DENBY: How to create a luxury coffee station to elevate working from home

Thought you needed access to a full espresso machine with all the bells and whistles to enjoy a barista-quality cup of coffee at home?

Think again! In this article, Hayley Baddiley, from Denby Pottery, shares her tips for setting up a luxury coffee station that will really elevate your breaks from work. 

For many of us, taking the time to stop for a coffee is one of the highlights of the working day. But, if you’re one of the many people who have started working from home over the past few months, you might be missing that morning takeaway coffee on your commute, or heading to your local café to catch up with colleagues over a brew. So, why not make these moments a part of your schedule when working from home? After all, you don't need to be a barista to enjoy a really great cup of coffee. Here, I'll explain how to set up a coffee station, so you can enjoy a barista-quality beverage from the comfort of your home office. 

Designing the station

First, find the perfect place for your new coffee station. Ideally, you'll want to position it near your home office or workspace to save you running to and from the kitchen all day — plus, this will allow you to savour that freshly brewed coffee smell while you work. As you'll be boiling the water for your coffee here, you'll also want to make sure it’s located somewhere near a plug socket or extension cord. 

Once you've located the perfect spot, you can find a table, trolley, or other surface to set up your own personal coffee bar. Pick something stylish that will complement the rest of your décor — old-fashioned cocktail trolleys can work brilliantly for this, and they have the advantage of being portable, too. You can also arrange all of your equipment on a beautiful tray to keep it neatly organised. 

Pick out the perfect brewing equipment

Next, it’s time to decide which kind of brewing method you would like to use. You may already have a personal preference but, if you're new to fresh brewing methods, this is a great time to experiment! The following methods tend to be the best choices for a small coffee station:

• The pour-over method: This involves pouring hot water through ground coffee using a disposable filter and a pour-over dripper. The water passes through the coffee in the filter and out into the cup, resulting in a delicate yet flavoursome and refreshing brew. It’s a great method for single origin coffee beans and light roasts, as it allows you to appreciate the flavours and aromas. It can be more time consuming than other methods, but it does make a fantastic cup of coffee.

• Filter coffee: These machines work using much the same principle as the pour-over method, although they can also heat the water for you, removing the need to boil a kettle and pour the water yourself. They're easy to use and can make a great cup of flavoursome coffee. However, they can take up a fair amount of space, so they might not be the best option for smaller spaces.

• Cafetiere brewing: This is a type of immersion brewing that uses a device called a cafetiere or French press. The coffee is steeped in hot water for around four minutes inside the main chamber, and the grounds are then "pressed" to the bottom of the cafetiere using the plunger. The finished coffee can then be poured out. They can make strong and tasty coffee, although you do need to wait a few minutes for the grounds to steep. 

In addition to your chosen brewing equipment, here’s a list of a few other helpful items for your coffee station: 

• A kettle. Mini or travel kettles can save on space. 

• A pitcher filled with fresh water, if your coffee station won't be located near a tap. 

• An airtight tin for storing your coffee.

• A grinder, if you'll be using whole beans.

• A mini fridge for storing milk (if you take milk with your coffee). 

• A coffee scoop for measuring out the ideal amount of coffee. 

• Teaspoons. You can store these in a stylish mug to keep your station organised! 

Picking out a quality cup and saucer set

While the quality of the beans is important, serving your coffee in a stylish mug will add an extra layer of luxury to your coffee break. Use beautiful ceramic pieces that will make your brew feel like something you'd find in an upmarket coffee shop. For a premium feel, you could use a cup and saucer — this also gives you a place to serve a biscuit or other sweet treat on the side. 

Your ceramics will be on display as part of your coffee station, so choosing something that complements the rest of your brewing equipment and décor will work well. It doesn’t need to match: you can always mix up the patterns, colours, and textures of your mugs for an eclectic look.

Sourcing your coffee

Having all the best brewing equipment and ceramics won't mean a thing if you’re not using great coffee! So, take the time to source high-quality beans or grounds for your coffee station. If you want to experiment with some new varieties but don't know where to start, try one of our coffee boxes, which deliver new types of coffee to your door once a month!

Creating your own home coffee bar will help you to savour the ritual of making a hot drink, and it will ensure that every brew you make tastes great. Try taking these tips on board to create a stylish and convenient coffee station that's ideal for home working.