We Have Coffee at Home: Everything I Bought to Start Our Little Home Café
My favorite late-stage capitalism myth is if you want to get your finances together, you need to give up your daily coffee habit. Apparently, buying lattes is the reason none of us can afford a house. While I've always found that advice a little ridiculous, I will admit that coffee runs get expensive, especially when you have four teenagers who enjoy a fancy drink just as much as I do. And since momma was a barista for nearly a decade, it seems only right that we have the perks my expertise could offer.
So, I decided it was time to bring the coffee shop home.
I've wanted my own espresso machine for the longest time. Specifically, one with an actual steam wand so I could make some of the drinks I used to prepare at work. Getting my hands on a little espresso machine was genuinely exciting for me. A small dream fulfilled, with the added bonus of potentially saving us some money on coffee runs.
Here's everything I've purchased so far to get our home café up and running.
1. Casabrews Espresso Machine
The purchase that started it all.
I finally treated myself to a Casabrews espresso machine, complete with the steam wand I'd been wanting. After years of working behind a coffee bar, I really missed being able to make espresso drinks whenever I wanted.
I also appreciate that it's compact enough for a home kitchen. I wasn't looking to open an actual Starbucks franchise in my house, although with four teenagers, the demand might be there.
[SHOP MY ESPRESSO MACHINE → https://amzlink.to/az00TEWovjGAJ ]
2. Coffee Flavor Syrups & Sauces
For making all our coffee shop favorites.
One of the best parts of making coffee at home is being able to customize your drinks. I picked up flavor syrups and sauces so we can experiment with different combinations and recreate some of the drinks we'd normally order.
This is also where I think having a home café gets fun. There's plenty of room to try new recipes without paying coffee shop prices every time.
[SHOP MY COFFEE SYRUPS & SAUCES → FLAVORED SAUCES https://amzlink.to/az0lLX73s8Dio , FLAVORED SYRUPS https://amzlink.to/az09ZMyUWgjfy ]
3. Clear Plastic Cups With Lids
Because presentation is part of the experience.
I bought clear plastic cups with lids to give our homemade iced drinks that coffee shop feel. I know it's a little extra, but I enjoy having a cute drink, and apparently so do my kids.
That said, these are a temporary purchase. I'm planning to switch to reusable tumblers because I don't love how much trash we're creating, and I'd rather avoid drinking out of plastic regularly when possible.
[SHOP THE CUPS I STARTED WITH → https://amzlink.to/az0UwgxXlsZdZ ]
4. Stainless Steel Matcha Whisk
For our matcha drinks.
Coffee isn't the only thing on the menu around here. I also picked up a stainless steel matcha whisk so we can make matcha drinks at home.
I wanted something reusable that would fit into our little drink-making setup. I'm looking forward to experimenting with more matcha recipes, especially iced ones.
[SHOP MY STAINLESS STEEL MATCHA WHISK → https://amzlink.to/az0kxQHwgbKaN ]
5. Glass Espresso Cups With Handles
One of my favorite little additions.
These little espresso glasses with handles might be one of my favorite purchases. After spending so many years as a barista, I still appreciate having the right glassware for a drink.
They're simple, practical, and cute enough to leave out on the coffee counter.
[SHOP MY ESPRESSO GLASSES → https://amzlink.to/az0xHKoQlsV3I ]
What's Next for Our Home Café?
I'm pretty happy with our little setup so far, although I already have a couple more things on my wishlist.
An ice machine: Between iced coffees, matcha drinks, and having four teenagers in the house, an ice machine sounds like a worthwhile addition. I'd love to have plenty of ice ready without constantly refilling trays. [SHOP ICE MACHINE → https://amzlink.to/az0cZu308HqAi]
Reusable tumblers: I want to move away from disposable cups and invest in reusable tumblers that everyone can use. Ideally, something durable, easy to clean, and suitable for taking drinks on the go. [SHOP RESUABLE TUMBLERS → https://amzlink.to/az0otKsfJoMXw ]
Was Building a Home Café Worth It?
For me, absolutely. I've wanted an espresso machine for years, and getting to use those old barista skills in my own kitchen has been a lot of fun. And whether it’s a coffee for me, a matcha for them, I love starting my morning off with an act of intention and love. If you ever had one of my drinks, baby, you know it was made with love!
I haven't sat down to calculate exactly how much we've saved, and I did have to spend money upfront to get everything together. But considering how quickly buying drinks for five people can add up, I'm happy to have the option of making our favorites at home. I can tell you our last run on Dunkin was $50 for a dozen donuts and 5 specialty drinks. So, there’s no way we are not saving!
I'll be sharing more of our homemade drinks, recipes, and anything else we add to our setup. I'm especially excited to put that steam wand to good use.
And now, whenever someone suggests a coffee run, I finally get to say:
"We've got coffee at home!"
Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.
xo
Allison