Drinking coffee is a ritual for most of us, and there’s often a great deal involved in the process. Whether you brew your coffee in a traditional coffee pot, use a french press, or make a single cup at a time with a Keurig machine there’s often a number of necessary items needed to get your perfect morning-wake-up-call-in-a-cup just right.
This ritual often happens with sleepy eyes and bed head (at least that’s how it happens in my house), so it’s nice to get started with a beautifully organized set-up. In my personal opinion, nothing says “good morning” like a great coffee station.
So let’s talk about coffee station essentials!
1. The tray – A tray is so key people. What is it about a tray that instantly makes a group of separate items look cohesive and organized? It’s sort of magical. A tray definitely helps to keep all the stuff you need to make your coffee from looking cluttered.
2. Canisters – Corralling them on a tray rather than keeping them tucked into a cabinet makes your morning ritual simpler and frees up cabinet space. Look for ones that have an airtight seal to keep your coffee grounds and sugar fresh.
3. Tins/Boxes – This is sort of an optional essential depending on your preferences. If you keep packets of sugar or tea bags, vintage tins or boxes are perfect for storing them in a pretty way but keeping them within reach. And having a lid on a box or tin means having a place to stack something which makes really good use of your tray square footage.
4. Teapot/Creamer – While a teapot is great for tea (obviously), I love to fill a teapot with creamer when entertaining because typically a regular creamer never holds enough cream for my peeps. And even if on the daily you like to grab your milk/creamer from the fridge keeping a decorative creamer/ teapot on your coffee station is still, in my opinion, a necessity. For the everyday, use it as a vase or decorative addition, so that when you want to use it for its intended purpose you won’t have to to hunt around your kitchen to find it.
5. K-cup Holder – This is another optional essential. If you have one of those single cup brewers for every day use like I do keeping your cups out on your station makes selecting a flavor and making a cup so much easier than shuffling through a cabinet. I like to use unorthodox items for accessible storage. I’m currently using a ceramic egg crate to house a few cups, but I’ve also been known to use antique bowls and glass trifles dishes. Storage can function and still be pretty, so think outside the box a little when selecting what to use to hold items that are out on display.
6. A spoon rest – I have a thing for spoon rests. It’s kind of a problem. I’ve been known to use vintage tea cup saucers and small salad plates in place of a traditional spoon rest.
7. Artwork – Your coffee station is probably one of the very first things you see in the morning, so why not be greeted by beauty. Find something special or meaningful to you – it can be a plate, something your child made for you, or your favorite quote. Having a piece of art by your coffee station marries function and form, and I promise it will make your sleep deprived eyes sparkle in the morning.
If you use any of these coffee station essentials show us on instagram and twitter with hashtag #TheChic.