A Coffee Bar for Your Kitchen

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably saw the adorable, vintage truck my hubby bought me for an anniversary present.  It's a cream-colored 1959 Ford (according to my brother who is an expert on these things).  

I knew with a truck bed like that, it had to hold something.  Something like sugar and creamer in my coffee area.

I think it fits nicely with the "Lunch Now Being Served" sign from World Market.  

The galvanized pedestals were made from buckets and old pie pans (tutorial here).  They stack perfectly under the cabinet to hold K-cups and sweeteners.

If you happen to be a serious coffee drink like me, I have to tell you about this machine.   Ever since I first saw "You've Got Mail," I've been in love with the idea of having a real, at-home espresso machine.  You know the scene where Parker Posey comes running into the kitchen and is telling the espresso machine to "hurry, hurry, hurry!"  And later, Tom Hanks says she makes coffee nervous, lol!  I love that movie.  Ok, I digress :)

(borrowed this from Between Naps on the Porch.net)

As if that wasn't enough, later I was reading Edie's blog, Life In Grace, and saw her amazing beverage area.  that's it.  I knew I had to have one. (By the way, Edie has an amazing set up and shares it in her hospitality ebook.)  So, the searching and the saving-up began.  

I've had this one for a couple of years and I l-o-v-e it.  I researched several websites and read several reviews before purchasing this.  It is an investment, but well worth it.  I got this one from Whole Latte Love.  Their website offers video tutorials for making all sorts of coffee based drinks as well as machine maintenance.  They're the bomb!  

If you love your lattes and cappuccinos, with the Gaggia Brera you can make them just like the coffee shops.  A good machine and a quality coffee bean make all the difference.  The Brera model is a super automatic...meaning with the touch of a button, the beans are ground, pressed, brewed, and then dumped into a bin.  All you do is push the button and wait about 30 seconds for delicious espresso.  It also has a Pannarello steam wand to froth milk or to dispense hot water for tea.  I'm telling you, it does it all.  I use mine every day.  It takes up very little counter space and the water take and grounds holder are both accessible from the front.  Something I learned to look for in a machine. 

Whole Latte Love has an Amazon store so you can check it out, I have found that these machines are a little cheaper through Amazon and if you have prime, that's free shipping!  

Here's a link to the Gaggia Brera like mine:

By the way, if you're spending a few dollars every day or every other day like me, this machine actually paid for itself within a few months.  (My husband wouldn't quite word it like that but hey, I did the math and it's true!)

If you're wondering about the best coffee bean, I do buy Starbucks Espresso Roast from the grocery store (with coupon!) or Lavazza from World Market.  They really tastes the best when it comes to making espresso.  

So, whadda ya say?  Wanna grab some coffee?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

(The Amazon link is an affiliate link but the opinions are 100% mine!)

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