Ah, the coffee shop. For any coffee aficionado, this place is like second home. The opulent aroma of different brews, the chatter that permeates the setting, and the indescribable feeling of warmth, comfort, and serenity that saturates your surroundings, all of this makes the coffee shop an ideal place to love, laugh, and if it were up to you, live.
But wait, what if you could bring this image into your living environment, what if you could recreate the feeling in your own home and introduce that warm coffee shop vibe to your every morning and make every evening cup of java that much more satisfying? You can, and here’s how to do it.
The essentials of a coffee cabinet
Unlike a regular coffee shop, a home setup needs a centralized location where you will be able to store all of your brewing and serving essentials. In a cafe, the coffee-making gear is scattered across numerous countertops, shelves, and cabinets, but in a home environment you need to leave room for other kitchen essentials.
That’s why your first order of business should be to introduce a coffee cabinet or a designated coffee-making zone. This can be a single large cabinet or a couple of smaller ones where you can store your mugs, coffee maker, espresso machine, cold brewing necessities, as well as various complementary ingredients that create a perfect cup of warm java.
Add a chalkboard wall
Next up, you want to start creating that unique coffee shop vibe into the mix by creating a focal point the room. This can be the seating area, the brewing area, the chalkboard wall we’ll talk about, or it can be a combination of all of these elements. Because what people don’t realize is that you can have numerous focal points in a single room, as long as each serves a distinct purpose.
As far as the chalkboard wall goes, it serves the purpose of creating your private little coffee shop brand, complete with specials of the day, available bean types, brewing methods, and everything in between.
You can also take a completely different approach and use the chalkboard wall as a way to express your creative side by writing motivational messages, coffee quotes, or wise excerpts from your favorite books. All this will work towards imbuing the space with a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Imbue the space with a sense of comfort
Speaking of comfort, it should be present in both the figurative and literal form. With that in mind, it’s time to move away from the brewing area and the chalkboard wall towards the center of the room. This is the area that mill make or break the design of your home coffeehouse.
The furniture you choose needs to complement the design of the room, but also emanate that warm, comfy vibe reminiscent of intimate cafés that reside away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
To bring this intoxicating feeling to life, consider introducing comfortable couches that boast warm colors – furniture that you can complement with vibrant throws and accents later on. This will allow you to create an inviting seating area that will inspire communication and socialization, but also allow for those intimate moments spent with a favorite book in one hand, and a warm cup of coffee in the other.
Play some coffee shop tunes
Music plays a vital role in bringing a true coffee shop vibe to life, so don’t dismiss the idea of putting on some soothing tunes even if you’re not a fan of “noise” music. Unlike in commercial coffee shops, though, you have a golden opportunity here to play some truly inspirational music that will set the mood in the room just right.
It’s also a great way to complement every type of event, whether you’re sipping alone while petting your furry friend, or if you’re entertaining a number of guests. The genres you’re looking for here are everything from slow and smooth lounge jazz to creamy soul and energetic funk, all the way to blues and even country rock – these and other genres will help you set the mood for every occasion.
Become a true coffee maker
Last but definitely not least, you cannot hope to create a home coffeehouse if the only thing you know how to make is a double espresso. No, if you want this place to emanate a real cafe vibe, you will need to learn how to make your coffee stronger, milder, spicier, and creamier, all in a number of different coffee types.
Using various coffee-making tools and machines, go ahead and learn how to become a true barista who will dazzle every guest with their coffee-making expertise.
The coffeehouse is a special place in the heart and mind of every coffee lover, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot recreate that memorable feeling in the comfort of your own home. Follow these tips, and you will have created your new favorite coffee spot.
About the Author: Cooper Klein is a bearded dad in touch with his feminine side. He’s a regular contributor to SmoothDecorator and The Beard Mag. You can find him on Twitter.
