The Coffee & Tea Station
Adding a coffee station to the kitchen was a given, being that The Man is Italian and pretty much bleeds espresso. He can drink coffee unlike anyone I’ve ever met. I don’t know how he does it.
We positioned it next to the refrigerator and walk-in pantry and it’s turned out to be a good location, with quick easy access to the half & half and skim milk. For the recessed shelf, I decided to use marble in lieu of maple like the cabinets, and had a 2″ mitered edge added to match all the counters. With the other open shelves in the kitchen being salvaged wood, I think the unexpected mix of the marble shelf is a nice compliment to the space. The drawers and two large pull-out trays below provide plenty of storage for assorted coffees, teas and other accoutrements.
We used to have a Keurig but it broke about a month ago and we’re not sure if we want to buy another one. I’ve been looking for other options. We have a Nespresso Citiz in the studio which I love, but we need something that makes full cups. I’ve had my eye on this one because it’s fully automatic and makes everything – espresso, cappuccino, and full cups of coffee. Do any of you have one? Would love your feedback since I’m trying to justify the expense.
In the meantime, I’ve been making some really good cappuccinos with our old trusty Breville.
I try to keep the set up on the counters clean and simple. So there’s room to put down your cup to add cream, or a small plate for a treat. A few months ago, I started making my own flavored coffee syrups (I’ll share recipes in my next post!) and love using these pour bottles for them.
The marble cake stand was purchased with a birthday gift card, but I see now that it’s only available in the cupcake size…of course, anything cupcake is always adorable.
The teapot is an official Brown Betty. They’re just so classic and I’ve probably had them for 15 years and they still look great. Coffee beans are stored in a Weck Tulip jar and a small breadboard keeps mugs stacked nicely. They’re from Crate and Barrel but have been discontinued. And I really love these teacups and saucers, which I use for cappuccinos and lattes. The small espresso cups are Duralex Picardie and the two little green ones are thrifted.
The funny thing about this whole coffee business, is that I didn’t start drinking it until a few years ago. My husband would ask me for years if I’d like to have a cup…always “no thank you” until one day I fell succumb to his spell and now he has me slightly addicted. I hope he’s happy. 😉
Although I’m not an every day kind of coffee lover, I do like a warm cup a few times a week.
How about you? How do you take your coffee?
PS. Between posts you can find me on Instagram (heatherbullard) sharing highlights of daily life.
29 Responses to “The Coffee & Tea Station”
Like Starbucks and I think the coffee niche is perfect.
I believe you’re in good company with the Starbucks affection! 🙂
ive always done the same thing to stack glassware (mostly my massive mason jar collection) but I do it on the cheap by merely using 1/2″ plywood cut into custom sizes and quickly sanded. No stain, no finish. Easy, tidy.
Love the plywood idea! We’ve always got some of that lying around. Next time, for sure! Thanks for the tip!
OH Megan, that is a great idea! I am positively addicted to glassware (or at least I was but we live in a small house and I recently took 90% in to a local consignment shop, literally 90% which causes my hubby to shake his head since we still have more than enough for our little family since the older boys moved out and across the country!) That being said I still have plenty to stack if you take in all of our mason jars. Do you can in your jars? If so do you stack them with the plywood spacer? Thanks!
Heather,
your coffee station is magnificent!! I too love coffee! I think since birth but wasn’t allowed the caffeine as a young child as it kept me awake at night and made me cranky! How do you like your Breville? Can you think of any smaller machines on the market you would recommend? As much as I love coffee my husband LOVES drinking dessert! However I am slowly winning him over to less sugar and cream by introducing him to the pour-over method, a method my mother has used since my childhood.
Have a lovely day!
Hi Peggy,
I really like the Breville. We’ve had it for several years with zero problems. Clean up takes a minute or two after making a latte since you have to wipe the frother wand and sleeve down, and clean out the espresso holder. But with a routine, it becomes pretty quick.
For a smaller machine, I couldn’t recommend the Nespresso Citiz enough! Almost no clean up and delicious every time! 🙂
Heather–love your little coffee niche! In my coffee station, I keep a mug with antique silver spoons for stirring (love to collect different patterns.) I’m curious about your brown sugar cubes–are they organic?
Hi Shar! They’re raw cane sugar cubes. I buy this brand and also like these. So much better than spilled sugar all over the counter. 😉
I’ve very much enjoyed seeing all that you’ve done in your kitchen. It’s simply beautiful. If your interested I just read an article on Keurigs and I found it interesting enough to give me pause before buying. http://getbetterwellness.com/?p=6503
Thanks, Anna. I’ll be sure and check out the article! I’d really rather not buy another Keurig…just wish the fully automatic machines weren’t so expensive! Maybe I’ll just stick with what we have and do more French press. 😉
Your coffee/tea station is beautiful, functional and so nicely styled, Heather. I love the syrup bottles you found. We built a new home last year and I had a coffee station built with pocket doors and a pullout shelf for the coffeemaker. The microwave goes on a shelf above it and mugs in the cupboard right next to it; built-in/slide out trash goes below. A hot mocha or hot tea first thing in the morning eases me into the day!
We thought about adding pocket doors too! I think they are so charming…I love the idea of a secret little nook hiding behind them. I’m betting yours is lovely!
I am not a coffee drinker but also have an Italian husband who loves his coffee. We do not have a Keurig and he prefers his coffee perked on a stove top in one of those vintage aluminum percolators. I recently saw a Sowden softbrew infuser at Williams Sonoma and wondered if anyone has tried this coffee “maker”. As always, a truly inspiring post and peek at your lovely home. I am slightly obsessed!
PS Never did find that “Soap” etched glass bottle from one of your instagram pics..sigh.
I’ll have to look into the one at WS. Haven’t heard of a Snowden before. My husband also uses the aluminum one…must be an Italian thing!
The soap bottle is still available at Target. Here’s a direct link for you of the one I bought. 🙂
http://www.target.com/p/caldrea-16-ounce-citron-ginger-hand-soap/-/A-14249755#prodSlot=dlp_medium_1_5&term=caldrea+dnu
Nespresso has a new machine VirtuoLine that uses different pods and make an 8 ox coffee.
I recently read an article by a microbiologist who was not keen on Keurig for health reasons…water sits in plastic hose and the plastic cups that the coffee is extracted from she claims is harmful.
In my house it’s Nespresso…I even travel with mine if going my car…I’m that in love with it.
I love my Nespresso as well! I have a friend who travels with hers as well…you’re not alone in with your infatuation. 🙂 We’re trying to find an all-in-one machine that doesn’t use pods.
I believe that same article was mentioned above by a previous reader. Good info to know! 🙂
Heather,
We’re coffee enthusiasts as well. We have a slightly older version of your Breville but I was tired of having it and the drip maker on the counter. Our kids gave us the Nespresso Vertuoline because it makes a full cup and espresso. Here’s my problem, I think the pods are so expensive that we use it less than we thought. (It’s terrible to be so thrifty, but I can’t help it) Anyway, I’ve heard good things about the Jura. Good luck. I love the coffee station, maybe if I had one of those I wouldn’t be unsettled with the appliance surplus on the counters. 🙂
Karen
I feel the same way about the pods, that and the obvious daily waste of plastic gave me a slightly guilty conscience. We still have the Citiz but don’t use it every day. Guess I’ll have to save my previous pod money for a new machine. 😉
My son splurged on the Jura and is very sorry he did. The frother doesn’t work, even after returning it to Jura for service. I have the identical Breuville to yours and love it. It’s our second Breuville however the first one is still going strong (snort) in its new hand-me-down home. I wanted a newer one just because. It has worked like a charm for us!
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. And with the spendy price tag, I would be completely bummed. Maybe there are lower priced alternatives for a fully automatic. Guess I’ll have to do more research….
I have a Jura and it is one my life’s great pleasures. I know that sounds a bit absurd, but I honestly think about making my first cup of coffee when I open my eyes in the morning. I love everything about it, the ritual, the smell, the taste, and the Jura. I have given up coffee for months at a time, but have since come to the conclusion that life is not as sweet without it.
You’re swaying me with your Jura love…. 😉 So glad to hear someone really likes theirs!
Love everything about this! Especially that you’re making your syrups! We love our espresso in this house and like your husband, my very Italian husband bleeds it. We’ve had a Francis Francis for 10 years and use it at least 2x a day. There’s something about the manual machines that just make an espresso taste better than the automatics in my humble opinion. The sounds and smell are like a little morning symphony!
Coffee brewing is definitely a heavenly scent. And movie popcorn. lol
The Francis Francis machines are so very Italian! And cute! 🙂
I love my coffee EVERYDAY! Starbucks blondes are my blends of choice but I also love a good Trader Joe’s blend. Black is the way we take it….no frills just simple and to the point.
That’s the way my Mom drinks it. Never knew how she could do it. Hats off to you both! 😉
I have to have a tiny splash of cream and a very scant teaspoon of sugar. Almost black, right?
what an awesome idea – I want one in my kitchen too! I actually have a corner set up in a similar way but yours looks way prettier!
Beautiful…as usual!
Beautiful & functional – the perfect pairing! Reminds me of our visits to European pastry shops. I have the same pour bottles, which I use for olive oil, and love them!
Comments are closed.