Author: Team Geeky Grizzly

You’re at the right place for the best coffee station ideas!

“Bubbles of boiling water poured straight into the vessel, the rustle of a brand new packet as a wooden spoon digs out dark morsels of wakefulness, packed with care into the upturned cap, fasten the seat belt – lock the moka to its pot and right atop the bustling flame. 

Hot steam carries the atomic granules on its back from the basement to the terrace, extracting earthy, syrupy notes into a spring of complex liquid. 

Slowly, the fizzling, fading sound of the fountain brings whispers to the ear ‘your cup of morning nectar is ready, dear’. 

A dash of milk frothed into foam, no sweetener for the royalty but some for the novice crowd.

One sip of the magic potion, delight and warmth spread the bitter, strong and smooth melody of earthy java, it is a good morning after all!”

Some of us wake up on the wrong side of the bed and grumble throughout the day while others just wake up to whine and groan only until their first gulp of liquid gold aka coffee. A drop of the magic potion and a sudden rush of energy wakes in them a fresh readiness to take on the world. But then they hit the first bump on the road or the dreaded ‘afternoon slump’. At 2:30 in the noon, they are all set to hit the sack, the weak succumb but the stronger reach out to their noon pick-me-up mug of coffee and power through the work day. 

You might not be addicted to coffee but you would still be able to appreciate its stubbornness against shutting down your brain on an exam night. Or you might just enjoy a steamy cup on a winter morning to kickstart your day and resist every urge for a caffeine boost thereafter. Or even better, you might be so accustomed to your coffee routine that now no amount in your body affects the mighty take-over of the sleep monster.

If you are a member of the dedicated coffee-enthusiasts clan, then this article on the ‘best coffee station ideas’ is meant just for you – considering that a coffee station is not a desire but a necessity in your life. But even if you are an in-betweener or an amateur and looking to create a cozy, coffee nook to whip up the fresh, awakening aroma of a latte in the morning, you might be enticed by the charming ‘coffee station’ ideas that we are about to present to you in this article. So grab your favorite cup of java – a cappuccino or a latte or a plain old espresso – as we take you through this joyous ride! 

Read more: What is a Bubble Machine and Which One Should You Buy?

Things To Keep In Mind Before Designing A Coffee Bar/Station At Home

Before getting out your chalk and mapping out the look of your dream coffee station, you ought to understand the basics behind a successfully designed nook. There ought to be a clear intention and direction, a layout that suits the available space, a storage setup that houses all the equipment and an assessment of the style that coordinates with your home decor. 

In this section, we will try to break it all down for you and help you understand each element that will help you produce the best-looking and the best-fitting coffee station for your home! 

I. Space configuration and choice of layout

First and foremost, you need to assess the space that you are going to dedicate to your cafe-at-home setup. Depending on whether it’s going to be a part of your kitchen or donning a corner of your living room, you can decide on the right type of coffee station. 

If you would scroll through the coffee station ideas on Pinterest, you would find a blinding variety of designs and layouts to choose from. But there are five broad types of layouts that can simplify your first consideration, namely, a counter-space arrangement, a dedicated piece of furniture like a bar or cupboard, a roll-away cart situation, a locked away java-setup or a space-friendly coffee nook. 

1. A counter-space arrangement 

If the kitchen has some empty counter space that you have simply not figured out how to utilize, then this might be your chance to transform it into a coffee setup that gets your guests impressed. Usually, these designs are less elaborate than having a separate cupboard for your coffee needs and are more suitable for people who use only one or two pieces of trusted equipment to brew their perfect espresso shot. 

However, this does not mean someone with a complex coffee routine cannot take advantage of this coffee station setup, all they need to do is focus on housing their statement equipment on the counter and employ storage tricks (more on this later!) to accommodate complementary pieces and accessories. This is a budget-friendly layout option but might hoard away some of your counter space so it is well-suited for larger kitchens.

2. A dedicated piece of furniture

Having a separate piece of furniture completely meant for your caffeine kick opens up a world of opportunities to play around with design and storage. The piece of furniture that forms your centerpiece could be a new or refurbished cupboard, a bar setup, or even a console table. This kind of layout is suited to a homeowner wanting to showcase their coffee bar as part of their home and have the space and buck for it.

3. A stand-alone coffee cart

For people with apartments or smaller rooms, a roll-away coffee cart is their perfect option for a dynamic and trendy setup, and a space-efficient option at that! It can be tucked away in a corner of your living room that you desire to highlight or even rolled out at will. 

You could look at different shapes and sizes of carts available before deciding on the one that fits your space the best. Or even use something you already own to form the base and jazz it up with a fresh makeover! 

4. A docked-away java setup

If you’re one of those people who prefer to have a minimal, modern and sleek kitchen with all your cooking tools tucked away in cupboard spaces, then a java setup that is hidden from the eye might be your cup of coffee (quite literally). This layout would allow you to have accessibility to a minimal look while still accommodating a dedicated space for your caffeine needs. 

You could enclose your coffee brewing tools, drinkware, jars and other accessories in a separate section of your kitchen cabinets that seamlessly blends in with the rest of the kitchen storage. If you have a smaller space to play with, you could set your coffee essentials in a column or drawer of your cabinet. 

5. A space-friendly coffee nook

Most people who are interested in home interiors or maybe book buffs are familiar with the concept of a cozy book nook. Recently, coffee lovers have found a way to adapt the book nook idea to create a unique coffee setup or the ‘coffee nook’. 

The nook could be created in a small niche in your living room wall, a corner of your favorite room, or even at the end of an alleyway in your home. With some bold wall color, accent lights, and unusual decor elements, the cozy coffee nook could be a distinct feature in your house. 

II. The overall theme and design of your coffee station

Now that you have made your wise choice and got the basic layout of your coffee station down, it is time to pick a theme that resonates with your dream coffee setup. The theme will form the skin to the bone of your layout, and help set the right tone as you get along in the process of bringing together the desired design. 

It is at this point that you would have to decide if your coffee station is intended to be an extension of the room you are going to station it in or a centerpiece that catches everyone’s eyes right away with its striking appearance. 

If you plan to create the former, your main focus would be gauging the colors, textures and vibe of the room the station will be in and then, choosing complementary pieces for your coffee setup. 

But if your intention is to create a statement coffee station, then you would need to pick out standout elements like a pop of contrasting color, a net design or a two-toned look on the cabinet, some striking tiles, pegboards or even standout wallpapers. 

In this step, you essentially get to make your first stride at creative contemplation with your coffee station setup. Each aforementioned layout is compatible with a myriad of different design themes which we will discuss in the following sections.

III. Prepping the space meant for your coffee station

Having a station dedicated to the task of making coffee is as much about functionality and convenience as it is about making a display of your affection towards the divisive beverage. On both accounts, you require a clean slate from which to begin towards your at-home coffee corner – because as we all know, ‘clean surroundings birth a clear mind which is the best breeding ground for fresh ideas’. 

So, a case in point is that before you begin measuring out the space for your favorite espresso machine and polishing your surfaces, you might want to declutter the space and clear out your drawers. Any other objects that may obstruct your coffee routine should be displaced and you must ensure that everything present on the station has some purpose. 

IV. Measuring and creating space for all your coffee equipment

Any coffee station would be pointless if it cannot hold your favourite coffee-making tools, mugs, sweeteners, syrups, grinders, filters and the uncountable list of essentials owned by a java fanatic. Hence, a homeowner looking to design their perfect coffee station must measure the depth and height of their largest equipment and then, ensure that the area of their choice can accommodate it. 

Additionally, you must pay attention to designing an appropriate storage arrangement like a sideboard with drawers; a pegboard to hang mugs, jars and brewing tools or cabinets that can fit all the things you need to create the perfect cup of coffee! We will be covering more on this consideration as we talk about all that one needs to display on their coffee station!

What should I have on my coffee bar?

The items that would make up the body of your coffee bar are contingent on your personal preferences. For a novice, the coffee bar would have a packet of ground coffee and their trusted coffee machine while for the more experienced, coffee grinding, coffee brewing and finally, coffee assembling might all consist of complex steps and a ridiculous number of tools. 

Neither of these categories would need a book on what to put on their at-home cafe setup. 

But let’s assume you are just starting out on your coffee journey and would like to have some extra fun tools to play with and display on your coffee station. If that is the case, then we have got you covered with our guide on what goes on at the coffee bar! 

1. Coffee brewing devices

Finding your favorite method of brewing coffee can take ages and lots of experimentative trial and error. So, you might want to start playing around with different devices a good time before you begin designing your coffee bar. 

For a quick overview of the different devices and the coffee notes you might achieve by using them to brew are illustrated in these graphics: 

There is no hard-and-fast rule that you must keep only a solo machine to make your cup of coffee. If you are a fan of switching between the style of coffee you sip, then you could have multiple full-immersion as well as pour over drip-style coffee-making devices. This section of items is a rather vast yet preference-based one, so exploring more is the only way to help you make your perfect choice. 

Drinking too much coffee can cause unwanted pimples, here is our Essential Guide to Popping Pimples and Blackheads Safely 

2. Ground coffee

After picking out your brewing device, you would have to look at the next essential in the list i.e. your coffee of choice. The choice here is not just between which brand of coffee to buy but also depending on your brewing method, the grind of your coffee makes a world of difference. 

For e.g. for a Moka pot, you would only be looking at fine or very fine ground coffee while for a french press, a coarse and even grind will be your pick-up. This all sounds extremely complicated but our aforementioned infographics condense all the necessary attributes of coffee required per your brewing device, so you can refer to that and start exploring! 

It is also necessary here to point out some important tips about how you should choose your coffee brand. 

1. A packet of coffee that mentions not only the country of its origin but also the region from which it has been extracted will undoubtedly be of high quality. The traceability of coffee makes it a good indicator of the brand’s transparency with its customers.
   
2. Usually, the higher the price of a coffee bag, the better its production. The heavy price tag would not only ensure a better, rounder tasting cup but also that a greater portion of the money you invest goes to the producers.
   
3. Purchasing a fresh packet of coffee is the ultimate tip! You must always look at the roast date or best-before-date to get an indication of how recent its roasting might have happened, this is because roasted coffee can go stale very easily over time.
   
4. It might be better to buy specialty coffee. This is because different countries have different seasons of harvesting their regional coffee, so specialty coffees are available according to these seasons and are thus, of premium quality. 

Here is a complete guide to buying the perfect coffee by our friendly world barista championship winner –  James Hoffman: 

3. Whole coffee beans and a Coffee grinder

It would be much easier to buy ground coffee but would it be worth your buck? Not necessarily. An opened packet of ground coffee is exposed to the atmosphere and thus, degrades in quality much faster. As opposed to this, whole bean coffee can be kept and ground just before use or one-two day in advance and will remain fresh for a lot longer. Additionally, you get to experience the aromatic pleasure of grinding coffee in the morning! 

There are many different types of grinders in the market to choose from:

1. Manual Coffee Grinders · 2. Electric Grinders · 3. Blade Grinders · 4. Burr Grinders · 5. Espresso Grinders · 6. Travel Grinders

You can choose the one that suits your needs to display on your coffee station. 

4. Creamers and Syrups

If you are not a fan of plain, black and bitter coffee and wondering what you might put in your coffee; then, there are plenty of options available for you. You could add creamers to enhance the texture and taste of your coffee or use sweet syrups that add some extra flavor while also sweetening it in the process. 

There is a wide variety of artificial flavors ranging from lavender to vanilla and to caramel that you can pick out from. Not only are syrups great for whipping up different cafe-style coffee preparations but also add some color and oomph to your coffee bar! 

5. Frother

Most elaborate coffee preparations like cappuccino, latte, dalgona coffee, mocha or macchiato require foam or a frothy milk layer. A coffee frother is a must-investment for you if you desire to jazz up your days with some delicious coffee drinks other than the classic espresso! 

6. Mugs

Colorful or patterned, plain or with a quirky print – there are mugs for every coffee lover that goes with every vibe and style! No coffee station is complete without a celebrated showcase of cups and mugs to grab and pour in the perfect espresso. 

There are many ways to display your beloved mugs on your coffee station that we have covered in the next section of this article, so be sure to check them all out! 

7. Decor items

Decorative pieces that reflect your personal style or the style that you hoped to achieve with your coffee station are a must for your coffee bar setup. Knicks and knacks from here and there will help translate your vision for the coffee station into reality. 

Although most decor pieces that you choose will depend on the design you wish to create, there are some common ones that anyone can add to organize their setup a bit better. These include canisters in which to hold coffee, sugar, or spices that you normally add to your coffee; trays to place decorative items like small candles on top of and even baskets to hold other coffee-making essentials. 

Beyond these organizational pieces, you can also look at a variety of accessories to complement your coffee station basics. The following section covers a wide array of coffee bar layout ideas that incorporate a diverse range of accessories such as quirky and out-of-the-box coffee-related signs and posters, some small planters or flower vases, scented candles or candlesticks and what not! 

24 Best Home Coffee Station Ideas

Now that we have gone over all of the technical and rather unimaginative considerations, we finally get to the fun part of this blog! In this section, we will look at a variety of coffee bar designs to get inspired from and push our creativity horses into the highest gear. 

On the basis of your choice of the aforementioned basic layouts, you can look at the various themes of designs given hereon and curate a coffee bar or station which would make your friends and family envious!

1. Straight-out-of-Pinterest coffee booth    

The soft, muted tones that characterize this coffee station are perfect representations of the aesthetics of Pinterest and Tumblr queens. The focal point of this station is the blush pink arch on the wall dotted with floating shelves. While the floating shelves in the center capture all the attention, another important piece of furniture in the design is the open shelf adjacent to it. The Pinterest vibe is perfectly conveyed through the decor pieces and plants that are placed on this out-there setup! 

2. Dark-as-espresso sleek at-home café setup    

The dominant black accented with wood and reds in this sleek setup translates the idea of the creator to set up a low, warm-lit mood. The seriousness displayed in this design demonstrates that the owner has an appreciable level of knowledge of coffee and awareness of their preferences to create the perfect cup. In addition, the sideboard with drawers acts as the perfect hideaway for all that would have cluttered the clean space above and blends well with the chosen theme. It would only be fitting to prepare a strong shot of espresso to celebrate the dark spirit of this setup!

Another way of recreating a similar vibe with your coffee station is represented in this design: 

3. Suburban farmhouse-esque coffee cabinets

Every 12-year-old has a vivid image of the kitchen in their grandparents’ house from when they spent splendid days of their summer vacations there. Old-looking cupboards with pretty arches and curves, endless ceramic pots, checker-print cloth pieces, a vintage clock, some randomly placed flower vases, etc. are all memorabilia of those suburban houses. The following designs are inspired by this vintage aesthetic and represent an imaginative incorporation of all the described elements into a farm coffee bar setup. It would only make sense to whip up a small, comforting cup of cappuccino at these coffee stations! 

4. The roll-it-away coffee carts  

We have previously discussed coffee carts as space-friendly layouts for our daily coffee needs. The simplicity and compactness of these carts are as striking as their unique and fresh concept. All you need is an appropriately sized cart, your coffee machine that does it all, some mugs, maybe a kettle and some itsy-bitsy decor elements and you are ready to recreate a minimal and attractive coffee cart of your own! 

5. Caffè and Vino – The Perfect duo  

Starring an unusually complementing combo that would make any Italian nonna cry tears of happiness, this coffee bar design is going to make all your guests look twice! This eccentric design is for those who would love the idea of washing down the aftertaste of their coffee with some crisp red wine! What makes this coffee cabinet idea even more special is that the star piece of furniture in it is refurbished from a cracky, broken-down cupboard – so, essentially this could be your next DIY project! 

6. Quaint, homey coffee stations

This is the ultimate repertoire of designs for all those who identify with the comforting vibe of a homebody. A spot-on balance is struck in these coffee stations between mechanical gadgets and cutesy, quirky decor items. So this theme is apt for the homeowners whose personal styles are a dash of yin paired with a bit of yang. 

7. Japandi-style zen coffee station

If you are not familiar with the ‘japandi’ style, it is a recent trend in a home interior that blends the best of two aesthetics – the smooth functionality of Scandinavian design with the minimal, clean elegance of the Japanese style. This coffee station layout is for those who prefer to associate their home with a calm, zen energy and adore decor that is soothing to look at. You would be looking at muted colors and lighter wood planks to bring this aesthetic to life. It captures the essence of the japandi style and will be the perfect place to spend a relaxing morning preparing a Vietnamese-style sweet cup of coffee. 

8. The bean-and-brew connoisseur station  

As the name of this theme suggests, these stations embody the ethos of a person who stretches into the ins and outs of the bean and brew world. They know where their coffee comes from, measure their coffee quantity by gram, foster hatred towards all instant coffee brands and treat their coffee routine as an operative mechanism. All these designs are the maximalist’s approach to flaunting their knowledge – with a blinding number of brewing tools, weird test tubes to store their coffee beans, multiple types of coffee grinders and gadgets unrecognizable to the amateur eye; these designs are meant for the mad coffee scientist, so beware! 

9. The chic modernist coffee bar 

These are design ideas for those who have an eye for the modern chic style. Homeowners who prefer a combination of elegant and modern, trendy elements will find the ultimate inspiration to extend their home interior tastes into their coffee station setup. 

10.  Around the world with a cup coffee station 

From Paris to New York to Italy, this coffee station draws inspiration from around the world for not only certain design elements but also for its versatility. Many brewing tools like the moka pot, french press, chemex, drip setup etc. used in different regions can be seen sitting on the floating shelves and a variety of cups and mugs are displayed. This kind of design falls right in between too little and too much, it is just bang on! So, it could be your absolute inspiration to create a beautifully packed yet not cluttered coffee station at home. 

11. Hang-it-up pegboard coffee corner 

If you are struggling with the optimization of space while creating your ultimate coffee corner, then pegboards will come to your rescue and help you effectively incorporate an adjacent wall into the design. They can be attached directly to the wall and spruce up the design while functionally carrying a major chunk of items intended to be displayed on the station. They are very easy to use and can support a considerable number of things. It is only necessary to ensure that a pegboard coffee corner doesn’t look too bundled up and thus, untidy. So, these designs will surely nudge you to tastefully assimilate pegboards into your coffee corner. 

12. Rustic vintage-inspired coffee bar 

Would you like to build a coffee bar that you can use to display old hand-me-downs from your grandmom or your great grandma? Or would you just like to hero vintage pieces that you got from your favorite thrift store? Then this is the coffee bar design for you! With gold-framed mirrors and uniquely vintage-inspired mug hangers, and an evidently run-down drawer which embodies the rustic vibe to the maximum, this design will make you want to run to restock your coffee bags!

Another way to give your coffee corner a vintage-inspired edge can be seen in this flowery design:

13.  Fall-themed floating shelves coffee corner 

If you are a lover of pumpkin-spice lattes and rustling leaves, then you can capture the essence of the beautiful fall season throughout the year with this fall-themed coffee corner! These floating shelves not only add functionality to the design but are also reminiscent of autumnal trees while the orange, red and brown hues are absolutely flawless. 

14. The light and airy minimalist coffee nook 

This array of designs might look different superficially but they are the perfect minimalist’s guide to the coffee nook of their heart’s desire! They all embody the clean and simple aesthetic but they are not uninteresting to look at. There is an excellent play with colours, textures, plants, accessories and tools in each of them that would make anyone feel enticed for a warm cup of jitter juice!

15. The picture-perfect coffee setup 

If you are a movie buff who even daydreams in the styles of Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson or Taika Waititi, then this coffee design will be your absolute inspiration! Even without the tripod camera, the Hollywood-esque colors and posters will let everyone know of your love for the cinema. 

16. The bumble-bee pop of yellow coffee bar 

Do you walk into a room and immediately feel gravitated toward anything yellow? The happy color leaves nobody untouched. 

Certainly, none can deny the effect yellow has on the health of their heart – an automatic smile spreads on the mouth and joy swells up the body as soon as our eyes fall on the color. So why wouldn’t anyone want to spread some cheer and happy vibes in their coffee station, and start every day with a smile and liquid warmth oozing from their cup! 

17. The barista off-duty coffee station

A coffee connoisseur might be the scientist who studies their beloved beans and drips but a barista is a surgeon who has learned the craft of making the perfect cup with patient repetitions and knows by the smell of the notes in each cup of espresso. They wake up to coffee and end their day with coffee, they inhale and exhale coffee. Then how can they not have an at-home cafe set up to do some public service, and make youtube vlogs and shorts explaining every minuscule detail about how to get the perfect shot of espresso every time! 

18. Cookies n Crema counter station 

Who doesn’t like a sweet snack to accompany their favourite bitter beverage? This little counter setup is for those who like the taste of coffee but have only the one machine that does everything coffee-related for them. Make the coffee machine the hero of the design whilst also giving some room to delicious cookies! (or other snack you enjoy with your cup) 

19. Sprinkled with gold dust counter setup 

This on-the-counter coffee making setup is only featured in this list for its unique gold railing that can hold all your favorite mugs in a showstopper manner! It is a simple and effective setup for a minimalist’s coffee needs. So, get inspired and incorporate some gold accents to your coffee nook as well. 

20. Baskets-over-drawers coffee station 

Baskets are the new trend – they are more than just picnic accessories, you can carry them as bags or even put your coffee essentials in them as is shown in these coffee bar designs! While creating a unique storage arrangement for your design, you can also add some natural down-to-earth flair to it by using some warm-toned baskets! 

21. Free mugs for all coffee booth 

We can never get enough mugs to add to our kitchen collection, but some people just love mugs beyond everything else in their coffee booth. They want to highlight and display their array of mugs and cups while arranging all the other items as supporting cast. If you are them, then you will hop on the opportunity to recreate any of these designs! 

22. The that-girl coffee station 

We have all seen TikTok and youtube filled with guides to be that-girl. What is that-girl, you ask? She is a girl who has her life together – she exercises and meditates every morning, fills her journal up with manifestations, and eats a healthy rainbow palette. In short, she is the embodiment of inspiration to lead your best life! So, if you aspire to be anything like that-girl, you might want to take inspiration from the following coffee station designs that scream that-girl energy! 

23. Colour me rainbow coffee station

If you love rainbows and multi-coloured socks, then you might not believe in the idea of pop-of-colour but a pop-of-things amidst colour. This coffee station layout is centred around colour and will make anyone want to invest in some colourful coffee tools! 

24. Surprise, Surprise! Coffee station ideas

This article would be incomplete without a lovely compilation of inspirational ideas for those who want to create a sophisticated closeted coffee station. A clean and modern way to set up your coffee essentials which would bring a satisfied smile on your face when you open the cabinet in the morning. While the first two designs lean more towards the modern, chic vibe; the last two capture the japandi style with some pops of colours and a muted, calming essence. This is the ideal setup for kitchens that have a modular layout with tall cabinet spaces to be utilized. 

Cost of Coffee Station (in $)

The cost of assembling a coffee station varies greatly from design to design, and also on the devices and items that are being displayed. 

Someone who is looking for a home bar idea on a budget might want to consider DIYing an old cabinet or using their own kitchen counter space to setup their coffee station. A DIY coffee bar project using a thrift store cabinet might cost anywhere from $30 to $100 depending on the decor items used as well as whether you already own the coffee machine you are going to display on it or buy a new one. 

They might even look at a coffee cart setup to not only save money but also space. This mobile coffee cart available in two different colours at a comfortable price of $89.99 on Amazon might be a good option to consider. 

When it comes to coffee brewing devices, the cost varies not only from brand to brand but is also contingent on the brewing method of your choice. A good french press can range from a cheap $20 to a whopping $150. However, when it comes to coffee machines, the cheaper end of the lot comes with only a small margin below $80 while the sky is the limit for the premium ones with the Breville barista express (regarded as one of the best in the market) marked at a price of $688.92.

The overall cost can only be estimated based on the price of decor items, mugs, baskets and other items off our ‘things to put on the coffee bar’ list in this article. The cost of mugs, syrups, coffee grinders and decorative pieces can all be customized according to your budget as there are high-quality affordable options as well as costly ones available in the market. Apart from that, if you are looking to install an overhead accent light to accentuate the look and appeal of your coffee corner, you might have to tab that in as well. 

Conclusion

If you are anything like Lorelai Gilmore of the Gilmore girls, you are already at your sixth coffee cup of the day when the sun goes down and nobody can stop you from gulping more java down. “Sleep, who?”, you hear your loved ones ask when you’re already fixing up your night-time supply of the jitter-juice. But there’s no need to fret about sleep when your body is obsessively unaffected by caffeine anymore.

You no longer need to box away your affection for coffee in your kitchen cupboards. It is to be celebrated and showcased in front of everyone who enters your home. 

And what better idea to do that than building your own perfect coffee station or bar in your arm’s reach? Getting that perfect cafe at-home setup has never been easier! 

Our curated list of 24 awesome coffee station ideas has come to the rescue of all those coffee fanatics who breathe in the fresh aroma of a new cafe wishing for their own at-home cafe setup one day. So, look no further and grab your cup of cappuccino and a notebook and pen to jot down your absolute favorite ideas. 

Read more: What Year Is It: The Answer Might Not Be What You Think

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Coffee Station Ideas

How To Make A Coffee Station In Your Kitchen?

Setting up a coffee station inside your kitchen is not a difficult task at all. The first step is to assess your space and decide on your basic layout for the coffee station. If you already have a spare counter that is going unused, setting up a coffee corner might just be your opportunity to utilize it. Or if you have an empty wall in the kitchen that you would like to highlight, you could install a small cabinet, a cart or a full-size cupboard for a separate cafe bar setup. Another option to consider might be using a hidden space like an already installed column of your kitchen cabinet to store your coffee-making equipment and keep it as a surprise gift for your guests!

How to make a coffee cabinet?

A coffee cabinet can be either made out of a cabinet that you already own by sprucing it up with some DIY magic or you could buy a new cabinet and set it up beautifully to display your coffee fanaticism. There are a ton of designs in this blog’s section on coffee bar layouts to get inspired from and chalk out a coffee cabinet design that resonates with your personal style. After that, all you need to do is assemble and make it all look pretty!

Where to place coffee maker in kitchen?

You can place your coffee maker on the counter of your kitchen against the backsplash; and place mugs, coffee bags, cookies or other complementary items alongside to fill up the space. You could also consider placing your coffee machine on a coffee cart or a small cabinet if your kitchen is a bit large, and decorate the piece of furniture as per your taste.

Will coffee grounds stain carpet?

If you have accidentally spilled your coffee grounds on your carpet, there will be some serious staining that you need to meticulously clean out. As you realize your spill and the panic sets in, you must remain calm and immediately grab some paper towels and begin your rescue operation with some gentle blotting. When only the residual stains are left, a barely damp cloth must replace the paper towels. Finally, you must wait until the next morning when everything has dried out to vacuum and clean the area.

Calculators are essential at some point of time in our lives. They come in quite handy for high school and college kids to provide solutions for their math problems.

Likewise, many times, even at our workplace, we never know when we could need the assistance of a calculator.

As students, many of us have might have used scientific calculators during math lectures. These calculators are mainly battery-powered.

Once the batteries lose their charge, your calculator stops working. For these calculators, the battery life and quality become integral aspects to ensure their smooth functioning. For this, you must charge your calculator effectively.

Table of Contents

• How Solar Calculators Are Different From Regular Calculators?
• What Are Solar-Powered Calculators?
• Origin of Solar-Powered Calculators
• How Solar Calculators Found a Place in the Education Industry?
• How Do Solar Calculators Work?
• How Can You Recognize a Pure Solar Calculator?
• How Long Does It Take to Charge a Solar Calculator?
• Can You Charge Your Solar Calculator Indoors?
• Can Solar Calculators Have Fake Panels?
• The Best Solar Calculators to Buy
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about solar powered calculators

How Solar Calculators Are Different From Regular Calculators?

We have heard of various gadgets that run on solar energy. Do you know that even your calculator can run on solar power? Yes, you read it right.

Solar-powered calculators, as they are called, run on solar cells. What do these calculators look like? Well, they are small, handheld gadgets, just like your regular calculators, which work in the presence of solar energy. 

In this article, we will give you an insight into these calculators, their origin and how they work. We will also give you suggestions on some of the best solar-based calculators presently available in the market in case you are planning to purchase one.

What Are Solar-Powered Calculators?

Going by their looks, solar calculators resemble regular calculators only. The difference is in the manner in which their batteries are charged.

Battery-based calculators consist of AAA batteries or button-like cells. When these batteries or cells die, they need to be replaced to get your calculator going.

On the other hand, a solar calculator is composed of solar cells or panels which feed on solar energy or light. The solar panels in these calculators are energized in the presence of light.

How does this happen? The presence of amorphous silicon, a photovoltaic material,  present within solar panels facilitates this.  This enables these solar panels to convert solar energy into electricity, which in turn automatically charges your calculator batteries.

Now we know why solar cells are also referred to as photovoltaic cells. Hence, these calculators are also known as photovoltaic calculators.

Solar calculators can come with or without batteries. Pure solar calculators come without any battery backup. They completely rely on sunlight for charging themselves. When there is less light, these calculators may not get charged up very effectively. As a result, they will stop functioning.

The other variant of solar energy calculators comes with batteries. This variant relies on batteries when there is not much solar energy available or in low-light conditions.

The best example of this type of calculator is the NEWYES Scientific calculator. Now you may wonder why batteries are essential when solar energy can do the trick. Well, whenever there is insufficient light for your solar calculator, the batteries come to your rescue. Because of the battery presence, dual-powered solar calculators continue working.

Dual-powered solar calculators are quite efficient in terms of energy consumption. These panels help in energizing the batteries that get your calculator working. To sum it up, whenever your calculator batteries are low on energy, they can utilize some energy from solar panels.

Once the batteries are fully energized, the calculator can switch back to battery mode. It is because of this that batteries within solar-panel calculators are long-lasting. This automatically increases the lifespan of your calculator.

Now that you are aware that solar panels energize the batteries and improve the life of your calculator, how long do you think you can use them without any issues?

Well, it is difficult to predict a definitive lifespan for these calculators, however, if you maintain them well, they could last for about 15 years on an average. Some people even claim to have used them for 20 years. So this guarantees one thing – solar calculators can work efficiently for a long time.

In comparison, lithium-ion battery-powered calculators last for about 3 years, again depending on their usage, battery quality, calculator maintenance, and many such factors. Now that is a huge bit of a difference.

However, keep one thing in mind. Once you have used your solar calculator for about a decade, the batteries do not charge up to their full capacity, rather, they charge up to only 60% of their complete capacity. This is a signal that the battery efficiency is on a downward trend and your calculator may not last too long. Still, its lifespan is quite high when compared to battery-powered calculators.

This was all about the efficiency of solar calculators when compared to their battery-based counterparts. However, did you realize that by using solar gadgets, you would be helping our environment as well?

After all, what could be better than using natural energy resources like solar energy and conserving battery usage? These gadgets also give an insight into their power consumption analysis, thereby encouraging people to start using solar-powered devices.

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Origin of Solar-Powered Calculators

If you are wondering that solar calculators are quite new in the digital world, you may be wrong here. These calculators arrived way back during the late 70s.

The very first solar calculator called the Sharp EL- 8026, also known by the name Sun Man, made its first appearance in 1976.

The solar panels within this calculator are mounted on the rear portion from where it powers up the batteries. The photovoltaic cells within this module in-housed the S-225 silicon monocrystal which came with a 10% cell-conversion efficiency.

The Sun Man was a major contrast to the age-old calculators that were quite dominant in the 60s decade, the latter being quite bulky and costly. With the arrival of this model, transistor technology and screen technology started coming into the picture.

However, the Sharp EL – 8026 had a major disadvantage. The problem with this one was that the solar panels were installed in its rear portion. Hence it became a little inconvenient to use it while on solar power. 

Fast forward two years later, in 1978, came the Teal Photon. This completely ran on solar energy, without any batteries. However, the Teal Photon required very bright light to charge up. Moreover, there was no battery backup either.

A few years down the line, somewhere during the early 80s, both Sharp and Texas Instruments started bringing out solar panels that could work well even if the light was not very bright. With this invention, solar calculators began making a mark and establishing their presence in this area. By 1982, scientific solar calculators had started to come on board.

Sometime in 1984, Texas Instruments, as part of their promotional activities, offered free solar calculators to those firms and organizations which purchased their computers.

Sometime later, Texas Instruments struck a big deal with Chicago Public Schools when the latter when on to purchase a lump sum quantity of 167,000 solar calculators for a whopping $1.1 million. 

How did Solar Calculators Find a Place in the Education Industry?

Gradually, solar calculators began replacing log books and students began using them quite extensively in their math classes. Although teachers were not quite happy initially with this development, later on, they gave in to the idea of solar calculators becoming a part of math classes as they made students’ lives much easier. And these calculators ran on a natural energy source, hence there was no worry of batteries dying out.

These solar calculators were quite compact in terms of size and came with basic operational symbols like addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (x), division (/), and equal (=). These basic functionalities could easily work on solar power. They could function efficiently even in the presence of artificial light.

How Did Battery-Powered Calculators Gain Importance Over Solar Calculators?

Although solar calculators manufactured by Texas Instruments continued their popular run, school children began opting for TI-89 models as they proved to be quite useful for them to solve their math problems. Students started relying on TI-89s for their calculus and trigonometry solutions.

These calculators required a lot of energy and solar power was not enough to recharge their batteries. Thus, battery-operated calculators slowly began to take precedence over solar calculators.

Presently, many people are opting for solar-powered gadgets as a part of the “Go-Green initiative”. Solar panels are being set up on house rooftops as well as on parking lot covers. We also have batteries that can store solar energy.

How Do Solar Calculators Work?

Solar calculators require natural sunlight or bright light to get working. Going by the looks, solar calculators resemble our regular calculators only. 

For battery-based calculators, the charging happens through the batteries. You can recharge a battery-powered calculator under bright light, however, keep them away from normal light.

When the battery life is over, it simply means that you need to replace them. Regular calculators can be used easily anytime and anywhere once they are completely charged.

Now coming to solar calculators. The solar panels or solar cells on these calculators, also known as photovoltaic cells, need sunlight to get charged up.

Now how does charging happen under sunlight? Well, the silicon element housed within these photovoltaic cells converts solar energy into electricity, thereby automatically recharging the batteries within them.

Solar calculators have an LCD display. The remarkable thing about LCD screens is that they are quite efficient and can operate pretty well within a low voltage range of 1.5V to 2V. A few solar calculators like TI-701 LOOK (Graffiti), house a light pipe within them. With the help of this pipe, the light rays can meet properly on the solar cells. This in turn guarantees efficient charging.

The buttons on a solar calculator are like the buttons on any regular calculator. Different models carry buttons with different features. Some calculators could have the tax, currency, and profit margin calculation feature, some could have the square root feature, and so on. 

All solar calculators will have the basic math symbols like +, -, x, /, and = along with the power OFF/ON button. The calculations within a solar calculator are designed to work just like any other battery-based calculator.

How Can You Recognize a Pure Solar Calculator?

If you are using a solar calculator, you will observe some very distinctive features in the way it works when compared to an ordinary calculator. Calculators that are completely dependent on solar energy for their functioning will not work properly when they do not get sufficient light, or when their solar panels are obstructed.

During such situations, notice that the numbers do not appear very bright on the screen and they start fading gradually. Moreover, you could find a slight time delay between pressing the buttons on the calculator and their appearance on the screen.

In simple words, when your solar calculator does not receive the intended amount of light, you could find it a little slow in terms of its working. Hence, you need enough light to operate a solar calculator.

To find this out, you can test your solar calculator on whether it works as it should within a dark room. You can even try to deliberately cover the solar panels. If your calculator solely relies on solar power, observe that its screen does not appear as bright as it should.

If your calculator works efficiently even in darkness, this simply means that it is utilizing its battery energy (in the case of dual-powered calculators). Purely battery-operated calculators will have no problems operating in the absence of light.

Does Bright Sunlight Damage Solar Calculators?

Although these calculators solely depend on solar energy, this does not mean that you have to expose them to direct sunlight. Whenever you need to charge your calculator, you can place them where there is lots of light, however, just see to it that the sun’s rays do not fall directly on your gadget.

Exposing your calculator to direct sunlight for very long periods tends to damage the sensitive receivers present within the solar panels.

How Long Does It Take to Charge a Solar Calculator?

To answer this question, the charging time of a solar calculator depends on a few factors. If your calculator is quite old, or the solar panels have worn out a bit, chances are quite high that the capacity of its charging system could have gone down considerably.

In that case, the charging time could be longer. Moreover, if the sunlight is not too powerful, you may not see quick results.

On the other hand, if you choose to charge your calculator at that time of the day when the sun’s rays are at their strongest point, the charging could be better and faster. If your calculator is quite new with the latest features, don’t be surprised to see it getting completely charged in as less as 30 minutes!

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Can You Charge Your Solar Calculator Indoors?

The spectrum of sunlight has a wavelength ranging anywhere from 400 to 700nm. Artificial lightings consist of visible wavelengths within the range of 400 to 700 nm.

This includes your incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lighting. If your solar calculator has been designed to work well within these light wavelength ranges, then it should charge pretty well under artificial light as well. 

So, to answer your question, yes, you can charge your solar calculator under artificial lighting. However, it may not be a very efficient technique for charging your gadget. Let us look at the reasons for the same.

1. Loss of Energy:

Sunlight is natural whereas artificial lights consume electricity. Hence, when you use incandescent bulbs to charge your calculator, imagine the amount of electricity that you would be consuming. Natural light comes free of cost and also helps you in achieving your carbon footprint

2. Less Intense:

You cannot compare the spectral intensities of artificial lights with that of sunlight. Undoubtedly, sunlight scores much better in this aspect when compared to your fluorescent bulbs.

Moreover, the spectral intensities of artificial lights do not remain consistent. This causes a significant reduction in their power, ultimately reducing their energy.

3. Light Obstructions:

Artificial lights can never reach solar panels directly. They are obstructed by various elements like glass (which covers the bulb). The glass absorbs some of the light, and this could even cause the light rays to deviate and spread out across the room. Hence, your calculator could take longer to get charged.

To sum it up, you can use artificial light to charge your calculator only when you do not have access to sunlight, like on cloudy or rainy days or even in darkness. However, your primary preference should be natural sunlight only.

Can Solar Calculators Have Fake Panels?

Many manufacturers put up fake solar panels in calculators. You may find such calculators to be relatively cheaper, but in the long run, they won’t be useful.

Fake solar panels cannot convert solar energy to electricity. Eventually, when your calculator batteries die out, your calculator too would wear off. Hence it is always better to check for the authenticity of all these products before you purchase them.

The Best Solar Calculators to Buy

Now that you have understood how solar calculators can go a long way in protecting our planet by conserving energy, you might be planning to own one for yourself in case you rely on calculators.

Each one of us could have a different purpose for buying a calculator. The needs of students and professionals when it comes to owning calculators could be poles apart. 

Keeping all of these factors in mind, here are some of the best picks that we have shortlisted for you. Check them out and go for the one which suits your needs best.

You will also get an idea of how much each solar calculator costs on average. The prices will vary depending on the inbuilt features within each calculator.

1. Helect Standard Function Desktop Calculator

The Helect Standard Function Desktop Calculator has been designed to make the lives of accountants and finance professionals much simpler.

If you belong to either of these two categories, then consider purchasing this one. Let us check out the features of this calculator:

• It is a dual-powered calculator. This means that it can last for many years since it works both on solar power and batteries.
• In the absence of solar power, it needs AA batteries for its functioning. It is better if one AA battery is always present within the device to avoid any sort of interruptions in the absence of light.
• Contains big-sized keys and a wide 12-digit display.
• Contains all general keys (+, -,X, /, =, %). Hence it can provide solutions to your daily math problems.
• Can be used for calculating profit margins and tax. It also assists in currency conversion.
• You can choose this calculator in any of the following colors: Black, Blue, Orange, White, or Plum.
• The price of this calculator ranges from $9.99 to $11.99. The price variation is due to the different colors.

2. Casio SL-100L Basic Solar Folding Calculator

The Casio SL-100L is a desktop calculator with a folding mechanism. When folded, it becomes so compact that it can easily fit within your pockets. Let us have a look at some of its key features:

• This is a true solar calculator. It completely works on solar power. When idle for 8 minutes, it automatically shuts off.
• The hinges are quite stiff; however, you can completely open it and can comfortably view its screen when kept on a flat surface.
• Consists of a wide 8-digit display. This ensures good readability for everyone.
• Comes with an independent memory.
• Includes all basic operations. Also comes with the percentage and square root key.
• A comma marker is present after every third digit.
• This one costs $5.43.

Although the Casio SL-100L is not very big in terms of its size, it scores huge points in the solar calculator category. The only drawback in this one is the absence of a backlit.

3. EastPin 12-Digit Dual-Powered Solar Calculator

This scientific calculator manufactured by EastPin consists of a large 12-digit LCD display with big-sized keys. This one can run on solar energy as well as a single AA battery. This simply means that you can use it even in low-light conditions. The calculator automatically switches OFF when it is in an idle position for a long time. Let us check some of its features at a glance:

• Works on both solar power and battery power. A single 1.5 V AA battery is sufficient.
• The big-sized buttons make it simple for people to use it. Made of ABS plastic, these are quite comfortable to touch and press.
• The 12-digit display screen is ideal for businessmen and teachers to use in math classes.
• This one costs $8.99.

4. Casio MS-80b Standard Function Solar-Powered Desktop Calculator

The Casio ms-80b solar calculator is again a desktop calculator. Considered to be one of the USA’s top calculators, this one is a good choice of calculator for business people and finance professionals. Even students will find this one quite useful. The size of this calculator is such that it can easily fit within your bag. 

Again, this is compatible with both solar and battery power. 

Some key features of this calculator include:

• Again this calculator is dual-powered. It works both on solar power and battery power. 
• It comprises a large 8-digit LCD display.
• The display screen is placed at an angle of 25 degrees.
• If you are someone dealing with tax, currency, and profit-margin calculations, then this one is quite helpful for you.
• This calculator is available in three colors: Brushed Nickel, Blue, and Silver.
• The price of this calculator ranges from $7.39 to $10.69. The price varies depending on its color.

5. Sharp Electronics 8-Digit Dual-Powered Calculator

This 8-digit dual-powered calculator manufactured by Sharp Electronics is a very cute dual-powered, pocket calculator. The calculator measures 4.25 x 2.5 x 0.7 inches in size, and hence, you can carry it with you anywhere you want to.

All your daily math solutions can be provided by this one and hence, you can use it for both your home and office needs. Some of its characteristics are as follows:

• Contains a hinged protective cover that ensures high protection.
• Has a large 8-digit LCD display which provides a lot of clarity.
• Consists of 3 memory keys (memory plus, memory minus, and recall/clear memory keys).
• You can purchase this calculator online for $7.33.

Although this calculator can be used by everyone, students will find it quite useful. Even professionals can use it during their meetings and business trips.

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Conclusion

Well, we hope that now you have a very fair idea of solar-powered calculators regarding their origin, history, and how they work.

You also know the best ones to go for in case you are planning to purchase one. Apart from helping yourself with the calculator, you will also be doing your bit for our planet by using natural energy sources. So go ahead and get one if you intend to!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about solar powered calculators

Are solar-powered calculators real?

Yes. Solar calculators are real and quite helpful.

How long does a battery last in a calculator?

The battery life in a calculator depends on its usage, maintenance, and its quality.

Can solar-powered calculators store energy?

Solar calculators convert solar energy into electricity, which helps in the charging process.

Do solar-powered calculators need batteries?

A few solar-powered calculators come with batteries. These are known as dual-powered calculators. These are useful when there is no light or less light.

Are Casio calculators solar-powered?

A few Casio calculators are solar-powered. Some of these are really good ones.

Who invented the solar calculator?

Solar-calculators were first manufactured by Sharp in 1976.