Coffee bar ideas are proving a popular kitchen trend, and for good reason. Whether it's the first flat white of the day or post-dinner espresso that cements your perfect hosting skills, coffee bars are becoming more sought-after than ever.
When considering your kitchen design, it makes sense to introduce designs and features that bring us joy, especially in the mornings. According to experts, an at-home coffee station design can make a lot of sense for households that want to make the most of their favorite coffee makers, not to mention, streamline the daily grind.
'I like coffee bars for many reasons,' shares Iliana Incandela, director of design at coffee brand Bruvi. 'If coffee is part of your daily routine or if multiple people in your home drink coffee, having a dedicated and organized area with easy access for everyone to get to their favorite coffee supplies is super helpful.'
12 coffee bar ideas – for your very own cafe station
The best modern-day coffee machines are key, but just as you favor a particular coffee shop over another, the aesthetic of the space, and the experience it creates, is essential to an invigorating experience.
'Coffee bars and areas are often a space that is overlooked in the overall design process for kitchen ideas, and by marrying function and aesthetics, it allows for appliances such as a coffee maker to be highlighted,' say principals of DISC Interiors, David John Dick and Krista Schrock. 'With coffee shops having such a moment in our culture, we love to bring this excitement to the home.'
1. Create a coffee bar with open shelving
There are so many ways to transform an underused area of your kitchen to create a stylish coffee bar. This could be an empty corner, an awkward alcove, or even an unused pantry, like in this coffee bar design.
'I took what was considered a butler’s pantry, removed the cabinet doors, and created shelving. I wanted a space in the kitchen that was functional but could still showcase my love for design and decor, but not make the space feel too much like a kitchen, especially because it can be seen from the dining room,' explains Drew Michael Scott, of Lone Fox.
By removing the cupboard doors, he was able to utilize floating shelves to display decor and aesthetic coffee essentials. 'You can fill in the empty shelves with some of your favorite décor pieces, candles, coffee table books, and artwork! This is where you can get your creativity show and utilize the space to create a little vignette within your kitchen,' he adds.
2. Move your coffee bar to the bedroom
Perhaps an unconventional idea, but if enjoying a cup of coffee is the first thing you look forward to when you wake up, why not move your coffee bar into your bedroom? Of course, it will depend on how much space you have, but a simple cupboard transformed into a coffee station can be a truly practical idea.
'I like the idea of a bedroom coffee bar, which can feel like a luxurious getaway locale or a posh hotel suite. Someone may want to do this if their bedroom happens to be located a fair distance from the kitchen, or if they want to enjoy more time in their bedroom and get as much as they can out of the space,' says Carrie Moore of Carrie Moore Interior Design.
'This particular coffee bar we designed features a coffee maker, a sink, a dishwasher, a wine fridge, and ample storage, all within a very small footprint. The use of rich walnut, marble, and polished nickel adds to and heightens the vibe, and we added a pair of custom walnut doors that can be closed to hide away the contents,' she explains.
3. Make your coffee bar storage stylish
Whether you're working with a smaller space or simply prefer the look of open storage, using aesthetic canisters and displaying your favorite kitchenware can create a fun, eclectic coffee bar design.
'If space is limited, consider designing laterally making full use of the wall height. Simple hooks for mugs, shelving for storage jars, and base cabinets can look stylish even in the smallest of spaces,' suggests interior designer Lauren Gilberthorpe.
In this kitchen corner, a free-standing coffee bar has been created using a butcher's block, floating shelves, and hooks for hanging mugs. This once-unused space has been transformed into a coffee corner that feels in keeping with the traditional architecture of the space.
We explore more coffee bar organization ideas in our separate piece.
4. Utilize an awkward corner
The appeal of coffee bar ideas is that they can be made to fit any size and style of space. Unlike usual kitchen cabinets and appliances, you don't have to adhere to a standard size, which means you can really utilize the small spaces that you're not sure what to do with.
This coffee bar is a perfect example. A small space next to the kitchen door is too small and out of the way to be used for normal kitchen appliances or storage, but it forms the perfect place to fit a modest coffee bar.
To ensure the coffee bar still feels connected to the rest of the kitchen, the same white wall tiles have been used, as have the same cabinet doors and hardware. Wooden floating shelves above offer a place to display decor, bringing in colors and textures that create a more inviting atmosphere.
5. Let your coffee bar showcase interesting tile designs
Much like a kitchen backsplash can frame an entire kitchen space, let the imperfect charm of a small square Zelige tile or another kitchen wall tile style create an intimate canvas for your coffee bar as the DISC Interiors design pair have done in this coffee bar.
'We love to showcase materials in a coffee bar, such as a dramatic handcrafted tiled backsplash that is properly lit, or a dramatic stone, marble, or quartzites.' The imperfect tile surface allows light to bounce and reflect around the space, adding intrigue, design depth, and luminosity.
6. Favor streamlined simplicity
A coffee bar addition should create streamlined surroundings, not another space for clutter. Approach yours with a 'less is more' philosophy to bring effortless-looking design essence to your nook.
'When styling a coffee bar on a project, I really focus on creating beautiful functionality,' says Laetitia Wajnapel, Interior Designer and founder of Cinquiéme Gauche who says that you do not want to 'overload' this area.
Tapping into your minimalist design eye might be most rewarding here: 'This is where it becomes important to select each item thoughtfully: if each individual functional item is also beautiful, then there is less need to add decorative stuff.'
7. Hide a coffee bar behind doors
Adding a coffee bar into your kitchen, dining, or open-plan living room space should elevate the look and use of the space. To keep it ticking over well, and busy in all the right ways, make sure you stay on top of decluttering and take organization seriously for a tidy aesthetic.
If you have a bigger household, where no one can settle on a preferred cappuccino cup style, not to mention, how to organize the kitchen shelving, lean into the notion of an invisible kitchen coffee bar using sliding kitchen cabinet doors instead.
Remember, that it will be opened on occasion: 'A simple but beautiful way to style your coffee bar is to include organization components that blend into the environment, like clear glass or acrylic,' says Iliana.
'I’m also a fan of marble or wood lazy Susans that can rotate for 360-degree access to supplies. The key is to keep with your personal style while making things accessible and clutter-free.' We love these classic wooden lazy Susans from Amazon and these marble and wood designs from Amazon, which are sure to work in a timeless kitchen space.
8. Let exquisite appliances steal the show
It is true, coffee makers are one of the rare appliances that are simply quite beautiful. And any machine that invites you to reminisce about an espresso taken at a coffee bar in Milan is a good one.
The style of maker will naturally depend on how you prefer to make coffee. Co-founders of Studio Gutow, Lisa Berman and Melissa Rohani, note how this can shape your style of coffee bar: 'We recommend investing in quality appliances to enhance and elevate your at-home coffee bar!'
Ranked the best overall coffee maker by our testers, this machine makes simply delicious coffee. Whether you're making it for yourself or the whole family, you're guaranteed flavorful filter coffee in a matter of minutes. While it might not be winning awards for the most aesthetic coffee maker in the world, it's certainly a great choice on a practical front.
One of the most versatile coffee makers, this machine is best for an authentic cafe-style brew. Great for beginners – who when testing made barista-quality coffee in it without breaking a sweat or dropping a bean, this machine is still a technical option, ideal for aspiring coffee connoisseurs.
A coffee machine perfect for brewing in a hurry, this single-serve coffee might not be the best for full flavors, but it's perfect for a grab-and-go coffee in the mornings. This can make quick, delicious coffee in seconds, but for milky coffees, you will need a milk frother and a bit of extra time.
9. Create an in-hutch coffee bar
We have mentioned how the hutch has been lending itself to relocation and reinvention in our homes over the years. If you do not have any space in the kitchen for a coffee bar, but do not quite want to demote its presence to the walk-in pantry or back kitchen, consider using your hutch as inspired by H&G's own Feng Shui expert, Suzanne Roynon.
Suzanne highlights how it frees up counter space in a compact kitchen, leaving more room for tasty coffee beans and for blending organizational paraphernalia into the landscape.
'While having all the appliances is our preference, the space should provide enough room for a coffee maker, storage for coffee and mugs, and ample counter space for stirring in milk,' adds Lisa and Mellisa. 'The key is to tailor the coffee bar to your specific needs and preferences, ensuring it remains a functional and enjoyable area!'
10. Create a coffee shop aesthetic
For a true coffee shop aesthetic, keep barware and coffee-making essentials styled, and well within reach.
'Display ingredients like syrups, sugars, and coffee pods in sophisticated or neutral containers that complement your decor. Use a covered canister or nearby drawer to store less attractive coffee tools and minimize clutter,' says Iliana.
For good looks, as well as longevity, choose neutral kitchen colors that are adaptable, this way you will not have to completely redress the space should you decide to bring an unexpected pop of color to your coffee nook.
11. Add flourishes of nature, and of the season
Iliana reminds us to tap into a fun element and be attuned with the time of year too, considering holiday additions and unique flourishes that make the space always feel with the times.
'Having fun glassware or seasonal mugs is always a great idea and seasonal decor touches such as fresh flowers or greenery to add extra personality.' Whether trailing from a higher shelf, or quaint, colorful and mingled in with an eclectic mix of espresso cups, a kitchen houseplant is sure to elevate your dedicated coffee corner.
12. Add interest with layers of texture
Be it through a marble wall tile or rustic decorative pots and ceramics, texture will bring movement and interest to a space, sure to help recreate your favorite coffee shop moments.
Keep subtle contrast at the forefront of your coffee bar aesthetic to complement a minimal trio of sugar jars with your best coffee machine, or even with a quaint French press, pour-over coffee maker, or pod machine.
This coffee bar is a wonderful example – a marble backsplash contrasts beautifully with the silver coffee machine, while open shelving adds an ideal storage space for displaying aesthetic coffee essentials and cups.
FAQs
Should I have a coffee bar in my kitchen?
You might still be thinking that a dedicated coffee station pushing the bar a little. We love espresso, but should we corner off even a small section of our kitchen or dining room only for a humble cappuccino?
These looks have solidified our thirst not just for a perfectly formed flat white, but also for a beautifully styled and curated coffee station wherein we might fain impersonate our favorite baristas.
'When you’re entertaining for the holidays or special occasions, creating a dedicated area for guests to serve themselves can be a great way to take some pressure off of the host,' says Incandela who notes that a single-serve brewer (like Bruvi) is an ideal coffee machine candidate to let everyone choose exactly what coffee they prefer.
Can you station a coffee bar in a small space?
There is no reason why not, so long as it is kept simple and uncluttered, it might even add more function to a busy kitchen: 'You can absolutely station a coffee bar in a small space,' says Iliana.
'It's all about getting creative with how you set up your supplies - there’s no wrong way to do this! Stacking or hanging can help achieve a functional and attractive coffee bar in a smaller footprint. For example, I’ve used a clear 3 tiered spice drawer organizer tucked under an acrylic computer riser to store coffee pods, and placed all my glassware, mugs, sugar and syrups on top.'
For small kitchens with little counter space, make sure you put kitchen cabinets to good use: 'If working with a smaller counter space, perhaps a kitchen with no dedicated coffee bar (like my own kitchen!), keep things even simpler,' Laëtitia tells H&G.
'Anything that doesn't need to be on the countertop can be stored either in the cabinets above or below or in a dedicated coffee drawer.' When it comes to how many coffee syrups is too many, only you will know, but Wajnapel recommends a lighter approach for small spaces: 'I don't think anyone needs five different syrup dispensers as part of a home coffee set up!''
What should I have in my coffee station?
The coffee maker will, of course, be a defining part of your coffee station design. Do not be put off thinking you need to spend into the thousands, as an inexpensive coffee maker, that is good-looking, and of good quality, might still be the starting point you need to elevate the space.
'A good coffee station to me needs a bean grinder, a coffee kettle, your coffee machine,' shares Laëtitia. 'To this, you can add a couple of interesting mugs or cups, a vessel containing spoons and another vessel containing your coffee beans or pods if you use an espresso machine. To add a little color to the area, you could keep a single flower in a bud vase somewhere on the counter. If every component of your "coffee making kit" is visually pleasing, there really is no need to add much!'
Remember too that whether you keep a small pod or drip coffee maker, you will need water nearby, consider this to ensure your kitchen layout remains streamlined. 'Ensure the sink is conveniently located near water sources and provide accessible electrical outlets for essential appliances. Invest in key items like a quality coffee maker, a small sink with filtered water, and a compact drink fridge for milk and extras – these form the core of your coffee bar,' adds Lisa.
Getting all of your coffee bar essentials in order is just the start. How you stage the surroundings might not grind the beans themselves, but it will play a pivotal role in bringing flair to the illustrious event that is making coffee, be it bulletproof coffee, a relaxing morning latte, or vivacious post-dinner espresso.
Consider where you are carving out space for your coffee bar and lean into the surroundings. A retro grinder might be the best match for a traditional kitchen that wants a modern accent, while if you have a white kitchen, adorned with marble countertops, and a minimalist aesthetic, an elegant machine in stainless steel will be a natural continuation of its heightened level of luxury.
