How to Create a Coffee Bar at Home: Our Guide

Creating a coffee bar at home can be a great way to add something special and make your coffee experience even more enjoyable. It also creates a great sociable space, being able to conveniently store and make a variety of coffees is a great way to get family and friends around for a chat and a drink. You don’t need lots of space either – we have plenty of creative coffee bar ideas for small spaces. So, read on below to find out how to make a coffee bar at home.

What do you need for a coffee bar at home?

To achieve a gorgeous and practical home coffee bar, ensure you have all the essentials to make it work for your home. Take a look below to see what will work well with your home.

1. Finding the perfect coffee machine

If you don’t already have one or are looking for a new machine to match your new coffee bar, choosing the right-sized coffee machine can really determine the amount of space you have. But with NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® machines, you’ll find pod machines in a variety of sizes that will work with your space.

Piccolo XS

The Piccolo XS is also a great option for small spaces, its sleek and rounded design allows it to fit well into a variety of spaces. This makes it easier to style and move around when you are creating your coffee bar. With a small machine, you still get all the important features to make the best coffee whilst also matching the style of your home. Our Piccolo XS has an even smaller footprint, so you can keep your energy consumption down too. It also comes in some great colours that can fit many styles – remember, it doesn’t need to be over the top or large to make your space look amazing!

Mini me

The Mini Me coffee machine works brilliantly for smaller spaces; it can fit on a side table and any other narrow surface. Looking both stylish and professional, it’s bound to bring some class to your coffee corner. You can also pick different colours to match the aesthetics you are aiming for.

Genio S

Our range of Genio S coffee machines also provides an elegant look to your home coffee station. Our Genio S plus is a great choice for those who want that barista-level customisation. This sleek machine gives you the power over temperature control and comes with Espresso Boost technology to make every shot of espresso more intense.

Or if advanced features and premium finish are your preference, our Genio S Touch could be the machine for you. With an LED touchscreen you can get more choices out of your coffee machine, such as an XL function for more coffee. Both machines come in a range of colours, so take a look and see if a Genio S coffee machine is the best fit for you.

If you’re still not sure about which coffee machine is right for you, check out our page for comparing coffee machines to find your perfect match.

2. A variety of coffee pods for everyone

For a coffee bar, you’ll want a great variety of NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto coffee pods to choose from. Of course, you’ll want your coffee bar to also cater to for your family and friends so having a good variety of coffee pods is a great idea. Having plenty of options allows everyone to enjoy your coffee bar – some classic flavours such as Espressos,

Americanos and Lattes, along with Decaf , are all good options to have. It’s also a nice touch to have some plant-based coffee pod options and delicious flavours such as Starbucks® coffee pods and Caramel Macchiatos ! Not to mention, our coffee pods come in easy-to-store packing – both in the box and the pods themselves – for your convenience.

3. Shelving and storage

There are many ways to create a coffee bar at home without it looking cluttered and cramped. A great way to do this is to use wall racks, shelves and draws. Ensure you have plenty of room for cups, coffee pods, and cleaning supplies for your coffee machine. Some of these things you might not want on display, so ensure you have a hidden but convenient place to store these essentials.

4. Organised coffee pod storage

When you’ve picked your coffee pods, you’ll probably want somewhere to store them! It can be a great idea to use box tins, draws and draw organisers as a way to store your pods in a neat and accessible way. You could display some boxes on your shelves, or you could also use a small coffee pod drawer that sits on your counter.

For storage that’s on show, you can use a holding rack which is thinner than a wide rack, giving you more room on your counter; this is a great way to show what coffee pod options you have. You can even get adhesive pod holders you can put on your wall if you need that extra counter space. If you’re planning on stocking up on coffee pods to fill your new kitchen coffee station, check out our special coffee pod bundles for great value.

5. Storage for mugs in your home coffee station

If you want to display some of your coffee mugs conveniently near your coffee bar, there are many ways to do so without cluttering up your bar. You can get a hanging rack or hooks for your mugs, or a tray for a more organized look next to your machine – a tray is also good for espresso cups.

6. Extra touches for your coffee bar at home

Depending on what style you are going for, some extra decoration is always a great way to complete your coffee bar. Small potted plants, adhesive signs and maybe some kitchen-safe lights can be a nice touch. Whether you are going for a minimalist or maximalist look, adding decorations are a great way to liven the place up.

How do I create a coffee bar at home?

You’ll first want to decide what space would work best for a coffee bar. Depending on the size of your home, this may be a counter in the kitchen, shelving with a dresser, a cart or even a cupboard. So don’t worry, you there are some great coffee bar ideas for small spaces too!

Find a convenient space

If you have free counter space, ensure it is near plug sockets and you are easily able to access a sink. Once you have ensured your area is convenient for you, decide on how much space you will need for your machine and storage. If you are using a kitchen counter, choosing to have it below or near shelves/cupboards is a great way to fit your coffee bar in without too much extra work.

Plan out your home coffee bar space by picking out your style

Picking a colour scheme and design is a very important step, this is how you can distinguish your coffee bar from the rest of your house. You can designate your coffee bar area by using paint, wallpaper, colours, textures and aesthetics that will transform your space. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Industrial home coffee bars

This works well if your kitchen is neutral or already darkly decorated, but with some dark paint on cupboards and shelves, this style is quite simple to achieve. Using exposed wood objects such as dark wood shelving, trays, black aluminium and steel storage racks and tins will complete this look. Many of our coffee machines would blend in well, such as our Infinissma® in Black and Charcoal, or for something that stands out, see our Infinissma® in Black and Red too.

Shabby chic kitchen coffee station

This is a great option if you are trying to avoid too much DIY and buying matching sets. If you’re reusing second-hand furniture to create your coffee bar or you already have older wooden surfaces, this is a great way to transform it. You can use lighter colours like cream, baby pink and pastel blue. You’ll also want your coffee machine to suit – the Genio S in White is a good idea if you want your coffee machine to seamlessly blend in.

Maximalist coffee bar

This is the go-to style if you love all things colour! All types of patterns and rich colours suit this style such as dark blues and greens combined with bright pinks and yellows. You can also use patterned wallpaper or bright paint to liven up the space. For boldness, our Piccolo XS in Red coffee machine is a great addition to this style choice. You can use plants, brightly decorated storage and pictures on the walls to create this.

Once you’ve created your coffee bar, try it out with your friends and family. The great thing about designing a coffee bar is you can aways change decorations or reorganise if needed, so enjoy letting your creativity go wild. We hope this article gave you great advice and even more inspiration for your very own coffee bar.

For some more inspiration when decorating your coffee bar, check out our article on 10 great gifts for coffee lovers.