Coffee stations: The kitchen addition every home owner is asking for

Toowoomba coffee-lover Jason Lilienstein was loyal to his Italian coffee machine for 17 years. That was before the upgrade. Now, he says, a new Synesso espresso machine jewels his kitchen.

“It’s cottage green and stainless steel,” Lilienstein says.

“I find it nice to look at, and just making a coffee on that gives me so much pleasure.”

Pinterest helped put “cafecore” – the cafe-decor-in-the-home aesthetic – on the map last year with its Pinterest Predicts trend forecast.

Not only is it a stylish addition to any kitchen, there are thousands of dollars to save making your own coffee at home, consumer advocate CHOICE highlighted in its calculations last year – helpful in the current cost of living crunch.

Simona Castagna, founder of interior designer Studio Minosa, says her clients are increasingly interested in designing interior spaces that enhance the experience of making and enjoying coffee at home.

“Before it didn’t really come into the scope of works, but now everyone talks about coffee,” she says.

Wayne Gao, co-founder and director of interior decoration studio Furnishd agrees.

Furnishd recently collaborated with Tecture Architecture on a dedicated coffee nook within a kitchen.

The set-up includes a pocket-door cabinet that reveals or conceals the coffee station.

Gao says banquette seating and floating shelves displaying beautiful coffee paraphernalia can all enhance the cafe sensibility in a residential space.

“A mix of natural materials – like timber, stone and linen – instantly creates warmth, while sculptural stools, vintage-inspired lighting, and textured ceramics can give that effortless cafe aesthetic.

“Soft ambient lighting, a curated stack of design books, and even a well-chosen playlist playing through discrete speakers can complete the feel.”

Castagna emphasises that a beautiful home coffee station needs to be functional.

Studio Minosa is a three-time winner of the Kitchen Design of the Year award in Housing Industry of Australia’s Australian Kitchen and Bathroom Awards.

“Most of our designs have consideration for where the coffee machine goes – whether it’s hidden or whether it’s a … whizbang beautiful machine that they want on display.

“One client in particular has a beautiful coffee machine – fully chrome machine, free-standing, plumbed machine, downstairs by his pool kitchen … he uses that machine every morning.

“He’s got a full view of Sydney Harbour, and that’s where he goes in the morning by himself, and makes his coffee, and thinks about his day, and loves it.”

Finding the right coffee machine for you

Today’s home coffee machines range from entry-level all the way up to semi-commercial powerhouses.

Here are three machines that could enhance your home coffee.

Under $500

Breville’s Espresso Machine, the Bambino, features a ThermoJet heating system that readies the machine for busy coffee-lovers in three seconds.

The Bambino’s compact build saves space in smaller kitchens and is easy for beginners.

Price: $449

Over $1000

The De’Longhi Rivelia is a fully automatic coffee machine that allows home baristas to switch between 16 customisable drink recipes. The interactive display is embedded in a beautiful brushed aluminium exterior.

Price: $1379

Over $5000

La Marzocco’s Linea Micra espresso machine introduces premium cafe quality coffee into kitchens and coffee stations of all shapes and sizes.

Price: $5999