Host: Spring Coffee Bar

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®  and The J.M. Smucker Company, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #DunkinDonutsPublix  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

They say that the best conversations happen over a cup of coffee, and just because it is officially spring doesn’t mean you can not still offer a self-serve coffee bar at your next house hosting! Whether your hosting a brunch or a baby shower, sometimes we want to keep it classic with a good ole coffee bar vs a mimosa or bloody mary bar.

When prepping for our guest to come over I was trying to come up with a way to have a self serve station for the guest to help themselves to a few treats and beverages while I finished up with brunch. I didn’t want them to feel like they were waiting on just me to finish up and you know how everyone always offers to help the host in any way they can. By having a self serve station, your guest do not feel helpless or in the way while waiting on the main event to happen (aka, the meal!) When at Publix grabbing things for our brunch I picked up Dunkin’ Donuts® k-cups (if you do not have a keurig they also have ground coffee and in lots of great flavors) and doughnuts from the bakery along with all of the other food we were having! Tomato, mozzarella and basil paninis anyone?

1. Starting with the decor think, over the top spring and summer vibes. When I normally thnk of coffee bars I think holidays, fall and cold weather vibes. I don’t know about you guys but I need my coffee year round. Not just in cold months – so when having company over I didn’t see a reason we couldn’t still have a coffee bar. I chose all things pineapple and flamingo for my decor. Mostly, just because I am obsessed with all things flamingo and pineapple right now but, keeping the decor bright and colorful keep the spring vibe feel.

2. Choose lighter flavored creamers. As much as I love my peppermint mocha and pumpkin spice creamers – they just didn’t seem appropriate for a summer coffee bar so I went with Coconut and Vanilla creamer.

3.  Have an iced coffee option. You can either have pre made coffee at room temperature out – or if your like me and like your coffee fresh (+ I prefer the ease of K Cups). You can just have ice readily available. When making iced coffee go heavy on the ice and creamer! Especially if the coffee is fresh and hot, go extra heavy on the ice! You can also have a vanilla or caramel syrup option to pump into the iced coffee to give it a little extra flavor.

4. Extra tip if you want iced coffee: Pre-make coffee the day before and put it in an ice tray and freeze it over night! This way – the ice that your guests are adding to their freshly brewed coffee will not water it down when it melts!!

Take advantage of $1.00 off any ONE (1) Dunkin’ Donuts varieties now through 5/6/17 at your local Publix, while supplies last.