How a Hong Kong Barista Built a 495-Square-Foot Café at Home

When friends walking through the quiet lanes of Hong Kong’s Sai Kung ask, ‘Want to come in for a coffee?’, they’re not talking about some hip café down the street — they mean walking into EL’s actual home. What looks from the outside like any other village house hides a carefully crafted, coffee-centric living space built across just three floors totaling 495 square feet.

Yes, you read that right — 495 square feet, split over three floors, with the entire ground floor turned into a cozy, café-like living area inspired by British coffee shops.

A 495-Sq-Ft Café Spread Over Three Floors

This so-called ‘coffee room’ is really a stacked micro home: each of the three floors spans just 165 square feet, adding up to 495 square feet total. The ground floor serves as a living room styled like a café, the second floor is the bedroom, and the top floor holds the kitchen. ‘The space is tiny, but splitting it into levels makes everything more functional,’ says EL, a professional barista. He focused most of his design energy on the ground floor, crafting a daily coffee-shop atmosphere right at home.

The British Café Vibe, Brought Home

EL spent ten years working in coffee — from part-time barista to Grand Barista Championship 2010 champion — before opening his own shop and running a coffee school. Unlike most who try to keep work and home separate, EL did the opposite: he infused his entire residence with coffee culture. ‘I’ve always loved the vibe of British cafés — plain concrete walls, wooden furniture, and a skilled barista behind a proper machine. That’s the feeling I wanted to recreate at home.’

To nail the look, he kept the ground floor’s concrete walls bare but sealed them with a waterproof finish. One wall features faux brick paneling that also cleverly hides electrical wiring. Even architectural leftovers got repurposed: a staircase corner was smoothed into a neat alcove. The exterior of the village house? Painted bright orange to stand out in the neighbourhood.

Salvaged Furniture & Coffee Treasures

Much of the furniture comes from second-hand finds or upcycled items. Old school chairs from EL’s shuttered secondary school were rescued during its closure. A wooden cabinet and side tables came from a defunct hair salon. ‘We spotted the salon closing and went in to see what we could salvage,’ says EL. Other pieces include a barrel turned into a coffee table using a wooden pallet base, and a collection of vintage British road signs, enamel mugs, and even an old café chalkboard menu.

One standout piece? A 1930s French filter coffee maker — still in working condition, but with the wrong voltage for Hong Kong. ‘It’s beautiful, though. I keep it on display with my other coffee gear.’ The space is filled with coffee-themed decor: an espresso cup collection, latte art instructional stickers, and even a custom coffee bar top inlaid with real coffee beans. A full-length mirror repurposed from an old picture frame cost just $600 to install.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is EL’s home café in total?

EL’s entire home café setup spans three floors, each 165 square feet, adding up to 495 square feet total.

Which floor functions as the café-style living area?

The ground floor is designed to resemble a British-style café, with concrete walls, faux brick accents, and coffee-themed décor.

What inspired the café aesthetic in EL’s home?

EL drew inspiration from classic British cafés — simple concrete walls, wooden furniture, and the presence of a skilled barista with a professional machine.

Did EL use any recycled or salvaged materials in the build?

Yes, much of the furniture comes from reclaimed sources, including old school chairs, a hair salon cabinet, and a coffee barrel turned into a table using a pallet.

What’s the most unique coffee item in EL’s collection?

A 1930s French filter coffee maker, still in excellent condition but with incompatible voltage for Hong Kong, is displayed as a decorative piece.

How did EL create the café-like alcove on the stairs?

He smoothed out a rough leftover edge from a removed staircase wall using a concrete float, creating a neat little nook.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for a Home Café Setup

For a home café inspired by EL’s setup, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for its bright citrus and floral notes, perfect for pour-over sessions. Their Brazil Cerrado offers a nutty, chocolatey profile ideal for espresso or milk drinks. Both showcase the kind of quality beans that make home brewing rewarding. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.