Tips To Create The Ultimate Coffee Station In Your Kitchen

When you're tired and groggy in the morning, the last thing you probably want to do is fumble around finding all the parts of your coffee-making toolkit, much less roll your eyes at the messy layout. For coffee lovers, though, there's good news: We're now living the era of great, stylish, and affordable home coffee stations that'll have you craving cappuccino right in your own kitchen. Even a small space can boast a wonderful coffee station, as well. It just takes a bit of forethought. 

No matter what, of course, the key initial step to designing an amazing coffee station is deciding where you're going to place it. Generally, you'll probably want to have at least two feet available to fit your supplies. While an existing kitchen countertop or a kitchen island can work, you could also invest in a small table that is used solely to host your coffee equipment. And when you get started, it's integral to start by figuring out where you're keeping the bigger, heavier items, whether it's a traditional coffee maker, a high-quality espresso machine from Amazon, or fancier brewing methods like a French press, Chemex, or AeroPress. From there, you'll want to take stock of your coffee-related items and make sure they're in the same location (e.g., your filters, mugs, spoons, stir sticks, sugar, and so on). 

So, let's sip on the possibilities. There are countless ways to set up a coffee station in your home. Because while some people prioritize accessibility and functionality above all else, others go the extra mile to create a stylish coffee nook that reminds them of their favorite local coffee shop.

It may take some creativity to figure out how to add your chosen supplies to your coffee station while balancing accessibility, organization, and style. Fortunately, there are a lot of great organizational products you can buy that will help provide your setup with these elements. For example, while you might've previously just kept a stack of mugs next to your espresso machine (because where else can they go?), you could install hooks to display them, place them on a floating shelf screwed in above the machine, or tuck them away in a drawer just below your setup. Consider purchasing the genius coffee mug storage gadget that allows cleaner mug stacking.  

You could also buy an all-in-one shelving solution for more space. The Bestier Coffee Bar Shelf, for example, could be placed directly above your coffee machine and hold all of your related supplies including mugs, tea bags, stir sticks and more, thereby freeing up your counter space in a big way. Alternatively, you may want to organize these supplies with the help of a cheaper basket, such as the ALELION Coffee Station Organizer with Removable Dividers. As this product shows, you can still achieve that coffee shop look while not spending too much to get it. It's also worth browsing for these items at a local thrift store, in case you find unique designs that perfectly fit your space. 

If you want to get products out of their retail packaging, consider buying glass containers or metal tins, either of which can hold coffee grounds and add-ins such as sugar. If you go this route, add labels to the various containers to improve organization. 

For the most part, coffee stations live or die on functionality. That said, design is important, as well, and you may also want to add a few small pieces of fun decor. Doing so can help your coffee station mesh better with the style of your kitchen, as well as giving this special little nook a cozier feel. 

For example, if you're trying to achieve that chic coffee shop look, you may want to grab a small chalkboard sign. What you write with chalk — the word "COFFEE," a Wi-Fi password, or even a picture — is up to you. From there, don't be afraid to dress up the area with a small potted plant, a figurine in the shape of a coffee cup, or a piece of coffee-themed artwork.  

In addition to achieving the aesthetic you're looking for, when planning your coffee station, you may want to walk through your routine to determine exactly how the placement of each item will affect your process. You may find that you'll want to make a few adjustments based on this, so try to get the essentials hammer out before you add decorations. The possibilities are endless, but by taking a careful approach and thinking through your design, you'll be able to create an easy-to-use coffee station that will make it easy to get a perfect cup of coffee quickly and beautifully, even on the groggiest of mornings.