Tea and Coffee Stations at Home
One of the Top 10 Trends for the Home: Tea and Coffee Stations
 Homeowners are currently installing tea and coffee stations in multiple locations throughout their homes, including the kitchen, breakfast nook, master suite, and home office. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) lists tea and coffee stations among its top 10 trends for kitchens as well as baths in 2016, according to its annual Design Trends Survey.
Do you usually spend the day with a cup of tea or coffee within reach? As you may have already surmised—you are not alone. About 50 percent of adults in the U.S. drink tea daily, while 61 percent drink coffee on a daily basis. The U.S. market for tea has more than quadrupled during the past 22+ years, according to the U.S. Tea Association. And coffee has become more popular with Americans than soft drinks and tap water.
Above: GE's Café and Profile French door refrigerators offer a Keurig K-Cup brewing system built into the unit's door. Once the K-Cup is in place, the built-in LCD display offers the same brewing options as a dedicated Keurig machine.
 Gourmet Tea and Coffee Attract Consumers
There are a variety of reasons for the incredible popularity of tea and coffee today. One is the introduction of gourmet tea and coffee to the mainstream. There are a large number of specialty tea rooms and coffee shops that make these beverages easily available throughout the country. Tea rooms serve an array of uniquely flavored tea blends sourced from around the world, along with the classic Earl Grey and English Breakfast. Traditional coffee has lost headway to cappuccino, latte, espresso and custom blends of exotic beans.
The fact that gourmet tea and coffee are considered luxury items, but are also affordable for the vast majority of consumers, also makes them appealing. The tantalizing aromas are a crowd pleaser, drawing people together and creating community.
Right: Rev-A-Shelf’s new two-tiered K-Cup organizer holds up to 40 K-Cup pods and all your accessories.
New Brewing Systems Bring Convenience to In-Home Tea and Coffee Stations
Perhaps the strongest factor influencing the rise in tea and coffee drinking, however, is the convenience of brewing systems for the home—especially the single-cup brewers. The National Coffee Association reports that the use of single-cup brewing machines at home is steadily rising each year, reaching an all-time high of 27% in 2015. Why make the trip outside, if you can make your favorite cup of tea or coffee at home whenever you get the sudden urge?
The New American Home 2016—the showcase home built to inspire remodelers, builders and designers who attended the International Builders Show in January—incorporated tea and coffee stations in its two master suites. Each mini kitchen provides an undercounter two-drawer refrigerator, built-in brewer, and a convection warming drawer, along with cabinet storage. Just imagine how pleasurable it would be to enjoy that early morning tea or coffee without having to leave the comfort of your bedroom!
Below: Thermidor’s built-in coffee system lets you steam and froth with its steam wand, which also dispenses hot water with a turn of the dial.
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