How to Build Your Own Coffee Bar at Home
Espresso-based drinks are a common sight during nearly any public outing. But drinking coffee shop espresso drinks regularly can easily put a dent in your pocket when they are $3 to $5 a drink. This fact is pushing some people to build their own coffee bar setup at home which, if used frequently, cuts costs significantly over purchasing drinks from the local coffee shop. The key to a successful at-home coffee bar is selecting the best location in your home to makes brewing your coffee drinks convenient and pleasurable. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Espresso machine
- Cups
- Selected espresso accessories
- Shelf (optional)
- Screws with wall anchors (optional)
- Screwdriver (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Select a space in your home for the coffee bar. While the kitchen and dining rooms seem like the most logical spaces, consider other spaces such as the bedroom if you long for the comfort of a fresh cup of coffee as you get out of bed -- like a nice hotel in your everyday life. A patio or home office are other spaces to look at, depending on where you regularly drink your coffee as well as where space will permit a small refrigerator to keep the ingredients fresh and close by.
-
2
Designate the furniture piece to use as the bar itself. This may be part of a buffet table or kitchen counter. You might also repurpose a baker's block, a side table or a large shelving unit for an office coffee bar. Measure the piece to confirm there is adequate space for the espresso and coffee machine and room to install a shelf above or below if needed for cups and accessories. Measure space for a mini-refrigerator.
-
-
3
Purchase an espresso and coffee maker if you do not already own one. There are manual, semi-automatic and automatic styles; get one that matches your expertise and interest in convenience and speed in the espresso-brewing process. Ensure you have an adequate coffee grinder, either as part of the espresso maker or a separate appliance, for the freshest cup of espresso.
-
4
Set up your espresso and coffee machine in the designated area. Set up the mini-fridge, if you are using one. Install shelving if shelves where needed, with screws and anchors as reinforcement. Make sure the shelving provides enough room for you to work in the space and to allow the espresso machine to operate safely. Don't jam the machine on the edge of the bar, where it could fall.
-
5
Put the accessories in their new places. Use hooks that screw into the bottom of the shelving to hang cups if you do not want to stack them on the shelf. Common accessories include filters, frothing cup, small whisk, cups and saucers. Round out your home coffee bar and place ingredients in their designated areas -- sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and chocolate on a shelf or the bar and milk in your mini-refrigerator.
-
6
Make your first cup of coffee to confirm you have everything you need for the process close at hand in as well as to test your setup for convenience and comfort. Remove and adjust items as necessary to improve the ease of use of your new home coffee bar.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
