Setting Up Your Own Family Drink Bar At Home

Are you tired of going out and spending a lot of money on drinks every time you leave the house? From your morning Joe pick me up to smoothies for the kids, it can get pricey. The only benefit of buying drinks outside of the house is the convenience. What if you decided to prepare and serve your drinks in the comfort of your own home? Here are a few tips for setting up your own drink bar at home and what you should have on hand to make the project come together. 

Keep The Cabinet And Fridge Stocked

Making sure that you’re stocked with the right ingredients for your favorite drinks is important. Start by making a list of some of the drinks you’d like to start making. This allows you to get the basic ingredients stocked and ready to go. Be sure to have plenty of both fresh and frozen fruit on hand for garnishment and for making fruit-based drink recipes. Think about all of the flavorings you want to use. You would also want to stock up on mixers like hard seltzers from Long Shot These could be extracts as well as bottles of flavor-enhancers that will help add a splash of taste to the drinks you’re planning on making. Other ideas include:

• Coffees and creamers in a variety of flavors. 
• Teas.
• Orgeat syrup for flavor enhancement.
• Frozen juice concentrates and fresh juices.
• Dairy such as milk, whipping cream and half and half. 
• Alcoholic beverages for adults- wine, beer, liquors.

If you’re preparing for a large gathering, having a variety of items available for your guests will offer them the choice of having either hot or cold items. To save time, freeze coffee in ice cube trays for cold coffee drinks and make up smoothies in advance, and freeze so they are ready to serve later. 

Choose A Designated Area

One of the first things you should do is choose a designated area for your family drink bar. This could be something as simple as a corner of the countertop, to an elaborate stand-alone coffee station that you can decorate with a variety of cups and coffees. Making a designated area that is geared toward a special drinking station can get everyone in the family excited about it. This helps to boost attention to the space and make it less likely for your family to want to go outside of the home to get a fancy drink. 

Get The Right Appliances

Having the right appliances available to make your favorite drinks is important. Some ideas include:

• A coffee or espresso machine
• A single-serve coffee maker
• Coffee bean grinder
• Mini-refrigerator
• Ice Maker
• Blender or smoothie maker
• Microwave

You may already have these in your kitchen. If you need to, just rearrange appliances so that it’s easy for guests to create their drink in one area. Having the convenience of everything in one location will streamline the process. 

Having The Right Tools

In addition to having the right beverage bar and small appliances so your drink station is a success, you’ll also want some other tools available. This starts with everything you need to cut, dice, measure and separates all of your ingredients. Small serving bowls for dividing up ingredients is important. Have a variety of coffee cups on a shelf or mug rack so it’s easy for everyone to grab the right size cup that they need. Both tall and short glasses are important for those who want cold drinks and smoothies. Consider disposable cups and plates for easy cleanup and to keep the area clean and mess-free. Serving trays also work well so you have a way to get your drinks safely to your guests. It also serves as an additional way to work on prepping and garnishing the glass before presenting. Don’t forget to stock this area with napkins, straws, and spices such as salt and cinnamon shakers, two helpful condiments that you’ll definitely need at your drink station. 

Having a beverage bar that makes it easy to serve drinks not only offers convenience when you’re entertaining, it also serves a prime focal point for your home decor. Choosing from a simple design all the way to a built-in area in your dining room or kitchen is an asset to your home for years to come.