Choose individually wrapped coffee bags for self-service cups when delegates have mugs and hot water but no coffee brewer. Choose loose ground coffee when the venue has a compatible brewer and can manage dosing and batch service. For an 80-portion order, confirm the pack contents before buying; also plan any required decaf choice and accurate allergen information for the drinks and additions served.
Coffee bags suit a station with mugs and hot water: Taylors of Harrogate describes its bags as ground coffee that brews directly in a mug. Business Beverages lists an individually wrapped 80-portion Rich Italian box for catering and events.
Loose grounds suit a staffed setup with a brewer named in the coffee’s preparation guidance. Check the venue equipment and dosing instructions before calculating how many packs the conference needs.
If the event calls for decaf, identify it clearly and check that its grind suits the available brewer. Keep allergen information current for the coffee and any milk or other additions served.
Start with how each cup will be made, then work out portions and check the choices and information needed at the serving station.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Serving method | For coffee bags, check the mug-brewing directions and hot-water setup. For loose grounds, match the stated grind and preparation method to the venue’s brewer. | I need delegates to make their own cups without a brewer, or I have a team and suitable equipment to prepare batches. |
| Portion count | Confirm the number of individual bags in the case, or calculate loose-coffee quantities using the intended dose and cup size. Business Beverages lists a Taylors Rich Italian box of 80 individually wrapped portions; a pack of a different size is not the same configuration. | I want enough portions at each refreshment point without mistaking a pack’s weight for its cup count. |
| Coffee style | Check the named product’s roast or flavour description alongside its brewing directions. A flavour description alone does not establish brewer compatibility. | If I am choosing a particular coffee style for delegates, I still need it to work with the way the venue will serve it. |
| Decaf and allergens | Check whether a decaf option is required and how it will be prepared. GOV.UK guidance says catering food businesses must provide allergen information for food and drink; cover the ingredients and additions actually served. | Anyone choosing decaf should be able to identify it, and attendees need accurate information about drinks with milk or other additions. |
The 80-portion Taylors Rich Italian box listed by Business Beverages contains individually wrapped coffee bags for brewing in mugs, not loose coffee for a batch brewer.
Decide whether the event needs 80 individual portions or loose coffee for brewed batches before choosing a pack.
Ground coffees are labelled for particular preparation methods. Lavazza says its ground-coffee range uses grinds calibrated for methods including moka, espresso and filter.
Ask for the venue’s equipment list and match it to the exact coffee’s pack directions and the brewer manufacturer’s instructions.
Allergen information must reflect the food and drink actually served, not just the plain coffee. GOV.UK guidance covers allergen information for catering food and drink.
Keep current information for milk and any other additions available, and make sure serving staff can locate it.
A listing may not reflect the pack delivered for the event, particularly when ingredients or case contents change.
Check the physical labels and case contents on receipt before finalising portion plans or allergen information.
These examples show different coffee formats and brewing instructions; a brand name alone does not determine portion count or equipment compatibility.
Its coffee bags are ground coffee intended to brew directly in a mug, according to Taylors of Harrogate.
A loose-ground option for venues using the preparation methods stated on the chosen pack.
Loose ground coffee in 227 g packs with preparation guidance for named products on Tesco’s listings.
Its UK ground-coffee range distinguishes grinds by intended brewing method.
Its UK ground-coffee selection distinguishes espresso, moka and filter preparations, including a decaffeinated espresso option.
These options include coffee bags for individual mugs and loose ground coffee for venues planning brewer-based service. Check bag counts or planned batch yields against the conference’s portion requirement.
No image availableCoffee bags offer a mug-brewing option for a station with hot water. This is a 75 g pack; confirm its individual bag count and any case configuration before planning an 80-portion service.
No image availableThe coffee-bag format is suited to individual mugs rather than batch brewing. Check how many bags this 75 g pack contains before deciding how many packs the event needs.
No image availableThis ground coffee is labelled for cafetière and filter preparation. For conference batches, confirm the venue’s brewer, intended dose and expected cups from each 200 g pack.
No image availableA loose-ground 200 g option for a venue preparing brewed coffee. Check the pack’s preparation directions against the available brewer, then calculate packs using the intended dose and number of cups.
No image availableThis 500 g loose-ground pack is an option for a venue planning brewer-based service. Confirm the pack’s stated preparation method and calculate the required quantity from the intended dose and cup count.
No. Coffee bags contain ground coffee but brew in individual mugs; loose grounds need a suitable preparation method and dosing. Business Beverages lists the Taylors Rich Italian box as 80 individually wrapped portions, so check whether individual cups or brewed batches suit the event.
Check the exact pack’s preparation directions against the brewer manufacturer’s instructions. Rombouts, for example, specifies medium ground for filter and cafetière for its decaf product, with 60 g per litre as a starting dose; adjust preparation according to the equipment and intended servings.
Offer a clearly identified decaf choice when attendee needs or event plans call for it, and check that the chosen product suits the available brewing setup. Do not assume decaf means caffeine-free: illy states caffeine content not higher than 0.1% for its specified decaffeinated ground espresso coffee.
A catering food business must provide allergen information for the food and drink it serves, according to GOV.UK guidance. Keep that information accurate for the actual coffee, milk and any other additions offered, and ensure staff can find the current details.