espresso machine, grinder and other essentials in a neat row. Additional accessories like a scale, tamping mat or milk frother can live on a shelf above your equipment or in a nearby cabinet for easy access.
When designing your coffee corner, don’t only stick to what looks good; envision yourself living in the space and think about “how you’ll use [it] daily and how it fits into the flow of your kitchen,” Kanfi says. “Make sure everything is within easy reach, from your coffee machine to your favorite mug.”
Your equipment is at the foundation of your DIY coffee-making experience, impacting not just how your beverage tastes but also the time and effort required to make it. Wyatt says to closely research various types of coffee equipment before making any purchases. “Even brands like Nespresso offer a wide range of machine options, so it’s essential to evaluate your needs and educate yourself on what’s available to ensure you’re making a smart investment,” she says.
If you’re designing a coffee station in a space like a garage apartment or guesthouse, “don’t forget the practicalities,” Wyatt says. She recommends the likes of a dump sink for seamless cleanup, a small refrigerator to preserve milk and mix-ins, and access to filtered water (whether to meet equipment warranty requirements or simply to ensure the best possible taste based on your tap water quality).
Wyatt also reminds us that as you advance in your at-home coffee brewing skills, you’re bound to accumulate even more clutter over time. One simple tip? “Keep your coffee equipment and accessories within the same color family,” she says. “Whether you opt for black, white, gray, stainless steel or wood accents, maintaining a cohesive color scheme helps your coffee bar blend seamlessly into your kitchen or pantry.” For additional method to your madness, Stark recommends creating a dedicated space for each item by investing in, for example, trays inside drawers for smaller items like spoons and accessories.
While there’s no shortage of home decor and cabinetry trends worth consulting, your coffee bar should ultimately reveal your personal taste. “Don’t forget to personalize the area!” Kanfi says. “Whether it’s through decor, a collection of unique mugs or a special spot for your favorite beans, make sure it reflects your style and adds a touch of joy to your daily coffee ritual.”