By Ruth Mullens, The Oregonian
Here in the Pacific Northwest, a good chunk of us worship at the altar of gourmet coffee. Chances are your kitchen countertop is strewn with the daily detritus of your addiction, from dirty spoons and mugs to leftover milk and cream, sugar and scattered coffee beans. No matter what your beverage addiction, creating a specific service area could help contain your paraphernalia plus free up space in other parts of your kitchen.
Designer Chelly Wentworth of Craftsman Design and Renovation says the best solution for time-strapped caffeine addicts is to designate a specific area as a “beverage station.”
Pick a spot: You save a lot of time if you can find one place on the counter where you can leave your drip or espresso machines out rather than hauling out your equipment and stowing it each day. Keep everything else handy, too, including mugs, spoons, sugar and sweetener, grinder and tea bags. A location near the sink or dishwasher means mugs and glassware can be quickly washed, dried and returned to their shelf. Access to the microwave is handy for warming both mugs and breakfast pastries.
Designate space: Look for a small, rarely used section of your kitchen counter that’s too cramped for food preparation. It can morph into a classy beverage station with a little reorganization.
If there’s cabinetry above, outfit it with your best mugs and teacups. House your favorite coffee beans there, too, in a pretty, airtight container, alongside the coffee grinder, raw sugar and cinnamon sprinkles. If you have open shelves, you can create an attractive display for your favorite cups and dishes.
Rethink the refrigerator niche: A good place to house a designated beverage station is an abandoned refrigerator niche; these spaces tend to be little-used because they are so tall and narrow. Add a base cabinet for mug and glass storage. and stow your coffee maker and espresso machine out on the countertop. If you’re got a second bar sink, consider adding instant hot, filtered water for tea.
Coffee garage: Turn an underused appliance garage into a coffee-centric space, which allows you to keep all your coffee- or tea-related items, including cups, mugs, grinders, etc., under wraps with an easy roll-up metal or wooden tambour door. This way you can hide everything in a flash and still have it accessible.
Pullout tray: If space is really tight, a pullout tray tucked just below the countertop adds room when — and where — you need it.
Go all out: If you have the budget, plumb in espresso and drip coffee makers. This makes your beverage station part of easy entertaining; guests can help themselves to coffee while you’re making brunch. Add a wine rack, stemware and an ice bucket to make the space double its versatility. Splurging can make entertaining even easier if you add an ice maker and a small wine refrigerator.
What about the kids? Tired of kids rooting around in the refrigerator when you’re trying to cook? Consider adding a small under-counter refrigerator and stock it with easy-to-reach kid drinks.
