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Home coffee corner. My own little cafe... ;-)

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  • Home coffee corner. My own little cafe... ;-)

    Good Evening Coffeesnobbers.....

    I've spent some time searching on line, but no doubt this forum will be way better than Dr. Google.

    We are renovating our house and I have set aside a small corner of the kitchen for a coffee bar. My plan is to have is set up just like a little cafe (just for fun..!!). There will be a bench that opens out to the deck on the west side of the house and I plan to extend the bench to the outside and have a gas strut window close down onto the bench so that friends can sit out on the deck whilst I make coffees. A bit like a servery window, I guess.

    I have power all ready to go, water and waste pipes plumbed in ready. Things that I'm thinking about include:

    Knock box built into bench? Or separate..?

    Normal small bar sink or jug rinser...?

    Location of coffee machine (currently Lelit PL60T, but may upgrade if other costs don't become extravagant).

    Location of grinder.... Compak currently (upgraditis as above).

    Under bench drawers, shelves, etc...?

    Perhaps make the bench top " L " shape with a narrower return along the wall under the window...?

    Bar fridge under bench... or drawers.... Big fridge is only 2m behind me in the pantry.

    Filtered water tap...?,

    Approx dimensions are bench width 1500mm, depth about 500 (need to allow space between other stuff in kitchen...), bench height 900 approx.

    I've added some drawings etc to give a bit of an idea. Just looking for some ideas for positioning of things to improve workflow, cleaning up, storage aesthetics etc.....

    Hopefully a good topic for discussion, learning, a few jokes of course....

    OK, let me have it......


    Cheers all,

    Mark

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  • #2
    I feel you are sacrificing too much bench space for a sink. Do you really need a sink right there? It looks like it will feel cramped. Also, if you have upgraditis now, make sure you have your ideal setup in mind when you create the space, not just what you have now. Nothing worse than wanting a GS3 or something and it turn out you don’t have the bench space. I find drawers and a cupboard handy for all the bits of bobs and my fridge is right next to the coffee station and I’m glad about that. Wouldn’t want it too much further away.

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    • #3
      Firstly, love the idea and can't wait to see what you end-up with.

      Tend to agree with "crazy" above, I like having a sink but maybe you would get away with a in-bench jug rinser for your workstation area.
      ...and yeah, leave plenty of room for an upgrade of machine or grinder later including space above the grinder for a taller one.

      Knock box built into bench?
      Sure. Works well, you don't have to chase it around and all the mess magically lands in a bag under it to go into your compost or wormfarm.

      Comment


      • #4
        I would suggest leaving as much bench space uninterrupted / fluid / just a bench you can do whatever with. By that I mean an in bench sink or jug rinser are nice, but you could get a small filtered water tap, they sometimes come with a tiny drip tray, and an on bench jug rinser. The hoses come out of this and can go down a hole under the machine or nearby. All this to say leave yourself options for the future by not cutting more holes than necessary. If you do get a small filtered water tap you could cut a knock bin hole in front of that so as to not take up extra bench width. My favourite ones of them I looked at when it looked like we would be D&C building are the ones that have an open bottom and you put a bin underneath them in the cupboard.

        https://www.coffeeparts.com.au/baris...re-knock-chute

        https://www.coffeeparts.com.au/baris...-closed-bottom

        Or Decent sell a silicone ring to countersink their knock box into a round hole, though there will be more sticking up above bench height.

        If you do get holes cut and it's a granite/ceasarstone type bench, ask to keep the bits they cut out, as you can have them grouted back in place should you ever want to fill in the hole. I think round holes make this easier.

        Click image for larger version

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        • #5
          Gents,

          Thanks for the replies so far. I will take all on board:

          1. Bench space. I agree with the suggestions above in this regard. I have been looking for a really small bar sink, but given the comments, I reckon I might leave that idea out and perhaps just put in a jug rinser, way over to the left and given I already have a filtered water tap, could position that over the rinser to catch the drips. Kill 2 birds with one stone.... The image created by the architect is relative only. I wouldn't have a sink anywhere near that big. Benches will be recycled Messmate hardwood, self made, so anything is possible. I'm looking at extending the bench into an 'L' shape as shown on the pic below.... there's enough room if I keep it quite narrow, say 300mm (I'm making all my own cabinets, bench tops, drawers etc... kill me now... ;-). )

          2. Regarding upgraditis, I doubt that I will get any sort of machine that is MUCH bigger than the Lelit. Was thinking of the Profitec or similar and likewise with the grinder. Thinking Eureka 65 or similar.... but always $$ dependant.

          Click image for larger version

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          3. From the above pic, you can see where the fridge will be. We decided that it just stuck out too far in the original plans and better to place in the pantry. There won't be a door on the pantry either and the entry is wider than depicted. It's only a couple of steps from the coffee bench to the fridge. I think I can live with this.

          Thanks again.... this has given me some new ideas which is much appreciated.

          Cheers,

          Mark





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          • #6
            Hi just went through this process of having my own coffee station this may give you some ideas

            IMG_4701 by cranky, on Flickr

            IMG_4702 by cranky, on Flickr

            Regards
            Sam

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            • #7
              Thanks Sam. Looks great. Nice setup you have there.....

              Given that mine will be in front of a servery-style window, I think I need to leave some bench space to access this area.

              I gather the water and drain are for a plumbed machine...? No jug rinser there..?

              Cheers,

              Mark

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              • #8
                Thanks Mark, I'm close enough to the kitchen sink if anything needs rinsing out i did think about a small sink but takes up to much bench space.

                Regards
                Sam

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                • #9
                  Nothing constructive to add as those who have responded are heading you in the right direction. Watching your progression with much interest.... yes you want to get it right first time round or the minister of everything will likely remind you that you had your opportunity 😏

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                  • #10
                    Hi All,

                    Not much to add at this point as have had some hold-ups with COVID lockdowns and work interfering with renovations. But.... I have moved things into position, temporarily, just to sort out workflow before everything is 'cemented' in. I've started on cabinetry and still waiting for the window (obviously), but just happy to be "in-situ"... Will post progress in the future..

                    Mark Click image for larger version

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                    • #11
                      I built one on my deck using IKEA Kitchen cupboard components and a salvaged piece of kitchen granite. Ikea have a small good quality bar sink (made in Greece) that I used together with stainless steel covered doors that work well outdoors (under cover). I fitted the sink front to back to save bench real estate with a cold water only filter tap to save on plumbing. The only catch is that IKEA kitchen cupboards are not designed to be freestanding and the staff are not prepared to advise on modding. Sorted it out by buying a sheet of 20mm melamine chipboard from Bunnings that they cut to size and mounted it on the back using little metal L brackets screwed to the inside of the side walls (top and bottom) and to the melamine chipboard. Gave me a rigid free standing coffee bench. The only other detail is you have to cut small squares out of the IKEA backs at the bottom corners so the L brackets can reach behind to the 20mm melamine chipboard back. The IKEA backs already have small squares cut out at the top corners. Will post a pic or two. Aldi sell the corner brackets cheap from time to time.

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                      • #12
                        Here are some pics of my cafe bar
                        Attached Files

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                        • #13
                          Here is a pic I just took including my Rossi RR45 doserless project which I am currently working on
                          Attached Files

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                          • #14
                            Looks great, have just gotten into this and need tart planning for something similar.

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                            • #15
                              I know it’s been a very long time. Owner Building is a tough game, add in Covid, family commitments and full time work and glacier speed ensues.

                              Progress so far…..



                              Hope you like it so far….

                              mark

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