Last summer, I went on a yoga retreat in Greece. Every morning, the retreat chef prepared fresh ginger shots to energize us before sessions. This daily ritual was so refreshing and invigorating, it made me want to bring a slice of that healthy lifestyle into my own home.
If you love the idea of starting the day with freshly-squeezed juices (or like me, aspire to be that kind of health goddess), creating a dedicated juice bar in your kitchen is a great way to start a habit. Inspired by our resident barista Laura and her kitchen coffee nook, I’ve put together this guide to help you create a juice bar at home.
We’ll start by choosing the best juicer to grace your worktop, before adding a few essentials like elegant glassware, juicing accessories and fruit bowls – guaranteed to bring joy and ease to your juicing routine.
The Quick List
Further down, I'll give you options and explanations of what you need in your juice bar and why. However, if you just want a quick list of the juice bar essentials, here's everything you need.
There’s nothing more elegant than a simple fruit bowl, filled with lemons, limes and oranges. I love this Earthenware option from Lulu and Georgia.
This olive wood cutting board has a juice groove and is perfectly sized for chopping fruits and veggies.
Glass carafes are ideal for serving fresh juice at the breakfast table. They also come with airtight seals, so you can store hydrating juices in the refrigerator to keep them cool.
Ribbed glassware is all the rage right now. This collection from Wayfair is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe for an effortless clean-up.
A mini recipe book for juice recipes. Perfect for beginners, it's got all the classics like green juices and ginger shots.
Nama Juicer and fresh fruit on the countertop
The juicer
There are tons of different juicers on the market, making it hard to know how to choose the right model. If you don’t have one already or are looking for a quality upgrade, you might like to read our guide to the best juicers of 2024.
Spoiler alert: we picked the Kuvings EVO820 as the best juicer overall, but for my dream juice bar, I’d pick the Nama J3 Cold Press Juicer. It’s stylish, minimalist and most importantly, fuss-free. It has a large hopper with a rotating blade, which automatically feeds ingredients down to be juiced This means you can add whole or large pieces of fruit and let the Nama get on with it, which is ideal for sleepy or busy mornings. It’s straight out of my health goddess dreams.
Minimalist juicing in every way. The Nama J3 is perfect for hands-free juicing and it looks so sleek, too.
This multifunctional machine isn't just a juicer: it's a smoothie blender and sorbet maker, too. The Kuvings EVO820 can tackle hard fruits, soft fruits, and even vegetables.
This cute and compact juicer is perfect for smaller kitchens. It can only handle single servings, but the Slow Squeeze Technology gets all the goodness.
Fruit holders
The best part of the juicing ritual is selecting your fresh fruit. I love displaying fruit in my kitchen, not just for the pop of color it brings to my worktop. It inspires me to replenish my stock frequently and try out new flavor combinations
There’s nothing more elegant than a simple fruit bowl, filled with lemons, limes and oranges. I love this Earthenware option from Lulu and Georgia.
I spotted this kind of fruit shelf at a luxury wellness resort in Ibiza, where private suites had juicing equipment in the kitchens. The wooden texture and tiered layers bring an artisanal farmer’s market vibe to a modern kitchen.
I’ve seen these ceramic fruit baskets all over TikTok and Pinterest. The ventilation keeps your fruit fresh, whilst the pastel color options bring a playful twist. Ideal for smaller fruits.
Cutting Boards
Once you’ve selected your fruit, you’ll need to prep it for the juicer. I asked Kyle Mendenhall, juicing expert & Senior Director of Culinary Innovation at Snooze A.M. Eatery for his professional tips. He advises 'preparing all your ingredients before you start to juice (washing, trimming, seeding, etc.). This will allow you to juice everything at one time and keep your juice as fresh as possible.’
Whether you’re chopping a pineapple, peeling a lime, or slicing up some apples, you’ll need a high-quality cutting board to hand. Personally, I like to use wooden cutting boards that are free from BPA and non-toxic, ensuring the healthiest juice possible.
However, Kyle says, ‘Sometimes wood can absorb flavors and make it hard to clean sticky sugar residue.’ He recommends a Hasegawa Japanese cutting board. ‘They have a wood core, a rubber outer coating, and provide a softness when cutting. They are also anti-bacterial. Originally intended for sushi chefs, I find these boards are top-notch for prepping fruits and vegetables.'
Well known amongst chefs as one of the best cutting board makers. There’s a ‘juice groove’ carved around the edges to prevent juices from spilling over onto the counter.
Originally a manufacturer of skis, Hasegawa was started in 1955 in Chiba, Japan. Their sleek cutting boards are great for chopping fruit, easy to clean and treasured by sushi chefs.
Perhaps not as practical as the other options, I love the rounded edges of this Mediterranean-style olive wood cutting board. It does have a juice groove and is perfectly sized for chopping fruits and veggies.
Glassware
Once your juice is ready to drink, you’ll want to pour it into a sleek, elegant glass for the true juice bar experience. Kyle says, ‘glasses that are good for chilled cocktails and cold beer also work great for juice.’
If you want to enjoy the bright color of the juice you’ve just made, you might prefer clear glasses. But I couldn’t help including these multicolor tumblers made by Italian kitchen connoisseurs, Bitossi.
Ribbed glassware is all the rage right now. This collection from Wayfair is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe for an effortless clean-up.
Glass carafes are ideal for serving fresh juice at the breakfast table. They also come with airtight seals, so you can store hydrating juices in the refrigerator to keep them cool.
Accessories
Now it's time to bring the color and vibrance of the juice bar to your own kitchen. Think: fresh flowers, bold prints and bright vases. I’m not very green-thumbed, but I love the idea of growing my own fruit tree indoors next to my kitchen juice bar. Imagine juicing your own, home-grown clementines! Otherwise, a fresh bunch of flowers or vibrant print will be equally uplifting.
Bring some 'al fresco' fun to your juice bar with Anthropologie's glass fruit vases. They're so cute and colorful, sure to make you smile in the morning. Anthropologie has brought out a collection of Fall fruits too, for seasonal updates.
Glassette has a great selection of kitchen prints. I love this cheerful watercolor print by English artist, Grace Percival. Why not pick a painting of your own favorite fruit?
New York-based artist Laila Gohar has created the Sobremesa kitchen collection for Danish brand Hay. 'Sobremesa' describes the Spanish tradition of enjoying each other’s company at the end of a meal – an apt name for the collection.
Useful extras
My favorite mini recipe book, packed with delicious juice recipes. It's great for beginners, ranging from classic green juice recipes to exciting flavor combos, like iced mint and matcha.
Elevate the juicing experience with a reusable metal straw. Plus, it's the best way to protect your teeth from stains.
We covered these simple bins a few months ago and they were unbelievably popular. From interiors icon Nate Berkus, these sleek but inexpensive bins are perfect for storing any juicing accessories or ingredients.
FAQs
What is the best juicer for small spaces?
The Hurom HP is cute and compact. Just the right size for single servings. It even incorporates Slow Squeeze Technology to get all the goodness out of your produce. Read our full review here.
Can you make juice in a blender?
It's not ideal (a juicer will always make a crisper, clearer juice) but if you're in a squeeze, you can make juice in a blender. In fact, we've covered the blender vs juicer debate in detail.
What is the difference between smoothies and juices?
Juices are naturally hydrating. They're created by extracting liquid from fruits and vegetables, leaving behind the fiber in the form of 'juice pulp'.
Smoothies are made by blending whole fruits and vegetables, retaining their fiber and offering a thicker, creamy texture. Smoothies can be more filling, while juices offer a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals.
If you’re more of a smoothie lover, you can easily create an at-home smoothie station instead. Start with our guide to the best smoothie blenders and more.
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