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A couple of weeks ago, I talked about incorporating one of my favorite beverages into design. And as much as I do love wine, there is one beverage I love even more. While that may be hard to believe, I do not go a day without coffee.  The same is not true for wine. Really!

I am definitely not alone in my love for coffee – at least for Americans. And since most of us start our day with coffee, it seems reasonable to talk about how coffee is integrated into our houses.

Let’s talk about the sights, sounds and aroma of coffee.

Sight

Simply put, coffee pots are just not as sexy as wine bottles. In my house, we have 4 different machines for making: our regular drip coffee pot, the adjacent coffee grinders, an espresso maker, and a single cup brewer upstairs for our guest – talk about “counter clutter”. Could this be the reason I’m such a fanatic about including “Messy Kitchens” in all our designs?

I discovered I’m not the only one with multiple coffee machines, as our VRBO last week had three coffee pots and one grinder.

Speaking of messy – having a close convenient place to discard the wet coffee grinds in vital. Imagine walking all the way across your kitchen holding a wet coffee filter full of grinds – that inevitably breaks right before you get to the garbage can. What a mess!

In our new townhome, we didn’t have the luxury of a separate alcove for small kitchen appliances. And with a very small kitchen, we didn’t have room for all our coffee paraphernalia. We decided to add a second bank of cabinets along the stairs for our counter clutter. Instead of letting them sit out on the counter, we added an extra deep cabinet that sits on the countertop to hide our coffee machines.

The only caveat is we will need to leave the door open when we brew our coffee because of the steam.

Sounds

Back to our wine vs coffee comparison – there is something wonderful about the sound of a wine cork being popped.  That is not the case with coffee being brewed – especially if you like to grind your coffee early in the morning while others are still asleep.  This is the luxury of having a separate Messy Kitchen – or even locating the grinder in a walk-in pantry with a door that closes.

Some people like the sound of an espresso machine. In truth – it is the sound of the steam wand frothing the milk for a cappuccino.  While it can be loud, it is an indicator that something delicious is being prepared.

Aroma

Okay – score one for coffee over wine. Sure, aroma plays a powerful role in enjoying wine (dark chocolate with hints of cherry and tobacco) but nothing beats the smell of coffee. In our office, I could be working away, perfectly happy until Tony makes himself a cup of coffee. That coffee aroma hits and suddenly, nothing else matters – I need coffee too! Indeed, I am surprised more new home sales consultants don’t use the aroma of coffee to their advantage.  “Hey, I just brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Why not relax on the back porch and enjoy a cup?”

Cozy Coffee Corner

Like wine, coffee is sipped – but for different reasons. Coffee is too hot to drink fast unless you are a psychopath. And like wine, there is something almost ritualistic about where someone enjoys their first cup of the day. This is a moment that sets the tone for the rest of the day and no one wants to waste that first sip feeling, so take care in how and where you enjoy your coffee. Perhaps it’s an owner’s retreat adjacent to the bedroom. It could be outside watching the sun come up with the flora and fauna. I love sitting on my back porch watching the sun rise drinking my first cup.

Why limit coffee to the kitchen? The ultimate master suite needs an espresso machine, right? Or for the ultimate host, an upstairs coffee station for guests to start their mornings.

For many of us, our productivity depends on starting the day with coffee. Does your house have a dedicated space with various machines for every mood? I’d love to hear your thoughts!