How To Create the Ultimate Breakfast Bar

You’ve pulled out the extra linens, cleaned the house from top to bottom and even made your kids bunk up together – all so your guests can have a great overnight stay. But what about breakfast in the morning? Leave it to your visitors by setting up an easy breakfast bar.

Creating your own breakfast bar and will bring the ease and beauty of a breakfast made just the way each of your guests like it. With a little prep work and planning, you can have your guests make their breakfast just how they like it, and you can grab a shower before all the hot water is gone.

Set Up Your Bar

breakfast bar with coffee and food

The kitchen might be the logical place to put the bar, but if space there is limited, try another spot in your house where you can clear off a tabletop to place dishes, food, the coffee maker and other accouterments. A buffet, credenza, sideboard or side table in the dining room is a great place for your breakfast buffet. Decide on your menu first, then stock the necessary small appliances to prepare it, whether that’s a toaster, waffle maker, blender and/or breakfast sandwich maker. If there’s room, add a little décor or chalkboard sign describing what’s available.

Put the Coffee On

flexbrew coffee maker on a table

A lot of people love a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Even if you aren’t a heavy coffee drinker, providing a hot, fresh cup of coffee for your guests can go a long way to making them more comfortable in your home and help start their morning off right. Put your coffee maker out on your new breakfast bar and if your coffee maker is programmable, set it up the night before to brew first thing in the morning. That way any early risers aren’t left trying to figure out how your coffee maker works. And to make things even easier, have the sugar and creamer ready to go so no one has to rifle through your cupboards.

If you have a FlexBrew® Coffee Maker or another single-brew machine, make sure to leave out the coffee pods so that your guests can choose which type of coffee they want. If you have a family member or friend who typically brings their own pre-ground coffee, make sure to explain how they can easily brew a cup just the way they like it with their favorite grounds.

Make It Customizable

toast with blackberry and brie

Sure, you could just put out cold cereal and pastries, but serving your guests a warm, satisfying breakfast doesn’t take much more effort. You can accomplish this in a number of ways, depending on your guests’ preferences. Here are a few ways you could provide your guests with the means to make fancy toast, gourmet waffles, blended smoothies or breakfast sandwiches:

Fancy Toast
Of course, you could do a standard toast bar with simple butter and jam, but why not try Blackberry Toast with Brie and Basil or Peach Toast with Ricotta and Mint? Move your toaster oven to the breakfast bar, put your ingredients nearby on cutting boards (think cheese board but with fruit), and include a chalkboard recipe so guests know what to do with the ingredients.
Gourmet Waffles
Waffle bars feel luxurious but are actually pretty simple to make. Start with your basic batter and put it on ice so that it can sit out. Let your guests add their ingredients into the batter or put them on top, like with Peanut Butter and Banana Waffles. Make sure to provide a variety of toppings, such as fruit and whipped cream, and some syrups, ranging from basic maple to a Turmeric Maple Spice Syrup.
Build-Your-Own-Smoothie Station
Are your guest health conscious? Keep your pals happy by providing them with a breakfast that fits their lifestyle: a build-your-own-smoothie station. Put your blender out on the bar, then provide several selections of milk or yogurt and their favorite fruits and veggies. Some crowd-pleasing favorites include our Choose Your Own Fruit and Cha-Cha Chocolate smoothies.
Breakfast Sandwiches
Put your Breakfast Sandwich Maker out on your breakfast bar and set up the buffet with a basket of eggs, pre-cooked bacon or sausage, cheese, veggies and English muffins. Try putting out ingredients for a classic breakfast sandwich like a Thomas'® Ham, Egg and Cheese Muffin Melt or something a little fancier like a Pesto with Sun-dried Tomato, Mozzarella and Egg Breakfast Sandwich. Sandwiches are ready in under five minutes, so everyone can get a hot breakfast quickly.

Keep It Open through the Year

breakfast sandwich maker and eggs on a table

While a breakfast buffet is a great solution when you’re hosting out-of-towners for the holidays or special occasions, it’s also a fun and easy way to serve up a morning course any time of year. Wrap up a kid’s sleepover with a waffle bar with all the toppings, or keep the bar open year-round for busy weekday mornings.