My love for coffee started at a very early age. We didn’t really have fresh brewed coffee in our home, but my grandparents did! I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee, it reminds me of simpler times growing up, especially of my grandparents. When I was in college, I worked as a barista in a bakery. I’ve always enjoyed concocting drinks, and was always experimenting! I may not have loved that job, but I loved making drinks. Fast forward quite a few years, I still have vanilla syrup and caramel sauce in my home so I can make caramel macchiatos all the time.
I have always wanted to create a coffee bar, and just this week I finally did! While looking for inspiration I turned to Walmart. They have the best selection of vintage chic furniture and home decor items. I’m seriously obsessed with everything! As a fan of blush pink/light pink and gold, I knew I wanted to create a rustic yet feminine vintage chic coffee bar! I stumbled on this absolutely beautiful blush pink lacquer tray with gold handles and had to have it. It is so me! I decorate with blush pink throughout the year, so I can’t wait to incorporate it with my fall and holiday decor as well. I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to partner with Walmart for the next few months. Last month I created a coastal inspired bedroom with their bedding, and this month I knew a vintage chic coffee bar would be something I’d love to recreate time and time again. Their products are amazing, they offer fast and free shipping on items over $35 or they can be be picked up in-store. Walmart also offers free returns, which is a huge plus.
How I Created My Vintage Chic Coffee Bar
When planning my coffee bar, I made sure and wrote down everything I would need before making my purchases. First things first, I knew I wanted a beverage dispenser. I live in the country, so bugs are often an issue! A beverage dispenser with a lid would ensure nothing would get inside. Next thing on my list were matching glasses. I’m notorious for buying a few glasses here and there; I have quite the collection of trendy yet mixed glasses! Once I purchased my tray, beverage dispenser and glasses, I knew I wanted a cold brew coffee maker, coarse ground coffee, creamers, and lastly a vase!
If you follow me on Instagram or on the blog, you know I incorporate garden roses, dahlias or hydrangeas in nearly every IG post I create. Flowers are a must in my book. If you’re interested in learning how to create your own vintage chic coffee bar, you’re in luck! Today, I’m dishing on how I created my vintage chic coffee bar, some of the struggles I faced, and how you can create yours easily and efficiently.
Take Account Of Your Supplies Before Creating Your Coffee Bar
I bought a tray, a beverage dispenser, clear glasses, a cold brew coffee maker, creamers, and a vase, and thought I had it figured out. I was going to create the coffee bar on my bar cart, and have it right next to my French inspired desk. Everything looked fabulous when I ran a test run; I was just waiting for the beverage dispenser to arrive. When it arrived, I realized that I hadn’t paid much attention to it online before purchasing. I knew the dispenser didn’t have a stand, but I didn’t realize I would have difficulty pouring coffee out because the spout was toward the bottom. That wasn’t doable on my bar cart. I needed to set the dispenser on a table or on the kitchen counter because I didn’t have a stand. At first this seemed like a struggle, but it turned out for the best. I decided to move my “vintage chic coffee bar” outdoors and I’m so glad I did. I love being outside enjoying my flower farm, and so do my guests.
To create my coffee bar I used a large round vintage patio table, but you can use any type of table you wish! Here are a few beautiful tables available at Walmart that would be perfect for a coffee bar.
Shop Rustic Tables
Every Coffee Bar Needs A Sign
You can create a sign with a chalkboard or any materials you wish, or you can purchase a coffee inspired sign letting your friends, family and guests know where the coffee bar is! Walmart has a great selection of coffee signs that are perfect for the coffee bar at your bridal shower, baby shower, or Sunday brunch. Some can even be personalized! As someone who doesn’t have a common name (Candace), this is a plus. I love that you can hang these signs in your kitchen or in your office as well. They are perfect for the coffee drinker! Since my coffee bar was outside, I made sure and used an easel so I could set it on my table.
Shop Vintage Inspired Coffee Signs
How To Make Cold Brew Coffee
I’ve purchased cold brew coffee concentrate before, but as someone who loves DIY projects, I always wanted to create my own. I noticed Walmart had a cute vintage chic cold brew coffee maker that makes coffee easily, and had to have it. Believe it or not, but it costs less than $20!
Last weekend I learned how to make cold brew coffee, and I kid you not I have been making it every few days ever since. I am OBSESSED with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, so I don’t need an excuse to make it! 😉 All you need to make cold brew in this glass Ball jar is coarse coffee grounds and water. You can brew it in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. Since I don’t really like dark roast, I brewed it in the refrigerator for 12 hours and that was perfect.
If you’re making it for yourself, you don’t need much coffee in your glass since it’s concentrated. I added about an inch of coffee, I then filled my glass 3/4 of the way with water. Once I did that, I added bit of almond milk, and vanilla syrup. I topped it off with whip cream and caramel sauce to make a caramel macchiato!
To make it in a beverage dispenser, you essentially do the same thing! Just fill your beverage dispenser with coffee, and add more water to it.
Shop My Favorite Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Cold Brew Coffee Bar Essentials
As I mentioned above, I am obsessed with the vintage chic light pink lacquered tray I bought! I filled that with glasses from the Pioneer Woman’s collection from Walmart. I LOVE the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. About six years ago I interviewed her, and she shared delicious spring inspired recipes. She is one of the nicest people I have ever interviewed! I watch her show every Saturday, and have bought a few things over the past year from her collection. I honestly can’t believe the quality of her clear glasses and beverage dispenser. The glass is very heavy! I paid $14 for a set of four glasses, and the beverage dispenser was only $31.98. I accidentally dropped the lid and thought I had broken it on the concrete, but thankfully I didn’t! The quality is amazing and the vintage chic style is perfect. The glasses are ideal for everyday, and can be used when hosting guests!
A Tray For Your Glasses, Syrups and Creamers
I LOVE my pink lacquered tray with gold handles. I used it to store my clear Pioneer Woman glasses, vanilla syrup, raspberry syrup, caramel sauce and creamers. I love everything about it!
Shop My Light Pink Kate and Laurel Tray
Should You Choose A Beverage Dispenser Or A Pitcher?
Will you place coffee in your guests glasses before they arrive or will you have a pitcher or beverage dispenser set up? I’ve interviewed quite a few lifestyle experts and celebrity party planners over the years, and the one thing they always tell me is to have a designated area for guests to pick up their drink/or make their drink! You want to enjoy yourself, you don’t want to be making drinks all day. I highly suggest having a beverage dispenser set up, so you won’t have to refill it all day. The one I chose is 2.1 gallons (Adeline) and made of heavy glass. You can’t beat the price either! It’s an absolute must.
Shop My Pioneer Woman Beverage Dispenser
Matching Adeline Clear Glasses
The Pioneer Woman Adeline collection is one of my favorites! I chose the Adeline beverage dispenser and matching clear glasses. The quality is amazing! The glasses are available in a variety of colors, but I love clear because they’re so versatile.
Shop My Pioneer Woman Clear Glasses
Ice
I didn’t have a photo of ice in my pictures, but I highly recommend having an ice chest filled with ice! You don’t want to have to run back and forth to the kitchen or inside to get ice for everyones glasses.
Creamers Are A Must
You’ll want to ensure you have creamer for the coffee! I’ve recently gotten hooked on unsweetened vanilla almond milk because it tastes like milk to me. Due to rosacea I have to cut back on dairy unfortunately, so this is a nice alternative! I placed two creamers on my coffee bar, and labeled them “milk” and “almond milk” with my label maker! They turned out so cute. My cream containers just sold out, unfortunately! Here is another set that is just as cute!
Shop Cream and Sugar Container
Syrups and Sauce To Flavor Your Coffee
As a former barista, I always have various syrups in my home and of course caramel sauce! I set these on my tray to ensure my guests have options when creating the perfect drink. Vanilla and raspberry syrups are always a must in my book! I make sure and top every drink with whipped cream and caramel sauce. I love my “budget-friendly caramel macchiato.”
Shop The Best Syrups and Sauces For Coffee
Dessert To Complement Your Coffee
You have to have coffee with dessert! My mom made her famous chocolate chip cookies, which I placed on a cake stand. I love decorating with cake stands and own quite a few. I found a similar one on the Walmart website with black and white polka dots and gold trim. I need to add it to my collection.
Shop This Trendy Polka Dot Cake Stand
Beautiful Flowers To Adorn Your Vintage Chic Coffee Bar
Last but definitely not least, fresh flowers! We hadn’t had the best luck growing roses this year, the weather has been a bit challenging, but thankfully we have garden roses in bloom again. I bought this beautiful white beehive/honeycomb inspired vase, and thought I would need long stems to fill it, but thankfully I don’t. It’s fairly short on the inside, so that makes it perfect! This vase is elegant, very heavy and of amazing quality. It’s from the CosmoLiving line, and I absolutely adore it. I filled the vase with pretty light pink garden roses, but you can fill the vase with any type of flower you’d like.
Shop My White Honeycomb Vase
How To Create Your Own Vintage Chic Coffee Bar
- Plan your location (will it be indoor or outdoor?)
- Buy your supplies (glasses, tray, beverage container, syrups, coffee, cream)
- Be flexible in case your idea has to be changed or moved (like mine was)!
- Ensure you have enough coffee for your guests
- Have desserts, fresh flowers on display
- Have a great time!
Disclaimer: Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post! Opinions are my own, as always.
