Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts

Monday, August 17, 2015

Mini Coffee Station

 

If there's one thing that will always be a staple in our kitchen, it's a coffee maker. My husband is an avid coffee drinker and he has been since the day we met. Morning, noon or night, he's almost always up for a cup (or two or three). 


I've seen many different types of coffee stations or coffee bars all over Pinterest. I was especially inspired by Katie Bower's desk turned coffee bar. Our kitchen isn't big enough to dedicate much counter space to making a true "station", or add a large piece of furniture, so I kept thinking of other ways to create something on a smaller scale.  


I've had this wooden wine rack in our living room for a few years. It feels like a tall end table. It's been serving as a wine-magazine-candle rack for quite a while. I wondered if it might just work as a mini coffee station. 


It's one of the first things you see when you walk into our house and is snugged right behind our kitchen table next to a bench. Anything bigger would be too much. 


I really wanted to incorporate shelving above to keep mugs and a sugar bowl. The shelves were already there, so all I had to do was re-style them. All you need is some type of stand - it could be an old dresser, hutch, desk, island, table, shelving unit, anything! Add your coffee maker and a basket or tray with supplies - coffee (of course!), filters, stir sticks, whatever you like. And lastly, some pretty mugs, sugar, and other fixin's. That's it! Cute, right?


Make sure you have something underneath your coffee maker if it's a wooden surface or something you'd rather not get wet. I used a round place mat. Andrew's favorite coffee is Wawa hazelnut. He buys some every time we go to Pennsylvania to keep his supply stocked.


I can also store my cookbooks and still use it for wine bottles. A perfect little multipurpose stand! I bought this inexpensive wine rack at Big Lots years ago. Check out the miscellaneous furniture section at similar stores for little gems like this. 

Cheers and happy coffee drinking!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Ultimate Coffee Gift Box

For Christmas, I made a coffee themed gift basket for Andrew's parents. They love coffee! All the time. It could be 11pm and they're making another pot of joe. I thought it might be nice to give them a matching set of coffee mugs, along with some other related treats. 

Aren't these "coffee" mugs perfect? I found them at the Christmas Tree Shop. I think I snagged the last 8 they had. However, one "cocoa" mug accidentally wound up in my cart - oops. 

I also found this adorable kitchen towel

Holiday napkins

Biscotti

Strawberry Peach preserves (love the name)

And a heavy gift box with a lid to assemble it in - all at the Christmas Tree Shop

Can't forget the main ingredient - a bag of coffee!

I lined the box with tissue paper and put the mugs on each side. The lid sat underneath the box.

I arranged the other goodies in the middle. It was a perfect fit!

I wrapped the whole box with iridescent cellophane (also from CTS),

and folded the sides underneath and secured them with tape. 

All that was left was to tie a pretty bow around the middle and add a little card. Who wouldn't like to receive this? 

I should have worked at "Create a Gift." Anyone remember that place? This would be a great housewarming or bridal shower gift. You could add some fancy cookies, chocolates, tea or hot cocoa. Be creative! It's not as difficult as you might think. Your recipient will appreciate the thought that went into this customized gift.  

Here are a few other gift basket ideas:

Coffee and Tea gift box

Gardening themed gift basket

House Warming / Wedding gift basket

I really like making these. Maybe I should make this part of my side business...

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Coffee & Tea Gift Box

I put together a coffee and tea gift box for a very special couple who are getting married soon. 

Christina and Ryan are good friends of ours, and today was Christina's bridal shower (Ryan showed up to help open gifts). Are they a good looking couple or what? They are both so sweet and fun. I'm so happy for them and can't wait for their wedding (which my husband will be participating as a groomsman). 

Their registry listed a coffee grinder, which got the wheels in my head turning. What about putting together a coffee and tea themed gift? I found two white monogrammed mugs with the letter "P" for their (future) last name. 

Then I saw this cool photo/craft storage box with words and quotes about love and life. Ryan and Christina are both into art, photography and design. This would make the perfect base for the gift box, and they would be able to use it later.

A bag of Starbucks coffee beans (to use with their new grinder) and a box if assorted teas. 

I placed everything inside the box to see how it would fit. Tall items in the back and the mugs in the front.

Then I layered balled up tissue paper underneath and around to help everything sit nice and high inside the box.

I typed up a little tag with their names to insert in the box label area.

Once everything was arranged inside the box, I wrapped the whole thing with a sheet of clear cellophane and taped it in place. I had just enough cellophane left  - it was close! Then I added a red ribbon tied in a bow and slipped a card underneath.

The happy couple liked it! This would make a great birthday or housewarming gift. You could customize it with the recipients favorite coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Add some biscotti or cookies. I just love personalized gifts!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Favorite Things: McDonald's Hazelnut Iced Coffee with Low Fat Milk


This is perfection. With a straw. To go.

McDonald's hazelnut iced coffee with low fat milk is my favorite. Let me stress the low fat milk part again. If you get regular milk, it's too sweet with not enough coffee flavor. I would categorize myself as an occasional coffee drinker. I don't need a cup o' joe every day. But on those extra sleepy mornings, when I need some get-up-'n-go, this does it. I especially love hazelnut.

I think I've tried most of the iced coffee's in town. Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Horton's, Jitter's, Starbucks. There's just something about McDonald's coffee. And a medium is reasonably priced around $2.29. Prices and participation may vary. Do I sound like one of their commercials or what? Maybe McDonald's will see this endorsement and give me free iced coffee for life. Hurry! Tell your friends!

So, what coffee do you coffee-lovers prefer? Hot? Cold? Do you have a favorite brand? Or will any cup of java do? Do tell. It's time for coffee talk.