How to Set Up a Hot Drink Bar for Your Family

When guests come to town, I love to set up a hot drink area for making steamy mugs of cafe style coffee or tea.  We then cozy up on comfy chairs and settle in for good conversation.

Why not do this for our family as well?  We can all grab our latte, chai, or herbal blend, and go sit by the fire together, and maybe play a game of chess or checkers.

I recommend this for weekend mornings especially, or during a slow afternoon after school, though it also would be fun late night if you have older kids who tend to wake up at 10pm!

Possible Hot Drink Bar Ingredients (pick the ones you like):

*a selection of herbal tea (I keep this in an old antique drawer)

*decaf. coffee

*Hot cocoa

*chai

*honey

*whipping cream (I like homemade sweetened with a stevia product)

*sprinkles

*Torani syrups (my favorites are pumpkin pie spice, almond, and amaretto)

*Torani chocolate, caramel, and pumpkin pie sauces for drinks (these are what make the drink more like the ones you get at Starbucks – the secret sauce)!

*Mexican chocolate powder

*little bits of shaved chocolate

*a creamer carafe and a sweetener

*Non-fat milk

*a frother for milk (makes great lattes)

*cinnamon sticks

*nutmeg

*mugs

*a teapot and coffee maker

Put everything on a tray, or in one place on your counter and call everyone to grab a mug and mix up their favorite concoction.  

Here are a few delicious drink recipes.  The Bowl of Soul is my own version of the house specialty at my local fav., Java on Sherman:

What is your favorite hot drink?

This is part of the “Treat Your Family Like Guests” series.