We Hate To Break It To You: Here Are The Places You Should Never Keep A Coffee Machine

With over 70% of American households owning at least one coffee machine, it makes sense that the humble cup of joe has been elevated into something of an art form. Whether it's a latte or a mocha, it's increasingly easy to create a coffee concoction to your own exact specifications without ever setting foot out of the door. And from drip coffee makers to espresso machines, pour-overs, there's a whole host of options to choose from when picking the perfect machine. So, you'd be forgiven for thinking that once you've picked a suitable machine from a popular coffee maker brand and brought it home, all that's left to do is to place it in your kitchen and get on with brewing your favorite drink. 

However, it's not quite that simple, and a little care needs to be taken to make sure that your coffee machine goes somewhere suitable. Not only do you need to make sure your machine isn't impacting your work surfaces too much, but you also need to make sure it's somewhere that won't cause any safety issues. From next to the sink to beneath a wall unit, here are some of the places you should never keep your coffee machine. 

We're all probably more used to thinking about the common items to avoid storing under a sink than about what we place around it. But there are certain items that you shouldn't place next to your kitchen sink, and the coffee machine is one of them. It's inadvisable to have electrical items close to running water, as you don't want to run the risk of accidentally electrocuting yourself. While it's tempting to keep your coffee machine close to the tap for easy refilling, you still need to maintain a safe distance to avoid any risk. 

If you're a fan of frothy milk, you've probably invested in a coffee machine with a milk wand, and these can be a particular issue when it comes to producing steam. Over time, that steam can damage any kitchen cabinets above it, potentially damaging your paint and even causing a little warping of the structure. Even coffee machines without wands will produce some steam as they heat up water, so it's a good idea to find an open space in your kitchen without any cabinets overhead to ensure nothing gets damaged. 

Your coffee machine is one of the items you should stop storing in your kitchen cupboards, as it's highly impractical and could lead to damage. A coffee machine that's squashed into a cupboard will be very hard to access for loading coffee beans or granules, as well as for cleaning. Many machines are also heavy, and moving them could be hard. In addition, there's also the risk of damaging parts of the machine while moving other items around in the cupboard. It's best to avoid these small spaces altogether unless you have a built-in coffee machine.  

Keeping a coffee machine around food isn't the greatest idea. Heat and moisture from the machine can make food spoil faster and encourage mold to grow. If you must keep your coffee machine near food due to space constraints, make sure it's in a ventilated area rather than a closed cupboard, which will exacerbate the problem. Proper ventilation should avoid these problems, but we still wouldn't recommend placing a coffee machine directly under or next to food. 

It's best to avoid placing your coffee machine next to your cooktop. The high heat generated by the stovetop could damage your machine. For this same reason, it's best to avoid placing your coffee machine too close to your oven. The only exception to this rule is if you have a built-in coffee machine, as these are often found next to ovens in specially constructed kitchens. 

Wooden work surfaces may look elegant and beautiful, but they're not as hard-wearing as many worktop materials. This means they can be more prone to stains, scratches, and water damage. Even something as simple as steam from your coffee machine could damage a wood surface, and that's without factoring in coffee spills or water leaks. If you only have wooden surfaces to choose from, it's worth investing in a non-slip protective mat or trivet to protect the wood. 

It's a small thing, but when you're planning where to put your coffee machine, you also need to consider where you'll place your coffee beans and other accessories you use frequently to make coffee. You don't want to place these at the other end of the kitchen so that you have to walk backwards and forwards to get things. Use common sense and place your coffee machine near the storage cupboard — you'll thank us first thing in the morning!

Modern coffee machines are often incredibly elegant beasts that can bring your kitchen design to life. And many of them aren't cheap either, so why would you want to hide them away from sight? Coffee machines should be on display, adding a certain touch to your kitchen, and with the choice of colors and designs available, it's easy to choose one that will look stunning in your kitchen space.