How to Create a Cafe Experience at Home
Coffee shops and cafes are not just about the drinks– they’re about the vibes and everything from the ambience to the human interactions to just the feeling of being in public. Sometimes you don’t have the time or the willpower to stop by though, so we’ve got you covered with our guide on how to create a cafe experience at home!
Set up your coffee corner
A coffee corner is a space in your kitchen or living space that’s specifically for coffee making. While it doesn’t have to be a literal corner, it should be conducive to making coffee and beverages on a regular basis.
To start, consider the equipment and tools you’ll use in your coffee corner. Think big: bring out your nicest cups and cutest spoons. Will you have measuring spoons, a scale, or something else to scoop the coffee? Is there a shelf where you can display your brewing tools, including a Phin Filter, French Press, V60 Pour Over? What would your favorite coffee shop do? This is your chance to be as indulgent as you want! Decorate your coffee corner with coffee table books, magazines, lights, tons of plants, or whatever else you think will make the vibes perfect. Mise en scene is critical as you want to feel like you’re actually at a coffee shop.
Get the best coffee tools for your home cafe
Investing in nice brew tools is one way to create cafe vibes at home and bring deeper enjoyment in your daily rituals. If you love the warmth of steamed milk or want to try your hand at latte art, we'd recommend getting a milk frother. For those who love their daily cup of cold brew, you can make your own cold brew at home in large batches and grab from the fridge just like a coffee shop might. We recommend investing in specialty coffee beans for that!
Should you invest in a grinder? If you want freshly ground coffee for optimal flavors, we personally feel purchasing a grinder you can use everyday is a great investment! Divide the cost of your brew tools by 365 days, and compare that to the cost of buying a cup of coffee outside -- you’ll be surprised to find how much money you can be saving by investing in your home cafe!
If you want to go the extra mile, you can also invest in a home espresso machine to extract shots for drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos. Less expensive but just as nice would be to invest in coffee spoons that are designed specifically for measuring and brewing coffee!
Invest in your coffee ritual
Much like brushing your teeth or doing your skincare, your coffee ritual could and should be a part of your daily routines. Cementing a coffee ritual is a part of self-care and give you the time and space to decompress or take a break in between busy moments.
We’re big proponents of having a coffee ritual. Slowing down for even just a few minutes to create an amazing cup of coffee to begin the day is a worthwhile investment– you won’t know how beneficial it is until you try it yourself!
Mix up your brew game
What is a coffee corner or cafe experience without the coffee? Planning out or experimenting with your brew game can mimic the experience of being in a cafe. Instead of your usual coffee (be it drip, French press, or something else), why not switch it up with something different or a bit more involved? You’ll be able to learn new brewing techniques or recipes and call yourself a barista in no time!
To start, you can make a classic Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk to transport yourself to a streetside cafe in Vietnam. If you’re in the mood for something more decadent, you can make Vietnamese egg coffee. This whipped egg coffee is so luscious and rich, and our recipe is streamlined and designed for every day making! The only specialized tool you’ll need is a hand mixer (or an arm with stamina).
For those who have a daily drip coffee or French press, try your hand at brewing coffee with the Vietnamese phin filter! A no-mess, no-paper-filter brew tool, this handy filter is wasteless and takes up very little space in your coffee corner. It’s also really cute (no bias).
The vibes are what matter most
Ultimately, doing what brings you personal comfort and joy is most critical when it comes to enjoying coffee at home. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to your personal coffee corner, so you can be as lavish as you want with your home cafe or as minimal as you need; there are coffee shops that do just that, so you can too! The integral part of a cafe vibe at home is the vibes and whether you can relax, indulge, and perhaps even escape for just a little part of your day.
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Make your own fun, complex coffee creations using our recipes here.
