A coffee bar can add a cozy feel to your apartment, but you may need help figuring out where to start. Luckily, a coffee bar is an opportunity to showcase your style in a practical environment, so there are no rules for coffee bar styling.
Choose Your Coffee Style
Before you can start styling your coffee bar, you’ll need to choose your coffee brewing method. Whether you prefer espresso, cold brew, pour-over, drip, or French press, coffee makers can fit all budgets and lifestyles.
Pick your machine
If you don’t already have a preferred style of coffee, do some digging to find the type that works best for you. Each brewing method produces a unique taste, strength, and caffeine content but requires different coffee grounds and upkeep.
Many machine drip coffee makers are programmable if you don’t like to spend too much time making fancy coffee. You can prep your coffee in advance, set the machine to brew at a specific time, and wake up to the smell of a fresh pot of coffee. Cold brew coffee makers are another easy way to make your coffee overnight and ensure a quick coffee-making process in the morning.
Pick your beans
Once you pick your coffee maker, stock your coffee bar with coffee beans or grounds. Make sure you know what type of coffee your machine needs – a French press and machine drip coffee maker will require different ground sizes to achieve the perfect strength. A coffee grinder can grind whole beans to different sizes if you prefer fresh grounds.
You’ll also need to choose your roast. Roasts range from light to dark, with the caffeine level decreasing as the roast gets darker. If you like the taste of coffee but not the caffeine, decaf beans or grounds are the way to go.
Find the Perfect Spot
Once you’ve picked out your coffee maker, it’s time to find a spot for it.
Consider your daily routine when finding the perfect spot for your coffee bar. Where will it be the most convenient while you make breakfast? Where will it not obstruct your cooking? If you use any machine to brew your coffee, place your coffee bar close to an outlet to avoid cords dangling over your kitchen space.
If you don’t have a lot of counter space, consider purchasing a mobile kitchen island. A small island can be tucked into the corner or placed next to your kitchen counter to extend the counter space. I bought a rolling kitchen cart for a coffee bar in my own apartment, and not only does it leave extra counter space for me to use when I’m cooking dinner or baking cookies, but it also provides extra storage space!
Add Accessories
Now that you have the bones of your coffee bar, add some tools and accessories to make your morning coffee routine run smoother.
Set up your prep area
If you like to add flavoring to your coffee, keep syrups and sugar nearby, along with stirrers so the flavoring dissolves into it. Electric milk frothers are an easy way to add texture to your coffee if you like milk foam.
Get some cups
Stock your bar with mugs and cups. If you like to take your coffee on the go, buy a few reusable to-go cups and straws to keep on hand. Not only is it more sustainable to use washable cups and straws than disposable cups and straws, but it’s also a great way to save money!
Organize and Decorate
Coffee bars can require a lot of equipment, so organization is key. Add some storage containers for coffee scoops, stirrers, straws, and machine-specific tools to keep things where you can find them. I use a colorful mug to store my coffee scoop and espresso tamper because it keeps my tools clean and where I need them while repurposing extra dishware.
A coffee bar is also an opportunity to decorate! Add plants and artwork to liven up the space and express your style. I use my coffee bar to display my favorite trinkets and some cookbooks.
Keep It Clean
While it’s easy to forget to clean your coffee bar when you’re running out the door, regular maintenance helps ensure that your machines, tools, and cups are in good shape.
Coffee can get messy, so make sure you wipe down the surface of your coffee bar to remove stains and stray grounds. Frequently cleaning the surface of your coffee bar helps keep the mess from becoming unmanageable and helps your coffee bar stay looking amazing.
Remember to clean any machines, tools, and cups regularly. If you have a machine with a water reservoir, wash it regularly to avoid mold growth. Throw away or compost used coffee grounds and rinse out reusable coffee filters after each use. Keep a copy of your coffee maker’s manual! It has important information about routine cleaning that will help keep your coffee brewing just the way you like it.
No matter your coffee preferences, adding a coffee bar to your apartment is the perfect way to keep all your morning necessities in one spot while adding an element of luxury. By being creative in styling your coffee bar and maintaining it on a day-to-day basis, you’ll start each day at a cozy niche in your apartment!
