Beverage stations are becoming more and more common in homes that love their choice of drinks.
So whether you are a coffee aficionado, wine lover, or beer drinker, you too can create and organize your own beverage station in your home for your favorite drink and supplies.
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Setting Up a Beverage Station
Picking Your Beverage Station
There are several types of beverage stations to consider.
All you need to do is choose the one or ones you want to set up for your favorite drinks:
- coffee/tea station
- wine station
- beer bar
- spirits bar/wet bar
Finding a Convenient Location
Next, find a spot for your station.
If you live in a small place, then carve out a little corner in your kitchen or dining room area.
I keep my coffee/tea station in my kitchen but when I have company, I move it into my dining room to keep the kitchen from getting crowded while I cook.
Update: I have since upcycled my bedroom dresser and created a coffee station in my dining room.
Click here if you’d like to see our coffee bar DIY.
If you entertain outside often, you can also set up a station or portable bar on your patio.
If you don’t have any surface space to spare in your home, consider purchasing a tea cart that you can move around and park out of the way.
Have a garage, shed, or ‘man cave’?
These are also great places for a beer or liquor bar.
Since my husband actually brews his own beer, he keeps his station in the shed which he converted recently into his man cave.
As for my wine, I just got this wall organizer and store my bottles there.
Stocking Your Beverage Station
Now, that you have picked a good location, it’s time to stock it.
Coffee/Tea Stations
Aside from your coffee, espresso, tea brewing machines, etc., you may want to stock the following items:
- coffee urn (for large parties)
- teacups
- coffee mugs
- k-cup/tea bag organizer
- canisters
- filters
- stirrers
- non-refrigerated creamers
- scooping spoons
- sweeteners
- sugar/creamer set
- creamer carafe (for large parties)
- creamer carafe
- napkins
- small bowl for trash
- cutting board/knife – for lemons
Since I keep my coffee station in the kitchen when I am not entertaining guests, I really do not need most of the items listed.
But if I do have company, then I try to have most of the above items, especially the trash bowl.
This will keep the area from getting messy.
There are a variety of K-cup and tea bag organizers that you can purchase but if you like to use ground coffee or tea leaves, consider putting them in canisters.
I created these canisters with regular mason jars that I painted.
Then I added the tags I got from Michaels to label them.
For my sweetener packets, I use a vase I got when I received some flowers a few years ago.
You can also use a mug for keeping stirrers in.
Wine/Spirits Bar
Aside from a small refrigerator and your favorite wines and spirits, listed below are some things you can add to your bar:
- corkscrew/electric opener
- foil cutter
- aerator
- decanter
- wine glasses
- ice bucket/beverage tub (for outdoor entertaining)
- mixers/juices (tonic, club soda, orange juice, etc.)
- garnishes (olives, salt, etc.)
- cocktail picks
- different-sized glasses (depending on the spirit)
- cutting board/knives
- bartending kit OR
- shaker, jigger, strainer, bar spoon (again, it depends on the type of spirits you have)
- napkins
- bar towels
Beer Bar
Beer bars are pretty low maintenance but here are some things you can consider for your bar:
- kegerator
- bottle openers
- cap catcher
- beer cozies
- growlers
- mugs and pint glasses
- black and tan layering tool
Guests with Kids
A Kid-Friendly Beverage Station
If you happen to be entertaining guests with children, you can and should stock up on the following:
- plasticware
- straws
- juices
- colas
- ice cream
Station/Bar Maintenance
The best way to keep your station or bar from getting messy is to make sure you have some sort of trash bin handy.
After every use, wipe down your station or bar including any machines.
Run any glasses, mugs, and any tools you used to make drinks in the dishwasher unless it specifies hand-wash only.
You’ll also want to clean any towels in the wash.
Clean any cutting boards by hand and sharpen knives when needed.
And lastly, keep a notepad handy to write down anything you need to restock.
And with that, let’s get organizing your beverage station.
Need more help with organizing other rooms and spaces before adding your beverage station?
Click the links below to get started.
- Kitchen Organization
- Dining Room Organization
- Living Room Organization
- Outdoor Organization
- Home Office Organization–for coffee and tea, of course.
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