Your Kitchen Needs a Beverage Station

Here’s what you need to know, whether you plan to set up a coffee centre or build a wet bar.

Spruce Tips - Feb 2 — Photo By: Platinum HD Photography.

BY JOANNE SASVARI

The modern home’s go-to destination is the beverage station, a well-designed space for your coffee maker, cocktail shakers and/or smoothie blender, as well as all the related paraphernalia.

A beverage station can be as simple as a tray on a dedicated part of the kitchen counter or as deluxe as a fully stocked bar complete with mini fridge and sink. And it doesn’t have to be limited to the kitchen — consider setting up a coffee station in the bedroom, a wet bar on a covered back deck and/or a well-stocked cocktail cart in the living room.

These options all make your favourite beverages more accessible and convenient, while also removing clutter and traffic from the main kitchen area, especially while the cook is hard at work.

In addition, a wet bar or cocktail station can help streamline entertaining and allow the host to chat with guests while preparing their drinks. And a coffee station or juice bar is an ideal place not just to start the day, but to take a break for those who work from home.

If you’re wondering if you have the space for a built-in beverage centre, the answer is almost certainly yes. Even the smallest kitchen has room for a built-in wine rack or a Nespresso machine. A beverage station can always be tucked into custom cabinetry or set up along the path from the kitchen to the living or dining room.

In general, if you plan to create a built-in station, here is what you will need:

Cabinetry, preferably with drawers and/or roll-out trays, where you can store tools, drinkware and ingredients like teabags, coffee pods and bottles.
Good lighting, such as LED under-cabinet lights.
Optional: refrigerator.
Optional: sink with running water.
Somewhere to dispose of waste, organic and otherwise.
For coffee and other hot drinks: a coffee maker, whether fancy espresso machine, French press or capsule machine that uses capsules; kettle and teapot; cups, mugs, sugar bowl, creamer.
For cocktails, whisky, juice and cold drinks: short and tall tumblers as well as stemmed cocktail coupes; cocktail shakers; ice bucket; bar tools. Optional: blender, Smoking Gun, juicer.
For wine: wineglasses, decanters, corkscrews, wine racks.

As for style, there are countless great design ideas to explore online or in the pages of Spruce magazine. Even better, learn more about what’s hot right now in kitchen design — and how to bring it home — at Spruce magazine’s Design Heads on February 6, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

This fun and inspiring evening will feature a panel of renowned Victoria design and build professionalism who will share their best advice to help you create a beautiful, functional space, whether you are looking to renovate your kitchen — or just enjoy a fun night out!