Want A DIY At-Home Coffee Bar? Here Are The Essentials You Need

Counter storage, mug hooks and more to create a highly organized, Pinterest-worthy coffee and tea station right in your own kitchen.
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Amazon
Don't spend another second digging around cabinets, drawers or shelves in the morning. These clever items will simplify your morning beverage routine and make you look like you've got it together.

We’ve all scrolled through those immaculate-looking lifestyle blogs that are dedicated to organizing in complete awe (and with maybe just a tinge of envy).

The most recent organizing trend? At-home coffee and tea bars. These ultra-tidy beverage stations have taken up pages and pages of Pinterest real estate. But before you roll your eyes and say it’s something you could never do, how-to-guides show that this may actually be worth the effort ― and might even be a little fun. A bit of strategic storage, smart placement and slight rearranging can mean less time digging around for your designated tea spoon or desperately scrounging for the last bits of coffee grounds at the bottom of the bag. You can have tea bags, K-Cups, sugar and mugs all within an arm’s reach.  

So embrace your inner Marie Kondo and shop these smart, space-conscious items to help transform one of the most utilized areas of your kitchen into a highly functional beverage station that will not only be pleasing to look at, but make your morning routine a little more enjoyable. 

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Cake stands and pedestals
World Market, Macy's
Using small, tiered shelving like a cake stand or an adjustable pedestal can not only look really cute and intentional, it provides elevation for items like mugs or containers while taking up less of a footprint in terms of counter space. Dedicate the smaller top tiers for items like individual creamers, sugar packets or stir sticks, while larger items can be placed on the bottom tiers. From left to right:

Get the white marble and gold pedestal stand from World Market for $34.99.

Get the Sara Miller green cake stand from Macy's for $49.99.

Get the wood and metal serving stand from World Market for $39.99.
Tea and coffee mug racks
Wayfair, Kohl's
Bulky mugs can be the most difficult thing to store, especially if cabinet and shelving space is tight. Opting for racks can be a clutter-free way to display your cups and get to them quickly during the morning rush. The under-shelf mug hook by Rebrilliant slides easily onto a cabinet shelf or underneath a kitchen cabinet, while the Gourmet Basics mug tree can hold up to six mugs and has compartment space underneath.

Get the Rebrilliant under-shelf mug hook from Wayfair for $17.35.

Get the Gourmet Basics mug tree from Kohl's for $39.99.
Easy access canisters
Amazon
Using canisters can be a great way to store sugar, coffee grounds, loose leaf tea or even K-Cups and teabags. Stack and display them on countertops or designated shelving so they can be accessed quickly, even when you're half asleep. The tight-sealing lids on both of these options ensures freshness for all their precious caffeinated contents.

Get the stainless steel container set from Amazon for $22.99.

Get the Mud Pie glass canister set from Amazon for $85.51.
Corner and bench shelving
Amazon, Wayfair
This corner rack and adjustable bench shelving are options that can accommodate any kind of space (or lack thereof) you may have. They can be neatly tucked away against a wall or beneath a cabinet so they won't interfere with larger appliances like a Keurig or coffee pot.

Get the Mercer41 three-tier 10-jar spice rack from Wayfair for $23.99.

Get the Urhomey Plus expendable cabinet shelf from Amazon for $23.79.
Drawer organizers
Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate & Barrel
With some minor shuffling, you may be able to score yourself a free top drawer right underneath your tea and coffee bar. And if you succeed, these drawer organizers can be the perfect way to keep all your designated teaspoons, tea bags, individual coffee creamers or sugar packets all in one spot. The gray drawer organizer by Joseph Joseph features deeper slanting compartments on the side, while the bamboo tray from Crate & Barrel expands to give you even more storage underneath.

Get the Joseph Joseph flatware organizer from Bed Bath & Beyond for $21.99.

Get the expandable bamboo gadget tray from Crate & Barrel for $29.95.
Countertop organizers
Amazon, Wayfair
If you're working with very limited counter or drawer space, free-standing organizers might be one of your best options. Both of these organizers are durable enough to hold rows of heavy coffee mugs or canisters, and they feature different compartments that can be designated for spoons, metal straws or even bottles of flavored syrups.

Get the iDesign Austin modular free-standing countertop organizer from Amazon for $92.50.

Get the Prep & Savour three-tier countertop spice rack from Wayfair for $55.99.
Wall-mounted shelving
Amazon
If the countertop isn't an option, wall shelving can provide storage and add a display element to your coffee and tea station. Most people place their shelf lower on the wall, just above appliances, so as not to compromise accessibility. Both of these shelving options have heavy-duty hooks perfect for holding coffee cups or mugs, and the top shelf can be reserved for any coffee-themed artwork you might want to display.

Get the Rolanstar wall-mounted shelf from Amazon for $49.99.

Get the Boluo kitchen wall shelf from Amazon for $39.82.
Rolling bar and kitchen carts
Pottery Barn, Urban Outfitters
Sometimes when you don't have room, you have to make room. Bar and kitchen carts can be the perfect way to house larger appliances like espresso machines, coffee pots or tea kettles while leaving plenty of space for all your fixings on the lower shelves. Because both of these carts can roll, they can be easily moved in front of a spare wall or next to a counter. The narrow rolling kitchen cart from Pottery Barn fits tight spaces, and the bamboo cart from Urban Outfitters features a removable middle shelf and a partially folding top shelf for extra space.

Get the narrow rolling kitchen cart from Pottery Barn for $62.

Get the bamboo rolling kitchen cart from Urban Outfitters for $179.

Before You Go

7 Kitchen Appliances That Are Worth The Counter Space
A Cuisinart food processor(01 of07)
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Chef and cookbook author Robin Asbell told HuffPost that working in a commercial kitchen helped her realize how necessary a food processor can be for someone who’s cooking a lot. “I’m still old-school and use a knife for slicing, but the Cuisinart is essential for pureeing or shredding,” she told HuffPost.

Chef Rossi, owner and executive chef of New York caterer The Raging Skillet, bestowed loving nicknames on her two models. “I call the 14-cup Cuisinart food processor my esposa, which is Spanish for wife, and I lovingly refer to the 7-cup Cuisinart food processor as my esposo, which is Spanish for husband,” she told HuffPost. The rationale? “In this sexist world, I like giving the more powerful job to a lady,” she explained.

The value of the appliances is clear to the chef: “If I had to do the math, I’d have to say these food processors have given me back at least three years of my life. You can take away most appliances in my kitchen and I will survive, but don’t go near my esposa or my esposo, because we’re family.”

Get the 14-cup Cuisinart food processor for $249.99.

Get the 7-cup Cuisinart food processor for $128.15.
(credit:Amazon)
A rice cooker(02 of07)
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John Sugimura, chef and owner of Minneapolis’ PinKU Japanese Street Food restaurant, has fine-tuned the tools and appliances he really needs to stock in his kitchen. “I like things that are inexpensive and don’t require a warranty or the need for a service person to do repairs,” he told HuffPost. “But there still are some indispensable things I truly need to help me put one foot in front of the other.”

His Zojirushi rice cooker is a top pick. “It lets me prepare a lot of rice at one time, but with the kind of high quality that would make my grandmother proud,” he said. Sugimura has found multiple uses for his cooker, including using it to steam a full head of cabbage stuffed with a whole white onion. “I cut it like a pie and drench it with warm Green Goddess dressing, and it delivers pure pleasure every time.”

In her home kitchen, registered dietitian nutritionist Sharon Palmer uses a Hamilton Beach rice cooker that’s served her well for 15 years. “I can’t live without my rice cooker,” she told HuffPost. “I use it to make not just brown rice, but whole grains like farro, wheat berries, sorghum and barley. It’s easy to use, never burns the grains and takes up only about as much room as a medium-sized pot.”

Get a 10-cup Zojirushi rice maker for $202.77.

Get an 8-cup Hamilton Beach rice cooker for $29.99.
(credit:Amazon)
A KitchenAid stand mixer(03 of07)
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This kitchen workhorse was named by several experts. RDN Vicki Shanta Retelny told HuffPost, “I can’t live without that mixer. I use it for cookie batter, pancakes, quick breads, soups and sauces.” RDN Sara Haas sang its praises, starting with aesthetics: “It’s beautiful — like a work of art,” she told HuffPost. “I make a lot of baked goods like cookies, cakes, brownies, breads and pizzas, and I use my mixer every time. It’s simple to use, easy to clean, and it’s never failed me.” Palmer said her KitchenAid is a “must” on her kitchen counter. “It’s great for making bread, dough, aquafaba and batter. I just turn it on, let the mixer do the work and walk away.”

Get a KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series 5-quart stand mixer for $429.99.
(credit:KitchenAid)
A Vitamix blender(04 of07)
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“I asked for this for a Christmas gift five years ago, and it has made such a difference compared to a standard blender,” Palmer said. “It can puree difficult, tough ingredients — like pomegranate seeds for my smoothies. And it makes velvety creamy hummus, pureed soups and things like pesto, which sometimes can be harder to blend in a less-powerful blender.”

Registered dietitian Marissa Meshulam appreciates how the Vitamix can help anyone create more nourishing food. “It’s a great way to incorporate good nutrition to your meals, as it can blend anything amazingly well.”

Get a Vitamix professional-grade blender for $435.21.
(credit:Amazon)
A milk frother(05 of07)
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“My milk frother is a non-negotiable for me,” Meshulam said. “It gives coffee-shop quality to all my made-at-home coffee. I love that it can do both hot and cold froth. Plus, when coffee at home tastes this good, I’m less likely to spend money daily at a coffee shop. It is a win in my book.”

Get a Bodum milk frother for $30.46.
(credit:Amazon)
A Ninja Foodi digital air fryer oven(06 of07)
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RDN Andrea Mathis loves the multi-function capability of this appliance. “It can bake, air fry, toast and so much more,” she told HuffPost. “On busy weeknights, I’m able to quickly air fry a few pieces of salmon and bake a variety of veggies for my family.” Now that she has this appliance, she’s removed her toaster and air fryer from her kitchen countertop. “It’s definitely worth the investment,” she said.

Get a Ninja Foodi oven for $209.99.
(credit:Amazon)
A Kenyon city grill(07 of07)
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“It’s definitely not inexpensive, but I absolutely love my Kenyon City Grill,” RDN Amy Gorin told HuffPost. “The countertop grill means I never have to go outside to grill if I don’t want to, and I can eat burgers and grilled veggies year-round. Plus, it’s been really fun to experiment with grilling more unexpected foods, such as salmon, tofu and pineapple. I can also easily whip up recipes like grilled asparagus and grilled balsamic peaches.”

Get the Kenyon City Grill for $475.
(credit:Kenyon)

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