Is a coffee bar a must-have?
For me, I really like having one — especially in our guest spaces and rentals.
It gives everything coffee-related its own little spot, keeps the kitchen or room more organized, and makes the space feel a little more intentional.
A Coffee Bar in Our Tiny Home
One of the places where a dedicated coffee area works especially well is our tiny home. When you're working with a smaller space, giving things their own designated spot can make a big difference.
The coffee area in our tiny home.
A closer look at the tiny home coffee bar setup.
Coffee bar: must-have or wasted space?
I definitely lean toward must-have. ☕
Watch the Coffee Bar Reel
A few of the coffee bar setups we've created.
Why I Like Having a Coffee Bar
A coffee bar doesn't have to be huge or fancy to be useful.
I like having one dedicated area where the coffee maker, mugs and other supplies can stay together instead of being spread throughout the kitchen.
In a guest space, it also makes things easier to find. Guests don't have to go looking through cabinets just to figure out where the coffee is.
Coffee Bars Work Well in Small Spaces
One of the reasons I like coffee bars so much is that you don't necessarily need a lot of room.
A small counter, cabinet, shelf or little corner can be enough to create a useful coffee station.
That's especially helpful in smaller guest suites or rentals where you want to give people what they need without filling the room with extra furniture.
Another Coffee Bar Setup
We've created coffee areas in several different spaces, and they don't all look the same. That's part of what I like about them — you can use the room you already have and create a setup that fits it.
One of our coffee bar setups in the Cozy Corner apartment.
Another view showing how the coffee area fits into the room.
The finished coffee bar setup.
My favorite coffee bar setups:
Simple, easy to find and small enough that they don't take over the whole room.
What I Usually Include
The exact setup changes depending on the space, but I like to keep the basics together in one place.
That can include the coffee maker, coffee supplies, mugs and whatever else makes sense for that particular room.
The goal isn't to cram as much as possible into the area. It's just to make it feel convenient and organized.
Coffee Bars in Guest Rentals
I especially like having coffee bars in our guest spaces.
Little details like this can make a rental feel more comfortable because guests can immediately see where everything is instead of having to search for it.
And because we've created coffee areas in several different spaces, I've learned that you can make one work without needing a full-size kitchen.
Making It Fit the Space
Not every coffee bar needs to look the same.
Some spaces may have room for a larger setup, while others only need a small corner.
I think the best coffee bars are the ones that fit naturally into the room rather than looking like they were forced into whatever space was left over.
What do you think?
Is a coffee bar a must-have in your home or just something that takes up extra space?
More Small-Space Ideas
If you like seeing how we make smaller spaces work, check out our closet-to-kitchenette transformation, our tiny home kitchen makeover, and our tiny home bedroom makeover.
You can also visit our About Us page to see more of our renovations, rentals, finds and family projects.