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I first started drinking coffee when I was in my late teens. It was a bit of an acquired taste for me and I added half and half and sugar. When I met/married Mr. B he had lived in Germany for 2 years and loved well brewed coffee. I dropped the sugar once I tasted a really good cup of coffee and have never looked back, but adding half and half is still my first choice when drinking the dark pick-me-up. Whipped cream and cinnamon is welcome on a cold day!
I enjoy 1 1/2 – 2 cups every morning but am pretty cautious about drinking it past noon as it keeps me awake. Through the years we’ve had a variety of different machines to prepare our coffee, including a French press—some of the best coffee was made using our French press. So today’s post will include some very pretty kitchens and their placement of a coffee maker of some kind.
This is one of my favorite kitchen ideas…utility mixed with the right amount of art and flowers. If I was confident I could style shelves this well, I’d definitely go for open shelving in some part of the kitchen next time.
Oh, and the inspiration for this post was an article in the New York Post talking about how coffee can help reverse liver damage from drinking alcohol. I don’t drink that much but I do enjoy a glass of wine after work most evenings, so I thought this might be a win-win. 🙂
Now here is where it’s crazy in the GHP house. We own this beauty. It makes espresso and steams milk…it’s very pretty, however, we own a drip maker as well. Seriously, Mr. B!? My kitchen counter space is limited…2 coffee machines?!
After whining discussing this with family, I was given this clever machine by our California kids. It makes espresso and a regular cup of coffee, all from one machine.
But, (there’s always a but) it’s an expensive cup of either espresso or coffee, comparatively. And environmentally safe disposal of the pods is a bit of a headache. I love the sleek lines and I appreciate only one machine on the counter. Am I ever satisfied? Um, maybe not.
The forethought of this kitchen design feature is pretty cool. A coffee cupboard that has it’s own water source. And you can close the doors when not in use. Maybe in another house.
The coffee maker in this kitchen has the bonus of a shelf for coffee cups…convenient.
This lovely kitchen has what looks to be a stove top percolator…a blast from the past. Fitting for such a beautiful kitchen.
An Ikea kitchen, isn’t it pretty? It looks like their coffee source is an espresso maker tucked in the back corner.
Coffee makers continue to change and possibly improve.
This is a Siphon Coffee maker from Williams Sonoma.
I haven’t read the reviews, but it looks pretty, doesn’t it?
Tell me, are you a coffee drinker? Several of my friends won’t touch the stuff. If you are a coffee drinker, do you make your own or rely on Starbucks, Peets or some other fabulous coffee house? Have a great Wednesday and a beautiful upcoming weekend! ♥ Karen
Garden, Home & Party 
Reviving Charm said:
Hi Karen,
It’s always fun to see how average people incorporate everyday items into a home. Such a clever post! Your kitchen is beautiful. And you are right, the first image of the white kitchen is stunning. We have a French press that my Mr uses Ina daily basis. I do t touch the stuff while at home. However, I make the daily walk to Starbucks each workday morning. It’s a ritual. Not a particularly good habit for a variety of reasons…cappuccino, white mocha or vanilla latte are my drink of choice. Occasionally a cappuccino after dinner here in the states. Otherwise only in the morning when in Italy. And when in Rome (pun intended) an expresso might do the trick.
I like clean countertops so the appliance “garages” are appealing to me but realistic most of the time unless your designing your own kitchen. Counter space is prime real estate in our house since we have very little of it in our house. That was a trade off when buying our home but we don’t cook much so it works. Needless to say, the coffee machine only comes out from the cabinet when guests come over.
Fun post!
Karen B. said:
Vanessa, Thank you. This post is for those of us who can’t quite wake up in the morning without our cup o’ Joe. I would enjoy a brisk walk to Starbucks each morning but without my coffee I’d never make it! lol {catch 22} I do love French press coffee! Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 6:32 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Dawn said:
Love your kitchen, Karen! (I always peek through the window to see your garden, too!) 🙂 We aren’t coffee drinkers. So, I keep a bright, red tea kettle on the stove and enjoy my small collection of tea pots and antique tea cups. There is a coffee maker hidden away just for guests. Wishing you a whipped cream and cinnamon kind of week, dear Karen! ♡
Karen B. said:
Dawn, I do wish I could develop a tea habit in the morning, but despite what I read, the caffeine jolt just isn’t the same as coffee. We enjoy a cup of tea after dinner most evenings. I can visualize the red tea kettle and a pair of antique cups and saucers….just my kind of setting for a beautiful morning. xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 6:55 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Victoria • Restoring our Victorian said:
I’m a French press person, and a few years ago I started doing cold-pressed coffee. I’m completely converted now! I do think the taste is different, and also wonderful in the summer to have chilled coffee that’s not diluted with ice.
It’s also convenient to not have to make it in the morning (only time we drink it) and also nice that none goes to waste.
Love all the photos, that first one in particular!
Karen B. said:
Both of our sons have converted to cold press coffee. I buy it when they visit, but Mr. B loves the drip maker for everyday. French press tastes the best to me as far as full bodied flavor and the jolt I need to wake me up! xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 7:42 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Simone said:
Hi,
I used to get a Starbucks latte every morning. That is an expensive habit. So when Starbucks upset me by discontinuing their delicious scones replacing them with greasy frozen food I decided to do something about it.
We went with Nespresso. I still have my flavored lattes, and bake my own breakfast treats.
The storage problem? Well, I have electricity in my 12′ long walk in pantry, leaving an uncluttered counter.
My company loves the machine. With the milk frother we make cappuccinos and lattes for everyone.
I bought one for my guest house too!
Karen B. said:
Simone,
I do love Nespresso and I especially like the milk frother…one of the best. Where do you dispose of the empty pods?
Thank you for stopping by.
Karen
Simone said:
Williams Sonoma, or if I have a problem I can ups them back.
Karen B. said:
Good to know. I was never sure where to dispose of them. Thanks for the information. Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 5:43 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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debra @ 5th and state said:
hi karen
well, i could have written this post, no sugar (now), 1/2 & 1/2, yum!! and my machine is a nespresso. discovered it in europe where it is wildly popular & fell in love……but the dreaded pods, just dropped out a ton at williams & sonoma (they take them)
xx
Karen B. said:
Okay, that’s good to know, Wm. Sonoma, here I come. I do love the ease and variety of beverages available with my Nespresso Vertuoline, I just started feeling guilty about the number of pods I was generating and tossing. Has to be real 1/2 and 1/2! 🙂 xo
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 11:33 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Vicki said:
Hi Karen, I’m not a coffee drinker, but I love the smell of it. Reminds me of vacations with my grandparents. The storage nut in me loves that coffee cupboard. I’ll take any excuse to look at all the pretty kitchens you found!
Karen B. said:
Vicki, You caught me, any story that can surround a host of pretty kitchen pics works for me! And my kindred spirits in the blog world! xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 12:41 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Linda Coble said:
Hi Karen,
I wish I could drink coffee because I love the smell of it brewing. Before I became lactose intolerant, I’d have my daily Starbuck’s Frappuccino to get my caffeine for the day. I’d like to get a Nespresso because I think I could find a blend that I’d like.
Loved the kitchens (including yours) that you featured. Great idea on the coffee cabinet with its own water source. Genius!
Karen B. said:
So true, I’ve never had an appliance garage but it’s always seemed like a great idea. xo, karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 1:06 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Sheila Irwin said:
I am a true coffee LOVER Karen, so we definitely have that in common! Unfortunately, in my small kitchen there is no nook, or coffee corner, or built-in machine! I use a plain old Krups drip (much to my chagrin) and yes, we make our own every morning. (Though I drink more than you – usually two in the morning and more in the afternoon!) I’m dying to get a new combo espresso/coffee machine but just haven’t gotten around to researching it. I do love the look of that WS one though – I’m going to go read about it right now.
Love the photos too – lots of pinworthy shots for me!! :)) But you didn’t include Martha Stewart’s kitchen with her built-in machine, rooms for cups, etc. It is TDF!
Sheila
xo
http://www.maisondecinq.blogspot.com
Karen B. said:
Sheila, I will have to check out Martha’s built in coffee machine. I’m not surprised…everything she does is well thought out. Well, if we lived closer, we’d have to meet for coffee. xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 5:15 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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D'Arcy H said:
Coffee, elixir of life! We have two machines, as well–a workhorse KitchenAid for weekdays, and our beloved Nespresso for weekends. I know the pods are recyclable at various places, but none of them are near us, so in the trash they go. I need my two cups in the morning, too, and on weekends we go to Starbucks for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Duke LOVES Starbucks. He used to get a whipped-cream puppaccino, but they make him flatulent, so now he just gets dog treats from us. But he still flirts with the baristas!
Karen B. said:
D’Arcy, I can always count on you to make me laugh. Poor Duke, maybe it’s lactose intolerance. The afternoon pick me up is exactly why I don’t want to become too used to too much coffee, I depend on the lift it gives me on the days when I really need it. It’s my controlled substance! xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 8:49 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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MB Jackson said:
Hi Karen, I’m a mom of three, ages 6, 2, and 1. Coffee is a dear friend. My hubs and I have a stainless electric percolator. It’s pretty and makes great coffee. It’s like having a butler on my counter compared to the old drip machine. There’s something nice about pouring from this shiny thing into a mug made by a dear friend or a Staffordshire cup. I look forward to it every morning. And forget the fancy coffee — I really love the McDonald’s stuff. 🙂
Karen B. said:
MB,
You made me smile with the ages of your children…I remember those days! How cool, I don’t think I even knew they still made percolators. Is it an older Farberware? I always thought those looked sleek and pretty. I agree, I think McDonald’s premium coffee is ever bit as good as a cup of drip Starbucks. I’ve never tried their lattes (does McD’s make one?).
You had me at Stafforshire cup…the cup is at least half as important as the precious liquid inside. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Karen
Marilee Friedrich said:
Oh Karen, I love this post! When I was little, my mom and her best friends, in our neighborhood would get together and have coffee at our house most mornings. I didn’t like it at all and thought I probably would not be a very good mom because I didn’t like coffee!!!! Now I love it, but it’s really an excuse to drink a mug of half and half! I LOVE my Nespresso frother! Makes mornings even more delightful! Thank you for another inspirational post! Xxoo
Karen B. said:
Marilee, That is my recipe too, half and half to the mid point in the mug and then topped with coffee! The coffee klatch…I love that. When the kids were in elementary school, I’d meet with some of my mom-friends and we always enjoyed tea…seemed so civilized! 🙂 xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 10:14 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Karen Battisti said:
Did I ever enjoy that! Confused at first, you see I am Karen B as well, and, a lover of coffee. All things coffee! I post a picture of a beautiful coffee on Facebook every Mornin’ ☕️ (you must friend me). Like you, I am always in search of the latest and greatest in coffee perfection at home. Your kitchen even looks somewhat like mine. I use the Keurig. Though your two in one is tempting, I love the convenience of it and like that I can have a fresh cup every time ~
Looking forward to more posts ~
~ Karen B ☕️
Karen B. said:
Hi Karen B! Thanks for stopping by. I will have to friend you so I can enjoy the beauty of coffee visually. 🙂
We have a Keurig at work and honestly, it makes a pretty good cup with the Starbucks or Peet’s K-cups. The Nespresso is nice and I love that I can have a coffee or espresso.
Karen
Leslie @Pretty Petals said:
I just go for drip coffee in the morning (with half and half 😉 We bought a really nice coffee maker from W&S and it’s been worth it. I like the pods but they do get expensive and to be honest I don’t thing the coffee tastes as good. It IS convenient though and less mess. It’s fun to have a designated coffee station 🙂 Love all these kitchens and yours is lovely Karen!
Leslie @Pretty Petals said:
ha! .. lots of love going on in that last sentence. I think I need more coffee;)
Karen B. said:
Leslie, I agree, it’s super easy using the pods, but a drip coffee, when its made with freshly ground coffee is hard to beat. Thanks for the compliment on my kitchen. 🙂 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! xo, Karen
On Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 8:54 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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carla wilson said:
Karen..you know me..I’m a diet pepsi freak but I have to say when Tom brings home a freshly ground pound of Peet’s it smells heavenly in my pantry..He’s a French press kind of guy. Quite the coffee ceremony takes place here every morning.
Karen B. said:
I do love me a cup of french press! But maybe the bottom line is that we all need our caffeine in the morning. xo, Karen
On Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 2:16 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Gretchen Gibson said:
My parents drank coffee all day long (usually instant – awful stuff!). In college I lived with a group of tea drinkers. To this day that is my drink of choice in the morning. However, after dinner there is nothing better than a cup of coffee (decaf). We use the same Nespresso that you have. I like it but I agree that French press coffee is the absolute best! I skip the half and half in favor of a teaspoon of coffee ice cream.
I love all the beautiful kitchens! I think I need to find a way to have a coffee/tea cupboard in our next kitchen.
Karen B. said:
I wonder if instant coffee has gotten better? Remember Tasters’ Choice? Oh yeah, coffee ice cream beats half and half every time! 🙂 xo, Karen
On Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 8:28 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Merryjo Agnel said:
Hi karen, Great idea on the coffee cabinet with its own water source. Love this post! It’s pretty and makes great coffee. Love all the photos. Thank you for the great post.
Karen B. said:
Hi Merry Jo,
Thanks. The idea of an appliance garage has always been appealing to me, this one (with it’s own water source) is icing on the cake, or sugar in the coffee!
Thank you for stopping by.
Karen
Mary Ann Pickett said:
I’m drinking a cup of Nespresso right now…we’ve had a little machine since we got one in Paris (that’s what they used in my husband’s office). We are almost out of pods
Love your photos.
Karen B. said:
Mary Ann, I do like the simplicity of the Nespresso. Mr. B loves his coffee and insists on a full pot of drip every day…he probably tosses 1/3 of that! 🙂 Happy Spring. xo, Karen
On Mon, Mar 21, 2016 at 7:40 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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anitapelayorivera said:
Good morning, Karen! Though I am not a coffee drinker, I am a LOVER of great looking kitchens and you certainly showcase THE BEST! Oh to have one of those kitchens, any one of them! Love the grays especially!
Enjoy your morning with a cup of coffee and inspiration! Thanks for visiting my blog post! Anita
Karen B. said:
Anita, For me any excuse to talk about pretty kitchens works! 🙂 I’m so happy you are posting again. xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 3:20 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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