This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. This post was sponsored by Starbucks as part of an Influencer Activation. I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review. #StarbucksCaffeLatte #MyStarbucksatHome #CollectiveBias

One of the things I miss most about my time in Italy is the amazing coffee and adorable cafes we frequented. There is something so charming and relaxing about the cafe culture over there. When Starbucks® invited me to try out their new Caffé Latte K-Cup® pods, I just knew I wanted to create coffee party ideas that would transport me to those Italian cafes.

The inspiration for the coffee party ideas come from this tiny little cafe we stopped at while we were in Naples. It was really adorable and tiny, right next to our BnB. The cafe had a shabby chic feel, with florals, whimsical bird accents, and light blue and white decor throughout the space. It was just a really adorable cafe, so I thought it would be fun to try to recreate the space. For my little cafe party, I decided to create a few simple decorations. I also went to my local second-hand store to find some bird accents for the tablescape. Here are my six simple tips to throw a cafe party.

1. Visit a Second-Hand Store

Since I decided on a shabby chic theme, I knew I would be able to find some great ideas for my table at the second-hand store. The tablecloth along with several of the dishes on the table came from my second-hand shop. I also found some bird accents at my local craft store and at the second-hand store. I couldn’t believe my luck when I spotted this white frame with little bird details. To complete the look, I also found two small ceramic birds and a large shabby chic bird cage. Inside the cage, I added two of those hanging ball decorations to add some dimension and weight to the cage. Since our walls are the same color as the cage, adding those balls gave the cage some depth.

2. Incorporate the Italian Language

To really get in the Italian mood, I created a large buongiorno above the tablescape. Buongiorno means good morning in Italian and I got the idea to decorate with good morning from our host in Naples. He had good morning in all different languages strewn across the living room wall. It was such a cute idea and felt so welcoming. For more Italian language touch, I created a printable for the frame. Inside of the little bird frame, I included a little Italian saying “le ore del mattino hanno l’oro in bocca” which is basically their version of “the early bird gets the worm”, but it’s much prettier. The direct translation is “the morning hours have gold in your mouth”. Basically, go get yours in the morning! Using the Italian language on the wall and inside of the picture frame were two easy ways to lend an Italian feel to the party tablescape.

3. Add Coffee Details

As another way to highlight the coffee theme, I created little coffee-filled votives. I found two matching bowls, filled each bowl with whole coffee beans, and placed a votive candle in the middle. This is a super easy decoration to add a coffee-focused touch to your party table.

4. Create Edible Decorations

Another decoration idea I’m pretty obsessed with is edible cookies. I placed them right on the lip of each coffee cup. You could make these edible cookies in any shape you like. I made little leaves by hand, using leaf images I found online. I simply printed out some leaves and used them as a pattern to hand-cut the leaf cookies with a pairing knife. Then, I made little notches in some of the cookies so they could sit on the coffee cup. I used this dough recipe which held its shape perfectly. I also made simple chocolate dipped spoons (just melt chocolate, dip your spoon in it, and add some toppings of your choice). Both of these edible decorations are not only functional, but they look really pretty!

5. Make Your Own Stacked Plate Stand

One thing I love in cafes are the stacked plate stands that hold all of the pastries. Although I’ve always wanted one, I have yet to buy one. Luckily, I have a super easy solution for displaying your pastries. If you find a dinner plate and a salad plate with the same pattern, you can use a coffee cup or a wine glass to stack them on top of each other. Tada! Now you have a pastry stand. You can see on my tablescape I actually made two plate stands by using a dinner plate with a salad plate stacked on top. You can use basically any glass or dish to separate the two plates. On the plates, I served various pastries and cookies, including these simple chocolate croissants that paired perfectly with the coffee.

6. Check the Dollar Section for Display Containers

To present the Starbucks® Caffé Latte K-Cup® pods and the new signature flavor packets, I used cute little wooden boxes I found in the dollar section at my local retail store. The little wooden crates were the perfect vessels to hold the K-cup pods and the flavor packets. I’m so excited about this new two-step beverage. To make the drink, simply empty the flavor packet into your cup and place it under your machine. Next, add the K-Cup® to the machine and brew it. This two-step process is super easy. It makes really delicious drinks with no artificial flavors that are made from milk. They come in three signature flavors — caramel, mocha and vanilla, and two seasonal flavors — pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha.  My absolute favorite flavor was the peppermint mocha, but they are all really delicious. The products are available nationally at your local grocery store. I definitely suggest you give them a try!

I’m so happy with how my tablescape turned out. The edible cookie decorations and all of the bird accents worked perfectly while we enjoyed our new Starbucks® Caffé Latte K-Cups®. I hope these coffee party ideas inspire you to throw your own Italian cafe party. I think this could be a great way to entertain friends or the perfect way to start your holiday morning.

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