Built in Coffee Bar Ideas: Make Your Own Coffee Bar

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Make your own coffee station with these simple built in coffee bar ideas! Today I’m transforming an unused coat closet to a built in coffee bar. I hope this inspires you to create a beautiful and functional DIY coffee bar nook as well.

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How to Create a Built in Coffee Bar

Building a coffee bar can be done without it being built in. However, why not use an unused space if you have it?

When we moved into our 1970s home, we knew we would be remodeling the entire home.

The space to the right of the kitchen, which we fully remodeled in 2023-2024, is what we converted to our dining room. There was a small wall on the far right that had a coat closet on the backside of it.

Since we created our mudroom off of the front door, we no longer needed this coat closet.

We widened the opening to remove congestion to the basement door.

Then, we removed the wall on the dining side and flipped the opening of the previous coat closet.

We plopped my favorite cupboard that I refinished in the nook until we were ready to create our built in coffee bar.

Building Materials Needed for a Built In Coffee Station

After all our remodeling was complete in the rest of the house, it was time to create the coffee bar nook I’d envisioned all along.

Here are the basic materials I used for my 48″ built in coffee station.

• 2 24″ Drawer Base Cabinets
• Sanded plywood for the counters and toe kick
• Poplar 1x boards for my shelving using this tutorial
• Walnut 1x boards for my plate rack using this tutorial

Build Your Base

There are so many built in coffee bar ideas to consider. However, I wanted to amp up the storage and make this process as easy as possible.

I built my base out of stock kitchen drawer cabinets and a 2×4 foundation.

Using a 2×4 foundation allowed me to get the height I wanted. Plus, it made it much faster to level the foundation first so the base cabinets would install easier.

I topped the base drawers with simple sanded plywood cut to size. You can stain or paint your plywood counter.

I finished the counter with the paint color. Then, I finished the front edge with walnut edge banding, which I also used on our fireplace mantel.

With the leftover plywood from the countertop, I created an arched toe kick to mirror the toe kick of my kitchen hutch.

Build Your Shelving

My coffee bar nook was shaped like an L from how the builder framed it out. I used this small L recess to make a custom plate rack for extra storage and a custom design feature.

Next, I used poplar to build my floating shelves.

They are stained with one coat of Varathane Espresso followed by Dark Walnut Gel Stain.

Though they are supported by recessed L brackets in the studs, I also added these beautiful brackets which I Rub n’ Buffed with European Gold.

To complete the look, I trimmed out the sides of the drawers and the top of the toe kick with a walnut cap to match the walnut plate rack.

Built In Coffee Bar FAQs

I absolutely love the amount of storage this built in coffee bar gives me.

In the drawers I store all my table linens, candles, platters, and serving bowls. In the top drawer I store all my K Cup pods so they are easily accessible.

Here are some common questions regarding this built in coffee bar.

Cabinet Drawer Color

I was lucky enough to find an affordable mis-tint paint for my cabinet drawers. However, the unfortunate part was that the store had crossed out the color code. So I do not have a color name for the paint used.

However, it is very close to SW Retreat or Pewter Green. I would get some samples to see if either of those are the color you’re looking for.

What Is a Good Height for a Coffee Bar?

The standard height for a coffee bar is similar to lower kitchen cabinets: 34″-39″.

My 2×4 base gave my standard cabinet bases an additional 2.5″ so my coffee bar is 37.75″ tall with the countertop.

What to Have In Your Home Coffee Bar

While there a a few items that are obvious to stock in your coffee bar, like coffee, here are a few other ideas.

• Mugs
• Plates/Bowls
• Gourmet hot chocolate ingredients
• French press
• Coffee grinder
• Coffee Maker
• Electric tea kettle
• Selection of hot teas
• Coffee/K Cups
• Flavored syrups
• Cute canisters
• Cloth napkins/linens
• Decor for display
• Sugar
• Creamer
• Mini-fridge for perishables

Built In Coffee Bar Styling Ideas

While there are those who are minimalists and only need a coffee maker and coffee mugs in their coffee station, I prefer a more curated look.

I like to mix in antiques, pottery, artwork, baskets, and decor alongside the practical items.

This sweet little touch lamp is my favorite addition. It is the perfect way to make a morning coffee brew extra cozy.

I have my K-Brew and Chill Keurig on my coffee bar because it brews both hot and cold. This way, my family or guests can simply open the drawer and choose exactly the type of beverage they want. Whether it is coffee, iced tea, or hot chocolate.

If you have the ability, adding a bar sink would be a wonderful addition to make it easy to brew your favorite drinks without having to run to another water source.

More DIY Ideas

I hope seeing how this built in coffee bar came together inspires you to create your own space.

While I was working within the footprint of an old coat closet, this would be so easy to adjust to the space you have in your home using varied size stock cabinetry.

If you’re looking for more DIY ideas, make sure you check out these other unique home updates I’ve done in the past, linked below!

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~Sarah