My New Blog: TF Workshop

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Coffee Center

We have gone a little over a year without any additional projects in the kitchen. After staying in a vacation home that had a high-end built-in coffee maker, we decided to add one more.

We really liked the Miele coffee & espressp maker, but at $2400 or more, it's pretty much a budget-buster...


After doing some searching online, the cheapest built-in unit we could find was $1800. Free-standing units with the same features run $700 to $1500, so we decided to go with that option, hoping to spend less than $1000. My DW doesn't want it to sit on the kitchen counter, so we will build an in-wall coffee center. This will hold the machine, canisters for beans and cups, and it will pull out for easy access.

The only place available in the kitchen is on the wall outside the pantry as shown below. It can sit between the pantry door and the fridge, and push back into the pantry shelves.


Here is the concept picture...


I will need to move the display shelf up 4 to 6 inches and frame out a box. At present, I think the cabinet will be 18" high, sitting 36" off the ground. This will take up about one and a half of the pantry shelves on that wall, which really isn't that much.


I hope to build and install this over the Christmas to New Years holiday. If any of you readers have had a good or bad experience with automatic coffee & espresso makers, I would appreciate you leaving a comment. I am currently considering one made by Bosch...

16 comments:

Why S? said...

Wow! What a luxury item. Not only of money but also of space. I would love the have the space in my tiny kitchen for a coffee center. Enjoy!

Stephanie said...

What a great idea! Very cool!

I cannot vouch for Bosch coffee makers, but I can tell you to steer clear of their tankless water heaters - total nightmare.

Anonymous said...

that fridge is pretty sweet with that coffemaker, but yeah, that pricepoint would keep me from buying it :/
-jack

Anonymous said...

I just stumbled upon your site. That’s a nice design you gave to the kitchen!

Merlyn

Anonymous said...

Good Explanation with situational pictures...

Anonymous said...

Nice Job on your remodel.

Anonymous said...

Very luxurious, I would love to set in my small kitchen but price of it making me little nervous.

Angelle

mold removal products said...

This restructuring looks very nice with the coffee maker installed in the kitchen...great job.

Jake said...

Before purchasing, make sure you don't have issue with the electricity; some of these coffee centers surprise us with their plugs...I've even seen a v220 one!

San diego kitchen remodleing said...

You have to drink alot of cups to pay it off.

Anonymous said...

I'm super hesitant of fully automatic espresso machines as there is so much that can go wrong. At best, I've found them to make an ok espresso or cappuccino and at worst they can be horrid. It's a little more work and art, but I would suggest a Rancillio Silvia and possibly a good grinder (Baratza Preciso). There are much higher grade versions of both, but those are legit and will produce a way better cup and last much longer. Either way, good luck!

kitchen renovations sydney said...

Great idea, it's a good way to start renovating a kitchen and a coffee maker would definitely add more value to it.

remodel said...

I love the idea of a coffee cabinet.

Home Improvement said...

That is a expensive looking coffee maker. That must be nice to have.

Felicity said...

Wow, I haven't ever seen a built in coffee maker. I might just need that.

Anonymous said...

I am into the built-in coffee maker! Gotta have my coffee every day.


James | Kitchen Remodeling in Tempe, AZ