Organisers using a bean-to-cup machine
Check that the beans suit the installed machine, then use its programmed dose and the expected number of drinks to plan the order. A bean pack is not a box of individual servings.
Who needs to plan for beans?
Organisers making filter coffee or using cafetières
Allow for grinding and a measured batch recipe. Union recommends its House Roast for filter and cafetière brewing and lists a 1kg whole-bean format.
Organisers offering decaf
Keep a clearly identifiable decaf product separate from regular beans. Lavazza lists Dek as decaffeinated beans, while illy lists a whole-bean decaf option; check how each will be prepared at the venue.
What should you check before ordering?
Establish the serving plan and brewing setup before comparing pack weights or choosing a blend.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of ‘240’ | Confirm whether it refers to people, drinks or individual coffee portions. Check whether the intended product is whole beans or a portioned format. | I want to order for the right number of drinks without mistaking a weight-labelled bean pack for 240 ready-to-use portions. |
| Brewing setup | Identify the machine or brew method, grinder access and preparation responsibilities. Check product guidance for that method; Union recommends House Roast for filter and cafetière brewing. | If we are making coffee during the meeting, I need beans that staff can prepare with the equipment on site. |
| Bean quantity | Check the pack’s net weight and the machine dose or measured batch recipe. Calculate from the expected number of drinks rather than assuming servings per pack. | Our order needs to cover the planned service, whether people have one drink or return for another. |
| Decaf service | Check the current decaf label, how the beans will be kept separate and whether the venue can prepare them. Lavazza and illy both list decaffeinated whole-bean products. | I may need to offer a distinct decaf choice without assuming everyone will choose it. |
Ordering mistakes to avoid
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Treating ‘240’ as a whole-bean pack size
Whole-bean listings from illy, Union, M&S, Waitrose and Joybuy identify packs by weight. A weight alone does not tell you how many meeting drinks the beans will make.
Clarify what ‘240’ counts, then calculate the bean quantity from the planned drinks and the actual brewing recipe.
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Ordering before checking the equipment
Whole beans need grinding, and a filter or cafetière setup is different from an espresso or bean-to-cup setup.
Confirm the venue’s brewer, grinder access, brew method and who will prepare and clean the equipment before choosing beans.
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Assuming regular beans cover the decaf choice
A regular blend does not provide a separately identifiable decaffeinated drink.
If decaf is needed, choose a labelled decaf product and plan how staff will prepare and identify it separately.
Brand and retailer references
These examples illustrate pack formats and brewing choices; a brand or retailer listing does not determine the quantity needed for your meeting.
Lavazza
Lavazza lists Gran Espresso in its business coffee-bean range and offers Dek as a decaffeinated bean blend.
- A regular business-range blend and a separate decaf option can be considered for different serving needs.
- Choose the preparation method and order quantity for the venue rather than treating either blend as an individual portion.
illy
illy lists Classico whole beans in 250g and 500g formats, alongside a whole-bean decaf product.
- The stated weights help with pack-by-pack planning once the drink recipe is known.
- Pack weight does not establish a drink count.
Taylors of Harrogate
Rich Italian whole beans appear in a 200g Waitrose listing and in 200g and 700g Joybuy category listings.
- The listed pack weights give organisers distinct quantities to assess against their recipe.
- Check the exact product and brewing setup before ordering; the listed weights are not serving counts.
Union
Union lists House Roast as a 1kg whole-bean option and recommends it for filter and cafetière brewing.
- Producer-stated brew guidance is useful when the meeting uses filter equipment or cafetières.
- A 1kg pack still needs a measured recipe to determine how many drinks to plan for.
M&S
M&S lists Single Origin Peruvian Coffee Beans in a 227g pack.
- The labelled weight can be included in an order calculation.
- The pack listing does not establish the number of meeting drinks it will produce.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists whole-bean products including Lavazza Qualità Oro in a 1kg pack and Taylors Rich Italian Beans in a 200g pack.
- The listings show different weight-based formats for quantity planning.
- Check the chosen product and pack size against the venue’s equipment and intended service.
Whole-bean options on Joybuy
These weight-labelled whole-bean packs are options to assess if the work meeting has suitable grinding and brewing equipment. None of the pack weights, on its own, establishes a supply of 240 drinks or individual portions.
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Lavazza Qualita Rossa Coffee Beans 1000g
A 1000g whole-bean pack to assess against the meeting’s expected drinks and brewing dose. Confirm the venue’s preparation method before ordering; the pack weight is not a count of portions.
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Lavazza Cafe Espresso Coffee Beans 1kg
This 1kg whole-bean pack gives an orderable weight, not a guaranteed number of drinks. Check the venue’s equipment and recipe to judge the quantity required.
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Lavazza Barista Intenso Beans 1kg
A 1kg bean pack for a meeting with an appropriate brewing setup. Use the intended recipe and drink count to plan stock rather than treating 1kg as 240 servings.
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Espresso Italiano Cremoso Beans 1kg
This 1kg whole-bean option can be considered once the organiser knows how the coffee will be ground and brewed. Calculate the order from the planned drinks and dose, not the pack name.
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Taylors of Harrogate Rich Italian Coffee Beans 700g
The 700g bean pack provides a stated weight for stock planning. Check brewing-method suitability for the venue and use its recipe before deciding how many packs to order.
Questions about meeting coffee
Does ‘a box of 240’ mean 240 portions of coffee beans?
Do not assume it does. Whole-bean listings from illy, Union, M&S, Waitrose and Joybuy specify pack weights rather than 240 individual bean portions. Confirm whether the requirement means guests, drinks or individually portioned products such as coffee bags, pods or sachets.
How do I plan beans for 240 meeting drinks?
If 240 is the expected number of drinks, use the dose programmed into the actual machine or the measured filter or cafetière recipe to calculate the beans needed. Check the venue’s equipment and service plan before converting that quantity into packs; pack weight alone cannot supply the answer.
Should I order decaf beans as well?
Order a separately labelled decaf option if the organiser wants to offer one and the venue can prepare it. Lavazza and illy list decaffeinated whole beans; decide the amount from anticipated demand rather than treating decaf as a fixed share of the order.