How to Create a Coffee Bar at Home

Daily trips to your local coffee shop can take a toll on your wallet. Thankfully, it’s easy to get your daily buzz – and all the delicious flavor that comes with it – without leaving the house. Creating a coffee station, customized for your morning routine at home, will save you time and money. Plus, it’ll give you some serious barista cred.

We asked our in-house chef, Mayra Lopez, to spill the (coffee) beans on how to make a streamlined and practical at-home coffee station. Here are her tips:

Make the Space

“Designate a space to house all of your coffee essentials: your coffee machine, canisters to hold and organize ingredients, mugs, and stirrers,” advises Mayra. Including personalized mugs and coffee-themed décor will pump up the aesthetic appeal and make for a more inviting corner.

Get the Tools

“If your coffee machine doesn’t already come with one, buy a reusable coffee pod to refill and brew your favorite coffee in single-serve portions at a lower cost,” says Mayra. “This is also beneficial for the environment.” Other essential tools she recommends include an affordable handheld rechargeable frother to froth steamed milk, creamer, or syrup, as well as a silicone ice cube tray to store leftover coffee and make coffee ice cubes.

Craft Homemade Milks and Sweeteners

Store-bought syrups and milks don’t hold a candle to the homemade versions. “I like to make homemade syrups with less processed sweeteners, like honey or dates,” says Mayra. “And I like to infuse homemade nut milks with vanilla bean, lavender, cinnamon, cacao, and even edible rosebuds for added flavor,” she adds. We recommend making enough for the week, then labeling and refrigerating your concoctions in airtight containers so they’re ready when you are.

If you’ve found this blog post helpful, be sure to check out the rest in the series!

• How to Create a Smoothie Bar at Home
• How to Create a Juice Bar at Home