One of the things we love having during the colder season is a little hot drink station. All things are kept in one spot to make it easy for preparing a hot drink on a chilly day. Creating hot drink station does not require much and neither does it have to be complicated. Gather your favorite drink mixes (coffee, cocoa, cider, etc), creamer, sugar and a coffee brewer, set it on a small corner or table in your kitchen or dining room, add some coffee mugs and you are good to go. If you want to get a bit fancier, you can always add some toppings such as marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, chocolate shavings to the station and keep cold toppings like whipped cream in the refrigerator, of course.
Currently, we have a small year-round coffee station in our kitchen (see it here) but I added this ‘larger’ one in the dining room with just a little extra for those cozy days and for when we have larger gatherings with guests. I don’t get the best lighting in here photography wise so I had to eventually tell myself – enough trying to capture the perfect photos.
I had this little console double stand console table that I bought for another purpose but it did not work out too well for the space where I wanted it. I figured it would be great to create that hot drink station. It fits perfectly in this little corner of the dining room. Side Note: You can even catch a bit of the new curtains – finally something longer and that actually makes a statement.
How to Create a Hot Drink Station
Things needed:
- Table or cart
- Coffee maker
- Drinking Mugs (coffee mugs)
- Thermal carafe or hot water pitcher for hot water when necessary (maybe even a kettle)
- Storage jars/Bowls/Labels (optional)
- Ground coffee or K-cups
- Tea
- Drink mixes (packets) – hot cocoa, cider or other seasonal drink mixes
- Cocoa powder (optional)
- Powder creamer
- Sugar (I used raw sugar)
- Spoons or stirrers
- Toppings – ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, etc (extra toppings such as whipped cream or caramel syrup can be kept in the refrigerator and brought out when ready to use)
- Printable or drink station art (optional)
- Seasonal decor (optional)
Directions:
- Separate coffee and drink packets by type in storage jars or bowls. Label them if desired. Set up the coffee station in any order that makes sense to you but drinks can be easily accessible. There is no one specific order of setting up. Although, it might be helpful to start by adding the coffee pot first, coffee and mugs close to the pot, and creamer and sugar nearby. These are what I added to the top.
- If you use a regular table, add everything at the top of course. But if you use a double stand table or bar cart, simply play around with where things should go. I used a double stand so at the bottom of the table, I added the complementary drinks and extra mugs. I even added some cookies for good looks.
- Adding a piece of corresponding art or wording will make the drink station even more welcoming. I love using a Chalkboard for this as the lettering can be easily changed out. My lettering is not this perfect by nature – what happened to my good handwriting that I once used to have? I need to take my time to write again:) But anyway, I used a little chalk and letter method to get it to look beautiful. But if you have awesome handwriting (or not) feel free to write it on. The art can be placed on the wall about the table or even on the table.
- Add extra seasonal decor (fruit, flowers, figuring, etc.) if you’d like to do so. I did not add too much – just a couple little pumpkins as my table was already full. But decorations could even be on the floor next to the table or bar cart. Make it simple, yet pretty and welcoming.
And that is really all it takes to get a hot drink station set up. If you do not have an extra table or bar cart, you could even set this up right on the kitchen counter (assuming you have the space, of course). Just be sure it is in a corner and not in the middle where people have to be in the way of cooking or so.
Note: Where-ever you set up the station, you’ll have to tote water back and forth to make the drinks so keep that in mind when setting it up. If you are having guests over or just a casual family evening, consider starting early by getting the coffee maker brewing and boiling water to add to the thermal for other drinks. The thermal carafe (hot water pitcher) can be kept in the cabinets until ready to use – it does not necessarily have to be kept out at the coffee station at all times. If you don’t have one you can use a kettle instead.
If only you or another family member is making a one cup drink, then that set up is not necessary. Just make whatever drink you want when you prefer. Sounds easy? Because it is and it really help s for making quick yet cozy drinks having everything in one place. There’s no need to walk around trying to figure out everything.
So what do you think? Does you family enjoy all things warm drinks on those Autumn, chilly or wintry days? Do you have a station set up for easy drink making? I’d love to know what you added.
