How to Throw the Perfect Brunch Party at Home

in partnership with

For hosts, brunch is perhaps the most fun meal to organise. Despite the breakfast part, you don't have to get up incredibly early, most of the preparation can be done the night before, and the event can be as long or as short as you want — most guests will probably have plans for the afternoon, meaning you won't have people dribbling around your place for hours and hours. We love a good brunch party, and in partnership with Nespresso, we've come up with four ways to make your one an epic occasion (that's stress-free in preparation).

1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL CAFE

New Zealand's cafes and food stores are lush with scrumptious, brunch-appropriate goodies, so why not take advantage of them? If you're not at all keen on cooking, a take-away quiche or frittata will do a great job, as will some scrambled eggs and avocado ordered in advance. Our best advice is to get your hands on the fanciest yoghurt bowl on offer and claim it as your own. People will get their dose of brunch without you having to slave away in the kitchen, and you'll make things much easier for yourself so you spend more time relishing in your invited company.

2. PRESENTATION IS KEY

The one thing that separates a good brunch from a memorable one is ambiance. Do not let presentation slip amidst getting food and drink organised. Have a colour palette in mind for your table and work off that. We're not going to tell you to stick to a Scandi-toned palette — we want you to channel your inner stylist. One tip from us, though — linen napkins go a long way. And, if you want your guests feel extra special, set up personalised name cards. Something so small can make all the difference.

3. SET UP A DRINKS STATION

We all know that coffee is key to a good brunch, and if you're going to serve it, it needs to be top-notch in quality. If you have a Nespresso machine on your bench, make it the star of the show and set up a DIY coffee station for your guests. If you give everyone basic instructions on how to use it as they arrive, your guests can help themselves to their first drink while you're busy welcoming others inside. We suggest to have three or four varieties of capsules on offer (each with different intensities, remember people who drink coffee are often particular) and lay out accompaniments like milk and sugar. If you think your brunch party might continue on for a while, have a shaker and a few liqueurs on hand so your guests can transform their coffees into espresso martinis. Or, mix up a Bloody Mary for everyone — tomato juice is a more than appropriate breakfast option.

4. BAGELS AND PASTRIES GO A LONG WAY

Pastries are an easy win. Stock up on some croissants and danishes, maybe some pre-made yoghurt cups and arrange them nicely on the brunch table. On that note, it's rare that you'll find someone who doesn't like a boiled ring of bread. And when you pair it with a variety of delicious fillings, life gets even better. Set up an area where guests can construct their own bagels. Ensure you have a mix of sweet and savoury bagels, and a few gluten-free ones, too. Then, think about fillings — put out a few cheeses, jams, smoked fish, sliced veggies and the like. Bagels can be store-bought, or can be purchased from that same trusty cafe as above.

The Essenza Mini is Nespresso's newest, most compact coffee-making machine. It's perfect for everyday use, and to be the star in your next brunch party.

Images: Kimberley Low.