Caffeine addicts know how important it is to have a working coffee machine or a Keurig in their kitchens — no matter how little countertop space there is!
Rather than shoving your machine into a corner or along the backsplash of your countertop, consider creating your own dedicated coffee station that not only looks great but also gives yourself (and your guests) a fast and easy way to prepare a hot cup.
A coffee station is just what it sounds like. Similar to what coffee shops have apart from the cash register area, a coffee station is a small little area where everything you need is right there in front of you — from sugar packets and creamer to K-cups and spoons.
Of course, the one you put in your apartment will be customized to your tastes and will look a lot nicer! Here’s how to create your own in just minutes.
First, find a spot on your countertop (or on a small table if you have the space for it in your kitchen) where you know you can fit your coffee machine. In my case, I chose to put my giant Keurig at the end of the counter, right beside the refrigerator.
The major piece you’ll need in order to create some separation from the rest of the stuff you put on your countertop is a tray. I chose a wooden one with boxed edges for its nice size and simple look.
Now, there’s an electrical outlet right behind my tray that doesn’t look very nice, so I decided to add a decorative mirror to hide it. Wall art works just as good, too, and helps add some height to the shorter accessories you have placed on the tray.
Depending on what you prefer to put in your coffee, you can style your tray however you like! Just be careful not to go overboard, since trying to cram too much stuff onto your tray can make it look cluttered and difficult to grab what you need.
You may want to use a tiered tray for smaller things like sugar packets and K-cups (if you use a Keurig like me). The tiered tray will save you a bunch of room and add some height to your display.
I also decided to add a fancy container to hold some spoons and elevated them by placing one of the K-cup packages underneath it. This ended up being a great way to add storage and height at the same time!
To finish it off, stack some of your nicest-looking coffee mugs, add a sugar bowl and even provide an optional pitcher to use for milk or cream when you’ve got guests coming over (as opposed to sending them to look in the fridge).
And that’s it! Here’s what it looks like when it’s all done:
Everyone’s coffee station is going to look a little different since it’s all about accessorizing, but I highly recommend both the basic tray and tiered tray I used to achieve this look. You could even take a different approach by using this same idea for a tea station, complete with a teapot and other tea-specific accessories, if you’re not much of a coffee drinker.
When you’re coffee station is done, you won’t have to fumble around in your kitchen cabinets and drawers for all the dishes and ingredients you need. It’s both stylish and functional!
Speaking of coffee, are you on the hunt for a new coffee table? Here’s why you should consider investing in a multifunctional coffee table for your apartment.