Espresso station concepts to strive at house
In case your day doesn’t actually start till the primary sip of espresso, this one’s for you. Carving out a devoted espresso station at house is a straightforward solution to flip your day by day flat white or latte right into a small ritual, with out the common journeys (or spend) at your native espresso store.
And the very best half? You don’t want an enormous kitchen or a barista-level tools to make these setups work. From intelligent countertop corners to tucked-away cabinets and thoughtfully styled cabinets, a espresso station may be carved out of just about any area. Listed here are the straightforward concepts kitchen designers advocate to get it proper.
1. Design your espresso station across the machine
An important espresso station all the time begins with the machine itself. It’s the anchor of the setup, so selecting one which works laborious and seems good will make every part else really feel extra thought-about.
As Georgia Allman, product stylist at ProCook, explains, “A thoughtfully designed espresso station can replicate your private fashion, whether or not that’s minimalist and stylish or cosy and rustic, whereas enhancing each the look and performance of your kitchen.”
Georgia additionally notes that “the espresso machine acts because the centrepiece, so it’s price selecting a design with clear traces, a metallic end and a compact footprint, maintaining it each sensible and visually interesting.” Positioning it near an influence outlet makes on a regular basis use simpler, whereas open shelving or drawers close by assist maintain mugs, pods and equipment neatly organised.

Georgia Allman specialises in bringing visible ideas to life with cautious planning and a spotlight to all the main points. She works with idea boards, fashion sheets and extra to create the very best photoshoots for merchandise she works with.
The end of your machine performs a giant position too. “Lighter-toned home equipment sit superbly alongside pure supplies like timber and stone,” says Tom Hopper, kitchens lead at Miele GB, “permitting them to mix into cabinetry reasonably than stand out.” He provides that in-built fashions are sometimes favoured in luxurious kitchens, because of “intuitive controls, personalised programmes and freshly floor espresso for barista-style outcomes at house.”

Tom Hopper is kitchens class lead at Miele GB, specialising in premium kitchen home equipment and rising design tendencies, with a deal with performance-led innovation that helps fashionable, thought-about house residing.
And do not overlook the practicalities of placement. “Whilst you can technically maintain a espresso machine in a cabinet it’s not one thing we’d advocate,” cautions Steven Carter-Bailey, ProCook’s meals skilled. “The warmth and steam it produces could cause moisture build-up which isn’t ideally suited, particularly within the UK’s humid local weather the place mould can develop simply. Moisture in a cabinet that additionally shops meals can even make it spoil sooner.”
“For security and longevity, it’s finest to maintain your machine out within the open with correct air flow,” he continues. “Give your espresso machine satisfaction of place in your worktop as a part of a devoted espresso or scorching drinks station. If area is tight, a small facet desk could make a classy and sensible espresso nook with out the danger of warmth or moisture injury.”
2. Replenish on espresso making necessities
When you’ve settled on the appropriate spot and machine, it’s price serious about what it’s essential make your espresso station work everyday. In line with Zoe Turner, head of name growth at Denby, “to create the right espresso station expertise and elevate each caffeine repair, you’ll want just a few items of primary tools:”
- A solution to brew espresso: On a tighter finances, a cafetière is an effective addition for any house espresso station setup. Ceramic espresso drippers are one other nice mid-price possibility: pour-over espresso is top-quality and filled with flavour because of the lengthy extraction course of. Do not forget a kettle for decent water! If you wish to really feel like an actual barista and don’t thoughts splashing the money, spend money on an espresso machine. It would simply prevent cash on takeaway coffees in the long term.
- A espresso grinder: Grinding the beans simply earlier than brewing will drastically enhance the style of the espresso. You may splash out on an electrical mannequin, or save with a hand grinder. Nevertheless, a grinder isn’t important as you possibly can all the time purchase ready-ground espresso or ask your native espresso retailer to grind your beans for you.
- An electrical or handheld milk frother. To actually elevate the expertise, you should use a thermometer to serve your milk on the proper temperature — 60°C (140°F) is excellent.
- A cocktail shaker: Whereas they could appear extra at house in a bar cart, cocktail shakers are nice for making iced lattes. Within the evenings, you possibly can swap issues as much as create a scrumptious espresso martini.
- A mini fridge and freezer: Retailer recent components like milk, whipped cream, and ice in a close-by mini fridge and freezer, if area — and your finances — permits.
- Serveware: You’ll want some superbly crafted ceramics to serve your drinks in. Mugs and espresso cups are a key staple of any espresso bar — for a cohesive and ordered look, go for matching mug units. Including a mug rack will preserve preparation area in your counter, in addition to trying neat and trendy.
- Storage: Contemporary espresso beans or grounds needs to be saved in an hermetic container, so get one which matches your mugs.
- One thing for waste: You’ll want a small bin or meals waste container to eliminate used grounds. These may be composted.

Zoe Turner is head of name growth and marcomms at Denby Pottery, bringing skilled perception into styling useful kitchen areas, on a regular basis rituals and the way considerate homeware elevates moments just like the day by day espresso routine.
3. Create a larder-style espresso station that retains every part in a single place
If you happen to like your morning routine to really feel calm (or a minimum of much less chaotic), putting in a larder-style espresso station can be a great place to start out. Tucking your espresso machine, mugs and on a regular basis breakfast staples inside a devoted cabinet retains every part you want in a single spot – with out turning your worktops right into a catch-all within the course of.
Lined in heat timber and fitted with open shelving, this lovely unit by Tom Howley kitchens feels much less like storage and extra like a thought-about a part of the kitchen design. As Tom Howley explains, “A tall housing unit or breakfast pantry creates a clear, built-in setup and retains every part you want to your espresso station shut handy. Storing crockery close by makes the routine really feel easy, whereas permitting the area to be closed away when it’s not in use.”

Tom has spent over 20 years designing bespoke kitchen and utility rooms designed to work in concord with a consumer’s way of life, making him an skilled on figuring out simply tips on how to create a useful however lovely area that meets your wants.
4. Create a freestanding espresso station utilizing a sideboard or dresser
If you happen to don’t have area, or finances, for built-in cabinetry, a freestanding espresso station is a straightforward and versatile various. A kitchen sideboard or dresser can provide your espresso setup a house with out committing to a full kitchen rework and these items works particularly nicely in open-plan kitchens, eating areas and even cosy corners.
Styling these setups is what actually makes them shine. Zoe Turner shares her recommendation: “A espresso station ought to really feel like a part of your on a regular basis routine, not simply one other equipment zone. Utilizing a furniture-style piece permits you to layer ceramics, textures and private touches, turning a useful space into one thing you truly take pleasure in utilizing.”
Prime tip: Place a single large-format tile on prime of your sideboard to behave as a base to your espresso machine. It helps outline the espresso zone and protects the floor from warmth, splashes and on a regular basis put on.
5. Use luxurious finishes to raise your on a regular basis cup of espresso
Even a hidden espresso station can really feel indulgent when the finishes are thoughtfully chosen. A marble or stone worktop, heat inner lighting and traditional kitchen {hardware} are all little touches that may rework a purely sensible setup into one thing that feels intentional and quietly luxurious.
In line with Zoe Turner, supplies actually matter in areas you utilize day by day. “When one thing is a part of your on a regular basis routine, it’s price listening to the finishes. High quality supplies and timeless particulars assist useful areas really feel extra satisfying and fewer purely utilitarian,” she explains. Maintain the styling easy and let the textures — stone, ceramic and steel — do the work.
6. Conceal your espresso station behind cupboard doorways for a calmer kitchen
If visible litter stresses you out very first thing within the morning, hiding your espresso station behind kitchen cabinetry is a straightforward win. Tucking espresso machines, mugs and pods inside a devoted cabinet helps you retain worktops clear and the kitchen really feel calmer, particularly in fashionable kitchens the place every part is all the time on present. When the doorways are open, you continue to get a superbly styled second; after they’re closed, the room immediately rather more put collectively.
“Hid espresso stations are perfect for sustaining a clear, uncluttered look,” agrees Tom Howley. “By integrating them into the primary cabinetry, you create an area that’s sensible to make use of however straightforward to cover away when it’s not wanted.”
Prime tip: To take your espresso station one step additional, take into account including DIY shelf lighting. Easy strip lights or motion-sensor fittings assist the area really feel hotter and extra thought-about, whereas additionally making early mornings simpler. Choices just like the Argos Residence Atollo Set of 4 LED Strip Lights are simple to put in and solid a comfortable, heat glow that works superbly inside cabinets.
7. Put your favorite mugs and jars on show with open shelving
Open shelving is a straightforward solution to give a espresso station character with out making it really feel heavy or overdesigned. By maintaining mugs, glass jars and on a regular basis necessities seen, the area feels extra relaxed and welcoming and every part you want is correct the place you anticipate it to be.
Zoe Turner recommends treating open cabinets like a curated edit reasonably than further kitchen storage: “Select items you genuinely use and love,” she says. “When mugs and jars are each sensible and delightful, they earn their place on show.” Protecting colors cohesive and sticking to related jar kinds helps the look really feel intentional reasonably than cluttered.
8. Flip an neglected stretch of wall into a completely working espresso zone
Generally the neatest espresso station setups are carved out of area you’d in any other case stroll straight previous. A slim run of wall, a clumsy hole between items or a piece close to a seating space can double as the right espresso spot with the appropriate planning. Open cabinets and brass hanging rails maintain mugs and glassware shut handy, whereas built-in faucets and home equipment imply the station works simply in addition to a primary kitchen run.
“We love the designated bar or espresso station situated alongside a comfortable seating space in the primary kitchen of our mission Historic Corridor within the North Downs,” explains Helen Parker, artistic director at deVOL. “This compact spot has water faucets, drainage, espresso machines and orderly rows of cabinets and hanging rails, all neatly tucked into a piece of the room that would have so simply been ignored.”
It’s an excellent reminder that the very best espresso stations don’t all the time come from including extra, however from utilizing what’s already there extra thoughtfully. Add just a few considerate touches into the combination – resembling classic glug jugs, handmade ceramics, or delicate glasses – and it’s straightforward to make the area really feel thought-about and private, reasonably than purely useful.

Helen Parker is artistic director at deVOL Kitchens, main design, styling and model imaginative and prescient for the British kitchen maker. She champions classic-meets-contemporary interiors and considerate, superbly curated areas.
9. Make use of vertical storage to unencumber valuable counter area
“In a compact kitchen, you typically have to assume vertically and create as a lot further cupboard space as attainable by utilising the peak of your partitions,” says Al Bruce, founding father of Olive & Barr.
Pegboards are a versatile, low-commitment solution to maintain espresso necessities organised with out consuming into your counters. Merely use hooks to hold measuring spoons, milk frothers or mugs, and add small cabinets for beans, jars or syrups.
The fantastic thing about pegboard storage is that it may possibly evolve along with your wants, merely transfer items round as your wants change, making it a sensible thought for small kitchens and galley kitchens that also need to really feel thought-about and nicely styled.

Al Bruce is founding father of Olive & Barr, identified for designing bespoke British kitchens that stability traditional craftsmanship with fashionable residing, combining thought-about layouts, high quality supplies and timeless, useful design.
10. Design a espresso station in a nook or recess
“If area is at a premium, we’ll design the espresso station in a nook or recess, often with open shelving and a small built-in fridge beneath,” says Tim Higham, founding father of Higham Furnishings. “We then paint all of the shelving, all the time recommending water-based paints as a result of they’re sturdy and friendlier to the atmosphere.”
And in line with Tim, sensible particulars matter simply as a lot as aesthetics: “With any espresso station, plug sockets are required for small kitchen home equipment resembling a kettle or espresso maker,” he explains. “We create an aperture behind the shelf so sockets and wires are hidden from view, and we fastidiously plan shelf heights to make sure tea and low jars, cups and glasses match completely.”
11. Set up a boiling water faucet to streamline the espresso making expertise
If you happen to’re severe about streamlining the espresso making course of, get your self a boiling water faucet. These intelligent kitchen upgrades imply no kettle, no ready round, simply scorching water precisely while you want it.
Dan Biddle, product supervisor at Abode, explains that “a boiling water faucet permits you to take pleasure in scorching drinks on demand, rushing up the method and making on a regular basis espresso moments much more handy.” Many fashionable faucets will also be set to particular temperatures, so whether or not you’re brewing espresso or tea, you’re not guessing.
Design-wise, right now’s boiling water faucets are much more streamlined than you would possibly anticipate. With slimmer profiles and finishes that vary from traditional to up to date, they’re straightforward to suit right into a espresso station with out dominating the area. Plus, retiring your outdated kettle can unencumber invaluable counter room, which is all the time a plus.

Dan Biddle is Product Supervisor at Abode, specialising in modern kitchen faucet design, with a deal with performance, effectivity and fashionable options that improve on a regular basis kitchen residing.
12. Add color and character to make your espresso station really feel joyful
This vibrant setup by Wayfair proves {that a} espresso station doesn’t need to be impartial to really feel thought-about. A pop of color, playful tiles and some well-chosen equipment can flip an on a regular basis nook into one thing that genuinely lifts your temper.
“Extra householders are slowing down and romanticising the little moments in life,” says Tom Hopper from Miele GB, “so having a devoted area to retailer floor espresso and open shelving to show lovely mugs is all the time a good suggestion.” It’s much less about perfection and extra about surrounding your self with items you like.
Styling particulars make all of the distinction too. “Improve the area with ornamental touches resembling a smooth tray for syrups, jars for espresso beans, or a small plant to tie the station effortlessly into your kitchen’s design,” advises Georgia Allman from ProCook. She says the trick is to get the stability proper – goal for a joyful mixture of color and texture, grounded by sensible storage, so your espresso station feels expressive with out tipping into litter.
Many of those espresso station concepts additionally translate superbly into house bar concepts. Good storage, good kitchen lighting and a little bit styling magic works simply as nicely for cocktails because it does to your morning espresso.
