How To Set Up a Coffee Station: Holiday Edition

Imagine this - you are staying at your parents house over the holidays. You stumble out of bed at 5:45 AM, hoping for twenty minutes of quiet before your mother in law wants to make pie crust with you and your toddler wants to watch their favorite cartoon for the twenty fifth time. You head towards the coffee pot and open the unassuming drawer underneath, already looking forward to a hot cup of caffination to get you into the holiday spirit. You look down into the drawer - only to find six different boxes of expired green tea and a lonely decaf k-cup. Sound like a nightmare? Read on!

Setting up a coffee station is a necessity for both your holiday guests AND you! The holidays are resuming with some sense of normalcy this year, and it’s time to start getting prepared. Want a great way to greet guests? Start by setting up a morning coffee and tea station to help get each day off to the right start!

Step One: Declutter the Space

Let’s start by getting rid of old or unwanted items. Sort through your coffee mug collection and toss chipped, stained, and unused mugs. Throw away coffee and tea you have had for over a year - these items are best when fresh! Take time to declutter protein powders, supplements, or any other items that may be part of your morning coffee station.

Clean out your coffee pot and wipe down drawers. Collect items in your kitchen that should be stored near the coffee pot so guests can find items easily - helping them feel more comfortable and giving you a break from always looking for things!

Download our kitchen decluttering challenge checklist to take steps each day to decrease kitchen clutter before the holidays.

Step Two: Stock up on Essentials

Now is the fun part! Make a list of necessities you will need to get your coffee station prepped for the holidays. Does mom like decaf? Are your kids crazy about hot cocoa when the weather gets cooler? Take time to prep now so you can have one less thing to think about when the holidays come.

I use a Keurig coffee maker, so I like to stock up on a variety of k-cups. Having a few options for sweetener can be nice too, depending on who is coming to visit. Watch me stock my coffee bar here!

Pro Tip: A matching set of coffee mugs makes all the difference. I love a set of uniform white cups, but creating cohesion in color or style can be great too! This will make organizing your mugs easier and create less confusion for your guests.

Step Three: Utilize Product

Now that you have your coffee bar essentials ready, it times to organize! I love a dedicated drawer for coffee essentials - it keeps everything accessible while helping me stay accountable in not overbuying. Try setting up your drawer with drawer dividers to keep different items separate. No drawer available? Try glass jars filled with k-cups or small labeled baskets or acrylic bins for different teas and coffees. Make sure coffee mugs are stored near by as well as coffee accessories such as sweeteners or your milk frothier.

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