If you're a caffeine junkie, there’s nothing better than a trip to your favourite local coffee shop. Nothing beats cosying up in a comfortable chair and taking first sip of your favourite blend - but what if we told you that you can recreate this experience without having to leave the comfort of your own home?
If you're a Pinterest addict like we are here at YourHomeStyle, you might have noticed that home coffee stations have been sweeping the nation. Building your own barista stand is easier than you think, and means you can get your hands on your dream cup of coffee, whether it's a simple americano or the trendiest dalgona, in a cosy, café-like environment!
Read on to find out where to buy everything you'll need to stock up your coffee corner, and a step-by-step guide to creating ultimate at-home coffee station.. And if you're wondering how to make good coffee at home, check out our buyer's guide to the best coffee machines on the market right now.
Five must-have buys for your home coffee station
How to make an at-home coffee station
Five must-have buys for your home coffee station
Coffee beans
Lavazza Qualità Rossa coffee beans
Well, this one goes without saying, but it wouldn't be much of a coffee station without coffee! If you're a purist and you love to grind your own beans, there are plenty of options available online to suit all tastes. If you're not sure where to start, Lavazza is Italy's most popular coffee brand, so their beans are a good bet for an authentic taste of an Italian corner café. There are several varieties to choose from, ranked by intensity and suitability for different types of equipment - but if you're not sure, their classic Qualità Rossa beans are a versatile option.
Coffee pods
If you are one of the many Brits who now relies on a Tassimo, Nespresso or one of the other pod coffee machines on the market to get their barista-style caffeine hit, make sure you stock up on all your favourite styles. We've rounded up some of the best coffee pod sets on the market to get you started!
Coffee alternatives
Taylors of Harrogate Assorted Speciality Teas Selection Gift Box
Whether you like to mix up your hot beverage routine or just want to accommodate guests who aren't coffee-lovers, it's best to make sure you have some coffee alternatives on hand. Why not invest in a selection of teas, so visitors can have their choice of traditional breakfast tea, fruity blends, fragrant Earl Grey or soothing chamomile?
This set above is from Taylors of Harrogate, one of the leading names in quality hot beverages, and includes eight different types of tea (48 bags in total) in a stylish black box that will look lovely in your coffee station. Plus, all their tea is sourced from independently certified farms and co-operatives, so it's an ethical choice, too.
Hot chocolate
Some cocoa powder or hot chocolate sachets are also a good idea, especially for younger guests. If you've got a real sweet tooth, consider investing in a hot chocolate maker like Hotel Chocolat's famous Velvetiser (we reviewed it here)
Syrups
For the full café experience, add a few flavoured syrups to your coffee station line-up. Monin is the market leader when it comes to flavoured syrups, and their Premium Coffee Syrup Gift Set (shown above) includes three classic flavours - Madagascan vanilla, caramel and hazelnut - to add a touch of sweetness to your lattes and cappucinos!
Be aware that these are mini 50ml bottles, so if you're a big fan of a certain flavour, it's probably worth investing in a full-size bottle!
Biscuits
Lotus Biscoff
They're a classic for a reason! These days we've gone Biscoff-mad - you'll find Biscoff cheesecakes, puddings and even spreads in supermarkets up and down the country. But as the name implies, the Belgian biscuits, with their distinctive flavour of syrup and cinnamon, were originally designed to be the perfect accompaniment to coffee - and to this day, they still haven't been bettered!
How to make an at-home coffee station
Step 1 – Create a coffee station cabinet
If you already have a free, uncluttered section of worktop in a convenient space, this is the perfect place to start building your coffee bar. You’ll want to make sure that the area above your worktop is not cupboarded, and the units below are empty.
If, like many of us, you don’t have a free area of worktop that can be utilised, look into purchasing a small freestanding cabinet (IKEA sell versions that range from £45 - £110) or create your own by fixing one crate on top of the other with screws, and adding a sheet of plywood to act as a worktop.
If you are working with a small space, you could also try using a kitchen trolley - this can then double up as a coffee and tea trolley when you have guests! This wooden and metal kitchen trolley from Maison du Monde ticks all the right boxes.
Step 2- Install open shelving
Every barista needs to have quick access to their coffee beans and flavoured syrups, so open shelving is the way to go with an at home coffee station. You can also use these shelves to add coffee mugs and to jazz up your coffee station with decorative items such as art prints or potted plants.
Install the desired amount of shelves at a height that allows you to easily reach whatever’s on them. Sturdy, wooden shelves are a good bet, or go for metallic floating shelves for a more modern and seamless look.
If you live in a rented property and can't drill into the wall, then try a free-standing shelving unit like this metal shelf unit from La Redoute. You could also use a small wooden crate (without slats - wine crates work well) stood on its side on top of your coffee bar cabinet to create another level of surfacing.
See our quick and easy tutorials on shelving here:
Step 3 - Add a coffee mug rack
No coffee station is complete without an integrated mug rack and the good news is that they are so easy to install. This zig zag design mug rack from Amazon is sturdy and simple to put up. Or, repurpose an old coat rack by fixing it under your lowest floating shelf. You could also create your own mug rack by screwing hooks into a sturdy wooden batten and affixing it to the wall.
- The best reusable coffee cups on the high street right now
- Stylish glass coffee mugs to add to your collection
Mug trees are a good alternative for your coffee station if you aren't able to drill into the walls. We like this wooden and marble mug tree from Anthropologie, but there's a wide range of choices online.
Step 4 – Organise your coffee station storage
To prevent your coffee station from becoming just another cluttered cupboard, you’ll need to install handy storage solutions on both the worktop and inside the unit. Drawer dividers, as shown above, will help to keep things organised and make grabbing ingredients and tools quick and easy.
For storing coffee syrup bottles, we recommend using wine racks. This wooden, wall-affixed bottle rack from Graham & Green would look fab, or, for something a bit more colourful, this geometric wine rack from Fy! is super cute.
A lazy Susan also works really well to store barista style syrups or bags of ground coffee in a cupboard –turn it to get easy access to what you need, rather than reaching over things.
For extra mug storage, install an expandable wardrobe rail inside your cupboard or crate and attach hooks so you can hang your mugs up, instead of stacking them in piles.
Step 5 – Add coffee-making equipment
The equipment you choose for your coffee station will largely depend on how you like your coffee - cafetiere, aeropress, French press, espresso machine... the choices are endless! It's also worth thinking about the surface your equipment will be on. If you're working with a cabinet, you can safely add a large, barista-style coffee machine. If you're working with a trolley or shelving unit, however, picking a lighter machine such as a pod coffee machine or an aeropress is perhaps wiser.
If you're not sure which coffee machine is best for you, check out our guide to the best coffee machines on sale in the UK. And don't forget to pick up a couple of reusable coffee cups to make sure you can take your brew on any walks or picnic gatherings.
Step 6 – Decorate your coffee station
This is the part where you can really get creative! Choose your favourite café style aesthetic; rustic and cosy? Sleek and Scandi? Use your favourite café aesthetic as a jumping board for decorating your station.
Why not fill glass jars with your favourite coffee toppings and accompaniments? Italian coffee biscuits and marshmallows look amazing in large glass jars, whilst cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar work well when displayed in small mason jars or decorative canisters with a teaspoon.
