Seven Christmas Coffee Bars

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I *clearly* love a good coffee bar. And while I've only documented seven of them over the past 11 years, I've definitely set a holiday coffee spot up every year. Today, I'm sharing my faves...they're a budget-friendly way to create a bit of festive coziness in any kitchen or dining area.

Compiling this post was a really fun jog down memory lane...a couple of the Christmas Coffee Bars featured below were from our previous home. And then several of the set ups were prior to our kitchen remodel in 2020. It was neat to look back on these different spaces and how enjoyable they were (because...coffee!). Check them all out below.

Today is also the holiday edition of our Thrifty Style Team series. And man is it a GOOD one. We are all sharing the "best of the best" of Christmas creations throughout the years. It's the reason I dug up these old Christmas Coffee Bars. I'm loving looking at so many fun projects from my blogger friends...and I know you will, too. All of their links are at the bottom of this post, just after my coffee bar photos.

Christmas Coffee Bars

I started setting up a coffee bar in our previous home, about 15 years ago. We didn't have loads of counter space, but had gobs of floorspace in the breakfast nook (more than our little table took up). So, we brought in our antique buffet and set up a coffee station on it. And that tradition stayed with us when we moved almost seven years ago. We love a little spot designated to our favorite beverage. During the holidays, dressing it up is always enjoyable, too.

Tips for a Budget-Friendly Coffee Bar

• Use what you have- cups, placemats, trays, baskets, etc. They can all be corralled together to create a functional coffee vignette.
• For holiday-specific decor, I often use the "leftovers" to add to the coffee area. You know...the stuff in the bottom of the bins that doesn't really have a designated spot in the house. 
• Make functional items part of the holiday decor. This year, I've put all of mine and my mom's Christmas Spode coffee cups on display...but in a manner that they can still be used every day (and we do use them daily). They're not only purposeful, but they add that element of festive holiday decor.
• Tuck simple greenery sprigs in here and there. Or, use a small garland in your coffee area.
• And my best piece of advice is to always keep your coffee machine in tip top shape. The Nespresso machine you'll see in the first example is still alive and well and used often in our home. It doesn't sit on our coffee bar (because our teenagers would go through those pods like candy), but is tucked away right off the kitchen. We've maintained it and kept it running well for ten years. Along those lines, keep the exterior of the machine clean, too. There is nothing ickier than a grimy coffee maker. A simple wipe up of splashes goes a long way! 

Below, you'll find my Christmas coffee bars of days gone by. And then, I also shared this year's set up, as well. 

1. Holiday Coffee and Espresso Bar

We're starting the Christmas coffee bar tour in our previous home. The above is my Holiday Coffee and Espresso Bar that I shared in 2014. See all of the details of this coffee bar here.

2. Our 2015 Coffee Station

While there aren't just huge changes from 2014 to 2015, I did switch a few things up a bit. And, although I didn't do a coffee-station specific post, you can see the details of the above coffee station (along with the decor in our entire home) in this 2015 Holiday Home Tour.

3. Peppermint Themed Christmas Coffee Bar

2016 was the first holiday in our current home (the 1970s ranch that we've enjoyed fixing up). We nestled our coffee station into the little desk that was built into our kitchen (that classic trend from the 70s and 80s). I went with a peppermint-themed coffee bar that year. You can see all of the details of this coffee station here.

4. Vintage Christmas Coffee Bar

This vintage Christmas coffee bar (from 2018), was inspired by the set of canisters we unearthed in my parents' kitchen, after my mom passed away. I thought they were perfect for Christmas, even though they're not seasonally-specific. You can see all of the details of this Vintage Christmas Coffee Bar here. This was also a Thrifty Style Team post.

5. Holiday Beverage Bar

I know this isn't *technically* a coffee bar, but a beverage station is a super similar concept, so I included it in this Christmas coffee station round up. This spot was created when we were having a lot of overnight guests one year. We wanted everything at the ready for them to grab. I also included a complete tutorial for the Santa's Soda Shoppe sign. See this entire space here.

6. Fun Holiday Coffee Spot

In the year I created the above coffee station, I didn't do a specific post about it. I did, however do an entire Christmas Kitchen Tour, which included this "warm up spot". Tour the entire space here.

7. This Year's Christmas Coffee Bar

Things definitely look a bit different this year. I didn't share a lot of my decor last year, and in November of 2020, we had our kitchen remodeled. During that process, the little built-in desk was removed (it was actually ready to fall off the wall...it had gotten to where I had to hold a mug in place on the machine for fear the act of brewing would bounce it right onto the floor). We replaced the desk with wall ovens, thus eliminating that coffee bar area. But all was not lost. I picked up the above table at an estate sale and it fit perfectly on this little wall between the kitchen area and the breakfast nook. And our new coffee bar was born.

During "ordinary time", I have simple white mugs hanging on the brass mug rack. But, I thought it would be fun to display all of my Spode Christmas Tree mugs here for the season. Some of these were inherited from my mom...some she bought for me on her yearly Spode Christmas Tree gift tradition. I tied the space together by adding a plate hanger to one of her Spode platters and hung it on the wall.

The trio of canisters hold coffee filters, grounds, and Christmas candy. To make them a tiny bit more festive, I tied some red and white gingham ribbon to their tops.

I always need a tiny bit of greenery...even if it's just in the form of a vintage bottle brush tree sticking out of a Santa mug. The majority of the Christmas with Southern Living books were both mine and my mom's. I *almost* have every single book since they were published in 1980. Just lacking a few of the earlier ones, but keep my eyes peeled for them at thrift stores, too. I use these a lot, as well...they're full of notes and Post-Its. They make a fun stack for the holidays, as well. The rest of them are stacked on the other side of my kitchen.

The little metal basket behind the mug is filled with K-cups.

I just had to share the tiniest Advent calendar, ever. I couldn't resist this sweet piece when we were in a darling gift shop in Santa Fe for our anniversary last month. Truth be told, it's a doozy to see the numbers and pry open the teeny tiny windows. But, it adds another bit of Christmasy goodness to this space.

Swing on by for a cuppa anytime, y'all!

Thrifty Style Team

Below, my friends and I are all sharing the best of the best of our Christmas ideas. I know you'll get so much inspiration and ideas from all of them!

• Redhead Can Decorate – 10 Christmas Decorating Ideas That Are Almost Free
• Our Crafty Mom – 17 Easy to Make DIY Ornament Ideas
• The How to Home – Last Minute Christmas Crafts and Decor DIY's
• DIY Beautify – 6 Thrifty Christmas DIY's Using Wood
• 2 Bees in a Pod – 40 Thrifty Christmas Ideas
• The Tattered Pew – 3 Natural Christmas Decorations You Can Make
• Cottage on Bunker Hill – DIY A Beautiful Christmas - My Best DIY Ideas to Try
• Amy Sadler Designs – 7 Easy Homemade Gifts to Give at Christmas
• Songbird – Simple Ideas for Outdoor Christmas Decorations
• My Family Thyme – Simple DIY Christmas Crafts
• Simple Nature Decor – DIY Christmas Mason Jar Snow Globe
• Zucchini Sisters – 9 Christmas Craft Ideas for Adults
• Sonya Burgess – Budget Crafts From Christmas Past

Happy holidays, friends!