Every morning, my partner quietly crawls out of bed to attend to his first task of the day: making me a Vietnamese coffee. It started as a display of love. He doesn’t drink coffee (bizarre!), but I dream of it when I fall asleep. And now, it’s grown into a ritual. He says he loves the act of grinding the beans, filling the Bialetti, and pouring the steaming liquid into one of my favorite mugs. Plus, he enjoys tucking into our cozy coffee nook—an unexpected spot in our pantry that’s turned into a meditative reprieve.
If our coffee nook is any suggestion that joy can happen anywhere in the home, it’s also a reflection of our times: We all want to slow down. And we all want to experience more mindfulness, even when doing the ordinary. So we can start in the smallest ways, like creating a nook for a morning ritual that feels cozy and purposeful.
Featured image by Michelle Nash.
Coffee Nook Ideas to Inspire Your New Favorite Morning Routine
Since most of us prepare some warm drink in the morning, be it coffee, matcha, golden milk, or even adaptogenic hot chocolate, we have at least one opportunity a day to turn a simple routine into one that’s meditative and beautiful. The following coffee nook ideas have inspired our little morning spot.
Plus, once the coffee (or tea, or golden milk… ) is made, there’s another chance to feel good—i.e., when you tuck into a cozy corner to drink it.
What Is a Coffee Nook?
Google coffee nook ideas and the terms coffee station, coffee bar, and coffee corner pop up. While there’s no specific definition for the term, a coffee nook is a dedicated place that corrals all the essentials—mugs, beans, spoons, etc.—for making your perfect cup.
That’s exactly what a coffee nook is: a sacred spot to make something meaningful.
I love leaning into the word nook, which the Oxford dictionary defines as a “corner or recess, especially one offering seclusion or security.” Because that’s exactly what a coffee nook is: a sacred spot to make something meaningful.
What are the perks of a coffee nook?
You may wonder, I have a coffee maker, why do I need a dedicated nook for it? I think about this the same way I do any mindful practice: By creating a safe and beautiful spot for something, we infuse more meaning and intention into it. Even more, everything we put in our bodies deserves a dose of good energy. Taking the time to make our coffee or tea with care results in greater pleasure and flavor.
Essentially, it’s about being present. Camille put it best: “It’s those simple little cues that speak to my senses, reminding me to be present and acknowledge the moment as sacred,” she says of greeting the day.
By creating a safe and beautiful spot for something, we infuse more meaning and intention into it.
How do you create a coffee nook?
First, find a place that speaks to you. Pay attention to your rhythms in the morning: Is there a quiet corner or spot on the counter that you always visit? Claim an area that feels good.
Next, place your coffee or tea maker, a favorite mug or two, a milk frother (if needed), and any accouterments, such as sugar or honey. I love to put all of this on a beautiful tray, if possible. Doing so keeps any clutter contained and marks the nook.
7 Coffee Nook Essentials
Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker
Casa Zuma Oversize Linen Napkin
Lady Falcon Coffee Club ‘Around the Way’ Blend
Casa Zuma Spice Bowl and Spoon
Where do you drink your coffee?
Once you’ve made your cup, stay with the moment. Find a place that allows you to savor those minutes as you sip. I love interior designer Maria Wu’s advice for finding the perfect place to enjoy your cup: “I like to observe the habits of a cat which generally translates to where the warmth of the sun streams into the space the strongest in the morning,” says Wu. “The sun energizes and provides warmth—and having that quiet energy allows for one to ease into the day.”
