Coffee talk: Setting up a home coffee bar
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
It鈥檚 the brew that provides a boost of energy. It鈥檚 the drink that enriches every meal, especially dessert. It鈥檚 a hot beverage that warms people on a cool day.
Homeowners who love coffee might consider setting up their own coffee bar.
鈥淚t gets me going in the morning,鈥� said Donna Eicher, who has a wall decal that says 鈥淏ut first coffee鈥� at the coffee bar set up in the dining area at Seams Like Home Bed and Breakfast and Quilt Retreat in Vanderbilt that she co-owns with her husband, Rick.
A coffee bar is especially useful this time of year when days grow shorter and people spend more time entertaining indoors. Having a coffee bar can be helpful for guests.
鈥淕uests don鈥檛 know where everything is in your house, so it鈥檚 good to have it set up and ready,鈥� said Melissa Shaw, of Grindstone, retired culinary instructor from Fayette County Career and Technical Institute in Georges Township. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have a lot of room, it can be just a space on your kitchen counter.鈥�
Both women offered tips for homeowners who want to set up their own coffee bar.
First thing needed is a coffee maker, either one that makes a full pot or one that makes individual cups by using pods, such as the popular Keurig.
鈥淲e have an electric tea pot as well,鈥� said Eicher. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful because it heats water quicker than a microwave.鈥�
Both Keurigs and electric tea pots allow people to make individual cups of beverages to suit their wants, including flavored coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Shaw said packets to make hot cider can also be found at grocery stores.
Eicher keeps a box divided into cubes that can hold 16 different teas on the bed and breakfast coffee bar. Shaw suggested using a small basket to hold a variety of drink packets or pods.
Every coffee bar should have coffee or tea cups.
鈥淢ost people prefer mugs,鈥� said Eicher. 鈥淎nd we also have (to-go) cups so if people need to hit the road after breakfast, they can take coffee or tea with them 鈥� they have that option.鈥�
Keep plenty of sugar and sweeteners on hand to add to drinks as well as stirrers or spoons and creamers.
鈥淲e have flavored creamers, too 鈥� French vanilla, hazel nut and pumpkin spice this time of year,鈥� said Eicher. 鈥淲hen we started that, people would say 鈥榊ou have my favorite!鈥� They really like that.鈥�
Shaw mentioned there鈥檚 a variety of non-dairy creamers that can also be kept at the bar.
鈥淭hey wouldn鈥檛 have to be refrigerated,鈥� said Shaw, noting this adds to convenience.
Homeowners may want to keep snacks at the coffee bar 鈥� either pastries or fruit.
鈥淚n the morning, we have muffins, and in the evenings, we have cookies,鈥� said Eicher.
Shaw noted the use of cookie jars is waning but said people may want to buy a decorative tin for the bar to keep cookies fresh. And both women mentioned that stores sell individually wrapped packages of cookies and muffins that will keep the food fresher for a longer time.
So whether expecting company or not, a coffee bar might be a good idea for anyone who enjoys their daily cup of joe.
鈥淚t鈥檚 warm and good. What鈥檚 better to drink in the morning?鈥� asked Shaw. 鈥淎nd for dedicated coffee drinkers like me 鈥� who drink coffee all day long, it鈥檚 my beverage of choice.鈥�