I start my day with coffee…every day! Not only is coffee a staple in our home but I enjoy anything coffee related as well…coffee ice cream, mocha brownies, kalua with cream. My love of coffee has led me to collect coffee-themed containers as well.

Over the years I have amassed quite a collection of vintage coffee pots. To me, they’re a reminder that although the method of delivery has changed, the beverage will never go away.

There’s such a variety of styles of coffee pots out there. My favorites are the pots from the ’50s and ’60s. Those aluminum, graniteware and enamel pots that are inexpensive and easy to find at thrift stores and yard sales.

When I first started collecting coffee pots, I was only looking for unique pots that were in mint condition. But as my collection grew, I began to realize that these pots have many uses, and not all of the pots needed to be show worthy or even able to make a pot of coffee.

So what can you do with vintage coffee pots? Here are five of the best ways to use a vintage coffee pot in your home and garden.

5 Ways to Use Vintage Coffee Pots

Decorate Your Home and Garden

One of the simplest uses for these vintage pots is to create a display area and use them in your decor. Many of my coffee pots line the upper cupboards of my cabin kitchen. They not only add to the rustic charm of our cabin but they remind me of a simpler time in life when coffee might have been made in a pot over a campfire.

Even if you don’t want a wall of coffee pots on display, these vintage containers can be used to decorate your home and garden shed seasonally. Fill them with evergreen branches for Christmas. They can hold American flags for the 4th of July. During the fall months, you can fill them with glorious autumn branches or bird feathers. In the spring top a pot with a faux nest and eggs.

Container for Bouquets

Vintage coffee pots can make a perfect way to display your cutting garden flowers. Whether they’re white enamel, speckled blue graniteware, or metal they make an easy container that lets your flowers be the star of the show.

As long as your pot can hold water you have a perfect long-lasting vase. And even if the coffee pot can’t hold water, you can insert a vase into the pot to hold your flowers.

An added benefit is that these coffee pots are sturdy enough to withstand the outdoor elements. This can be very useful when you want a bouquet for your outdoor porch or deck since they are heavy enough to not blow over with an evening breeze.

Garden Planter

Vintage coffee pots can become a creative planter in your garden. This is where I tend to use those less-than-perfect pots. If they’re dented on one side or starting to rust a hole in the bottom all the better.

Because of their size, these containers won’t hold a massive amount of plants but they’re perfect for a variety of succulents or a single flowering plant to add a little charm to your patio or porch. Fill them with herbs and create a tabletop herb garden. Use a trailing plant in them such as ivy, sweet potato vine, or trailing nasturtium. I filled mine with a bright yellow begonia.

You’ll need to punch holes in the bottom for drainage if using this in your garden. If you don’t want holes in the pot then be sure to fill the bottom with a layer of pebbles to allow the water to drain away from the soil. Also, be careful to not over-water your plant.

I like my garden containers to retain their original appearance but if you like the idea of a stenciled coffee pot, you can find some stencil ideas here.

Tool Caddy

Vintage Coffee pots make a great container to store your tools. In the kitchen, they can hold your serving spoons, whisks, and ladles. They’re perfect for holding your spade, trowel, and clippers in the garden shed. In your craft room, a smaller pot can hold your colored pencils and paintbrushes.

Use a vintage coffee pot to display items in a creative way rather than shoving everything into a drawer or box. Coffee pots come in all shapes and sizes so you should be able to find one that’s perfect for your needs.

Beverage Server

Many of the vintage coffee pots available can still be used to make coffee. Normally, I use a modern drip coffee pot at our cabin. But when we lose power, I can still make my morning cup of joe on our gas stove with one of my vintage pots.

Even if you don’t want to use your vintage pot for coffee making, there are some other ways to use these containers. They make a great server for other beverages, both hot and cold. For example, you can fill your pot with iced tea or flavored water for your next bbq. Serve your guests sangria from your coffee pot. Or serve hot chocolate and spiced apple cider during the colder months.

Besides holding beverages for drinking, fill your coffee pot with water for other purposes. You can use your pot to heat up water on the stove for a project such as sealing your sap-producing flower stems. A pot sitting on your wood-burning stove can add moisture into the air during the winter months. Simmer potpourri in your pot to help freshen the air.

I’m hooked on vintage coffee pots. I find it hard to walk away from one when I discover them at yard sales, thrift stores, and flea markets. Once you catch the bug you might find yourself eying that vintage coffee pot at your next church rummage sale.

One thing is for sure, the coffee pots of today are not going to be very useful beyond their intended purpose tomorrow. I doubt you will find a non-working Keurig lining someone’s shelves for display. The coffee pots of old are disappearing, so pull your vintage pots out and use them. Whether you start your day with coffee or not, vintage coffee pots are a perfect complement to your home and garden.