Bonus
Today's objective: Secret design tips & tricks 🕵🏻
Today's outcome: Some extras that I hope are useful for you
Hi Coffee Loving Friend!
I hope this last email finds you well!
We've covered a ton of information in the last 5-days! Hopefully by now the idea for your dream coffee bar that's been bouncing around your head will soon become a real, physical space in your home! 👌🏻
And that's what this newsletter has been all about!
Now, if you've received the last 6 newsletters and still haven't started the design & build process I don't want you to feel defeated! In fact, just the opposite, I want to give you some encouragement!
It's completely OK if you haven't actually built anything yet.
Some people may prefer to:
- Read all the lessons first...
- Take some time to think about each one...
- Maybe plan each of the steps out a little bit more...
- And THEN start designing and building (or enhancing) your dream coffee bar!
BUT...
At some point, and I say this delicately... you have to actually create something in your home.
- To shift and move some furniture to make space for a new cabinet...
- To clear off some clutter from your kitchen countertop...
- To frame and drywall a space for your new built-in bar...
- To find a beautiful sideboard to use as a foundation...
- To paint some walls or add that wall detail...
To go from reading and learning >>> to action and execution!
Here's a quick summary of what we've covered so far:
- Introduction: Setting the stage >> what to expect during this course over 4-weeks
- Lesson 1: What do I want >> choosing a general design style for your home coffee bar
- Lesson 2: Planning the design >> choosing the location & type (kitchen countertop, freestanding or built-in) of your home coffee bar
- Lesson 3: Building the foundation >> choosing your coffee bar foundation — the base and walls around your coffee bar
- Lesson 4: Adding the gear >> choosing what coffee gear is going to be part of your coffee bar design
- Lesson 5: Making it personal >> choosing what design elements you're going to add to really make your coffee bar unique
- Bonus: Secret design tips & tricks (you are here📍)
So, whether you're still going through lesson 1 or you're right here with me in the BONUS lesson, my message is to KEEP GOING!
For one reason or another you decided to sign up for this newsletter. And that means you had some sort of desire or interest to create a beautiful coffee bar in your home.
If you keep going, keep planning, keep executing on your plans ... you WILL END UP WITH A GREAT HOME BAR...
- That you LOVE spending time in each day...
- That is the social centre of your home where friends and family gather...
- And where you can brew delicious coffee to be shared by all those you care about!
Tips & Tricks
Lesson 1 Tips & Tricks - What do I want
Creating a swipe file as we discussed back in lesson 1 is still going to be a great resource for all those inspirational photos you come across during your research. And you can continue to use this swipe file as you continue to enhance your coffee bar over time!
Although Pinterest is a great resource, sometimes it's difficult to know what to search for.
'Tip & Trick': the Pinterest algorithm is really powerful and learns over time your search preferences. Start to search for design styles and 'pin' them, and then let the algorithm go to work.
Example: search for "mid century modern living room decor"... pin some of the results that you like which has an example of a foundation that could be used as your coffee bar base.
Here's an example of a photo I pinned with an awesome sideboard that could be repurposed as a coffee bar.
And not just the sideboard, the framed photos on the wall, the table lamp, and the floor plant could also be incorporated into the design of your coffee bar.
This would be an AMAZING coffee bar if the books were removed and you added an espresso machine, grinder, and kettle! Instagram 'content creator' worthy for sure!
Lesson 2 Tips & Tricks - Planning the design
This lesson was focused on planning out the design of your coffee bar. This part of the process can be the most challenging for people who are struggling to find the best way to use their space.
It's really important to keep in mind that each of us is going to have a unique space in our homes where we want to put our coffee bar. So because no two spaces are the same you have to make your space work best FOR YOU and your home!
My only 'Tip & Trick' for this lesson is that it can be really helpful to get other people's opinions, perspectives and feedback on how best to plan out the design of your coffee bar. This can be family members or friends, but also consider the specialty coffee community on social media and in the forums.
For example: if you see a coffee bar on my Instagram page @coffeebardesign that's designed in a way that you want to mimic — don't hesitate to message the person who created it and ask for some insight. If they agree to help you out send them a photo or two of your coffee bar in progress and see what they say.
They just may give you a couple tips that really open up your creativity and keep you moving in the right direction!
I've found the speciality coffee community on Instagram to be really open and helpful!
There's lots of great design inspiration and resources out there if you'd take the time to reach out!
Lesson 3 Tips & Tricks - Building the foundation
As we said back in lesson 3, the way you design & build your home coffee bar will be different depending on your preference for:
- Kitchen Countertop...easiest (and quickest) coffee bar to create... downside: less ability to change the design
- Freestanding... harder (more time required) coffee bar to create... downside: may be further from a sink than you prefer
- Built-in... hardest (most time required) coffee bar to create... downside: higher cost and longer time to create
No matter what kind of coffee bar you choose to build or enhance, there will always be a need to consider the foundation (the base and walls around your coffee bar).
It's incredible how many beautiful pieces of furniture and accessories are thrown away by people who don't quite know what they have.
Searching for that perfect base for your freestanding coffee bar and accessories to hang on the wall or display on some shelves is all part of the design fun! Try and find a cabinet, sideboard, picture frames, or some unique items that fit into the design style you're trying to create.
It took me 5 minutes to find this perfect art deco coffee bar cabinet on a local buy/sell website
- Beautiful art deco style on the front drawers and doors.
- Looks to be solid wood and very stable to hold a heavy espresso machine.
- Lots of storage inside for all that brewing gear!
- I bet I could get it for $175 😉
'Tip & Trick' ... the best sources to find amazing options to use as your coffee bar foundation:
- Ebay, Craigslist, or Kijiji
- Vintage or antique shops
- Repurposed furniture shops or online sellers
- Online buy/sell or classified ads in the area you live
- Ask family, friends, or neighbours for unwanted items
- Have a custom piece built specifically for your coffee bar
There's really an unlimited number of places you can find suitable items for your coffee bar. Once you find some things you love it just may take a bit of work to fix them up so they end up being that perfect piece for your dream coffee bar!
Lesson 4 Tips & Tricks - Adding the gear
'Tip & Trick': when it comes to gear, buy the best you can afford!
I've always believed in this motto: "Buy once cry once"!
It simply means that if you spend the money up front on a quality item you'll likely have it for a long time. Whereas, if you always buy a cheaper item, you may end up needing to replace it many times over (which eventually adds up to the same price or more than if you paid for the high quality item in the first place)!
Buy once, cry once definitely applies to coffee gear!
BUT the good news is that there are so many options on the market these days you can still make AMAZING coffee at home with equipment that really isn't that expensive!
A Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine can make a great latte, just like a new La Marzocco Linea Micra can too. One machine may be more enjoyable to use than the other... one machine may last longer than the other... one machine may look better than the other...
But BOTH can make a really good espresso if you know what you're doing!
If you prefer to make quality coffee using a pour over brewer like Hario V60 or Kalita Wave, then all you really need is a kettle, filters, and the brewer itself.
So when it comes to coffee gear, the best tip & trick I can give you is:
- Buy quality coffee beans above all else! Quality coffee going through a cheap grinder will taste better than poorly roasted or stale coffee going through a high end grinder.
- Buy quality gear on the used market. You can get amazing, well cared for equipment much cheaper than brand new. Not to mention coffee nerds like us usually treat our coffee gear really well, so buying used may be close to brand new condition anyways!
- Search local. Look around your local, online classified ads and coffee forums buy/sell section for some great gear.
This or that?
Lesson 5 Tips & Tricks - Making it personal
One last time, everyone say it with me! ... GOOD DESIGN MATTERS!
And one of the best opportunities we have to really make our home coffee bars unique is to add those personal items!
The best 'Tip & Trick' I can share with you is not to underestimate how much lighting, plants, and a rug can influence the overall design of your coffee bar.
Don't get me wrong, it's super fun to add accessories on the countertop of your coffee bar and any shelves you decided to put up. However, when it comes to making your bar unique, the lighting/plants/rug triple threat combo can take your whole setup to the next level!
Just picture this...
- Your coffee bar is on the corner of the countertop underneath the shelves.
- A perfect wicker pendant, climbing vine and Persian style rug to give the space lots of character.
- And still lots of room to add any other brewing gear or other accessories to the shelving.
Not only does adding unique lighting, plants, and a rug make your space unique, it also allows you to take wider angle photos of your setup which can be really great for content creation options!
Splurges
Before we say goodbye for now, I wanted to leave you with a few thoughts on some splurges that I think are totally worth it when it comes to designing & building (or enhancing) your dream coffee bar!
- If you ever have the opportunity to create a built-in home coffee bar: DO IT! This project requires a larger budget and more time to execute, but the final outcomes is truly splurge worthy.
- If you're creating a freestanding coffee bar somewhere in your home, the table, cabinet, or sideboard is going to be one of the biggest elements in your design. This is where I'd spend most of my budget buying a beautiful piece that aligns with the design style I'm trying to create. Example: I'd splurge and buy a beautiful, refinished sideboard in the mid-century modern style from the 1950's or 1960's for $500-$1000).
- Your espresso machine is going to be one of the biggest factors in your overall coffee bar design aesthetic. This is one of those purchases that is totally splurge worthy... buy the best machine you can afford and choose a machine that fits the design style you're trying to create. The good news is that there's TONS of options out there!
Last thoughts
I know for some people the thought of designing and building your dream coffee bar won't come easy. One of the primary barriers we all face is the layout of our homes.
Some of us will live in small homes with no free space for a coffee bar. Other's will live in larger homes with lots of space and many choices where to put their dream coffee bar.
It's important for you to simply do your best with whatever space you do have. Don't let the layout of your home frustrate or prevent you from building your dream bar! There's just too much fun and delicious coffee at stake! 😂
Just a reminder: even though this design newsletter technically now I'm still here to help if you need any feedback as you create (or enhance) your dream coffee bar!
A sincere thank you for jumping in. I hope it was valuable and did what I intended it to do... help you create your dream home coffee bar! 💭
Happy sipping...
Mike
