Coffee Station Ideas
This weekend, I spent some time cleaning our espresso machines and tidying up the coffee station. While I was elbow deep in coffee grounds and forgotten spills, I thought it might be helpful to take photos and share how I keep it all organized. I like to create a simple system so that everything has its own place and items are easily accessible when we’re using the space. As a stylist, it’s also important that it looks beautiful and inviting to me, but more so, that it functions well for our needs.
Pull-Out Drawers
The doors below the counter open up two large sliding drawers. This make it incredibly easy to see all the things at once instead of having to scramble through a deep cupboard on your knees. I keep the most frequently used items on the top shelf and the lower one is reserved for things we use on occasion, like the coffee grinder or French press.
Coffee & Tea Storage
We buy our coffee in bulk and half the bag fits perfectly in this flip top container. It was originally filled with pistachios and it makes me happy to re-purpose things. We don’t take sugar in our coffee, but I keep a few glass bottles for flavored syrups on hand for when we have guests. Extra tea bags are kept in Ikea jars and assorted espresso powder, small bags of coffee and teas, are stored in white Ikea Kuggis boxes. I actually use these boxes in many areas of our home. They come in several sizes.
Corral the Collections
Being a prop stylist, I’ve amassed a large French press collection. The ones we use are kept on the lower shelf while the others are stored away in one of my prop closets. It may seem like a lot to some, but for my job, I prefer to keep them on hand instead of purchasing a new one for every photoshoot.
As for coffee mugs and cappuccino cups, I like to buy them in two colors - white and charcoal. Visually, a limited color palette will help a space feel less cluttered and more streamlined. The exception I make here is with handcrafted pieces because they add so much character! For quick espresso shots, we keep a stack of Duralex on top of one of the machines.
There are a few vintage finds, a Swedish copper tea kettle, and an antique silver pitcher that we use for adding water to the espresso machines. Water bottles, thermoses, and to-go coffee cups are all stored together.
I also like to keep a supply of small linen cocktail napkins for placing between a saucer and cup, or just under a hot mug to prevent fingers from burning. I think it makes a nice thoughtful touch.
The tea Drawer
Inside the tea drawer, I store individual tea packets in a wire utensil tray. A shallow wood bowl found in France is used to keep the stevia bottles from rolling around, and a few small ironstone creamers are easy to grab when setting a breakfast tray to take outside or for an individual serving of cream when a someone stops by for coffee.
Handcrafted Items
On the open marble shelf I like to display pottery pieces I’ve made or collected over the years, and a stack of vintage wood salad bowls. The metal riser (similar one here) I found at a local store years ago, comes in handy for small cups because they easily slip underneath, and it also allows me to add vertical height. I’ve sourced a few similar items for you at the end of the post!
Vintage Finds
The best way to add unique character to a space is with vintage, and a coffee station is no exception. I like having small French spoons for stirring and a vintage glass shaker for adding cinnamon to drinks. The collection of breadboards add warmth to the space and have come in handy as a quick serving tray for taking coffee out on the patio.
You can find unique storage solutions (boxes, baskets, glass jars, etc.) at practically any flea market or thrift store. It can be helpful to keep a list of drawer measurements on hand for when you come across a great piece you think might work.
Parting Thoughts
Creating this impromptu post reminded me of how blogging used to feel for me. Before things like content calendars and analytics were a thing, I would just share parts of my day I thought might be inspiring to others. For those of you who have been around for awhile, I hope this post felt that way for you as well. And if you’re new here, welcome.
I’d love to answer any questions in the comments. It’s my favorite way of connecting with you.
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