— Trade show booths
Trade Show Booth Coffee Bar Rental
A coffee bar is one of the most reliable ways to pull people to a trade show booth. Attendees stop for a latte, stand in your space for a few minutes while it’s made, and walk away holding a cup with your logo on it. Here’s how exhibitors book one.
Why exhibitors book a booth coffee bar
A line at your booth is a line of people your team can talk to. Most vendors make a drink in a minute or two, which is just long enough for a conversation or a badge scan. Some exhibitors run the coffee bar only during the morning rush and the afternoon slump, when traffic on the floor dips and a free latte gets people walking.
Branded cups keep working after people leave your booth. A logo sleeve, a custom drink name on the menu board and a QR code on the counter turn each drink into a small piece of marketing.
Check the venue rules first
Large convention centers often have exclusive food and beverage contracts. Before you book, check the exhibitor manual or ask show management whether outside coffee service is allowed, whether a fee applies, and whether samples have to be a set size. Some venues require you to use the in-house caterer; others allow an outside vendor with a waiver and a certificate of insurance.
You will also need power at the booth, usually ordered through the show’s electrical contractor, and sometimes water. Ask your coffee vendor exactly what to order so it’s live when they arrive.
Planning drinks and staffing
A single barista typically serves 40 to 60 drinks an hour. For a busy show, ask about a second barista or a faster cold brew option at peak times. Tell vendors the show hours, your expected booth traffic and your booth size, and they’ll suggest the setup. For the full planning guide, see our trade show and conference coffee guide.
What it costs
Most 2-hour bookings cost $700 to $1,800, about $1,000 on average. Guest count, extra hours, travel and custom branding move the price most. See prices by region and event type.
Vendors to start with
Since 2018, Caffè Aronne has been helping New York's leading companies, luxury brands, and discerning hosts create memorable experiences through exceptional coffee, food, and hospitality. What began as a neighborhood café has grown into one of NYC's most trusted catering partners, serving everyone from Fortune 500 companies and renowned fashion houses to intimate private celebrations. Our difference isn't just what's on the menu—it's our commitment to flawless execution. Every event is staffed by professional baristas and hospitality specialists who understand that great service leaves a lasting impression. Whether it's a mobile espresso bar for a corporate activation, breakfast catering for a board meeting, or coffee service for hundreds of guests, we bring the same attention to detail that has earned us the trust of some of New York's most respected organizations. With thousands of successful events, years of experience, and a reputation built on consistency, reliability, and quality, Caffè Aronne delivers more than catering—we create experiences your guests will remember long after the last cup is served. Trusted by leading brands. Crafted for every guest. Serving New York since 2018.
$1,200 - $1,900
Coselffee brings an interactive specialty coffee experience to corporate events, brand activations, conferences, product launches, weddings, and private events. We serve freshly made espresso drinks from our mobile coffee bar and print full-color logos, photos, monograms, names, and custom designs directly on cappuccinos and lattes. Our coffee is custom roasted for each event, and our menu includes espresso, cappuccino, latte, Americano, decaf, hot chocolate, and alternative milk options. Based in New York City and available for events throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and surrounding areas.
$1,500 - $3,500 per event
Gondolier Coffee is Minneapolis' premier mobile coffee cart and espresso bar catering company, serving weddings, corporate events, and celebrations across the Twin Cities. With over 1,600 five-star reviews and a client list that includes the Minnesota Twins, Target, Marriott, Apple, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Delta Airlines, they bring professional baristas and handcrafted espresso drinks to events of 50 to 1,500 guests. Their mobile espresso bar sets up in just a 5x5 ft space with a standard outlet, indoors or outdoors, anywhere in the Twin Cities metro. Service areas include Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Woodbury, Maple Grove, Blaine, Lakeville, Eagan, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Coon Rapids, Apple Valley, Minnetonka, Edina, Saint Louis Park, Shakopee, and Maplewood. Menu includes classic espresso drinks, custom seasonal specialty beverages, and bottled lattes tailored to your event theme and guest preferences.
From $NaN
Barista Kats runs mobile espresso bars where drinks are made fresh on-site, from espresso, cappuccinos and lattes to iced coffee. Their menu also includes espresso-based cocktails such as espresso martinis and carajillos, along with custom printed drinks. Founded in 2015 by Leonor Ramirez, a certified barista, the company focuses on fast, high-volume service. They cover conferences, trade shows, corporate events, employee appreciation days, brand activations, weddings and private gatherings. A key feature is branding: a company logo can go on the bar, the menu and the cups. The team describes its service as nationwide, and its website mentions serving San Antonio and beyond.
Drews Brews Coffee is a mobile coffee business based in Raleigh, North Carolina, listed in our espresso and latte cart category. Event planners in the Raleigh area who want espresso-style drinks for their guests may want to get in touch with Drews Brews Coffee to ask about their menu, the kinds of events they take on, and their availability.
Nightowl Coffee Catering runs mobile espresso bars out of Farmers Branch, Texas, and works mainly in Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix. They say they have served events in more than 25 states. Their carts appear at corporate events, conferences and tradeshows, brand activations and weddings, as well as smaller gatherings like baby showers. For weddings, they cover receptions, rehearsal dinners, morning-after brunches, engagement parties and bridal showers. They work with the venue and planner, and their team sets up and breaks down the bar. Couples can add monogrammed carts, branded cups, signature menus and espresso martinis. Brunch bars can include espresso, cold brew and seasonal specials, and oat and almond milk come as standard. Corporate clients can have their logo printed on lattes and can also order cart wraps and custom cups. Each cart needs its own 15-amp circuit, and generators can be rented where there's no power.
Merge Coffee Bar is a Nashville mobile espresso bar that brings craft coffee to weddings, corporate and office events, private parties, and conferences and expos. Guests can order espresso drinks such as lattes and americanos, along with cold brew, matcha and alternative milks. The team uses beans from rotating small-batch roasters, makes its own seasonal syrups, and offers fully customizable menus. They can brand the cart and cups, and can even print designs on top of drinks with a Ripples printer. Multiple carts are available for larger events, and add-ons include bottled lattes, batch brew and cold brew on tap. Merge serves Nashville and surrounding areas, including Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro and Hendersonville, and will travel further for a fee.
$650 for 2 hours, 1 barista, under 75 guests
Enticing Coffee is a mobile espresso cart based in Davie, FL, serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The company says it has been bringing Italian espresso to the region for more than 15 years. Its baristas make lattes, cappuccinos and espresso, plus iced lattes, iced shaken espressos and a nitro-infused cold coffee. Guests who skip coffee can choose hot or iced chocolate, or teas such as matcha, chai, turmeric, green tea and ube. The cart works weddings, corporate events, trade shows and expos, private celebrations, employee appreciation events and schools. Couples can ask for a custom signature drink, and the company mentions bilingual baristas and custom branding options. The team arrives an hour before service to set up and stays an hour afterward to pack down.
The Coffee Bar 305 is a mobile coffee vendor based in Miami, Florida. It is listed on FindCoffeeCarts.com under espresso and latte carts, so it may suit planners looking for espresso-based drinks at an event in the Miami area. For details on the menu, the types of events they cater and the areas they travel to, get in touch with The Coffee Bar 305 directly.
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Common questions
How much does a trade show booth coffee bar cost?
Most 2-hour bookings cost $700 to $1,800, about $1,000 on average. Guest count, extra hours, travel and custom branding move the price most. Multi-day shows, extra baristas, branded cups and venue fees add to the total; many vendors quote a day rate for full shows.
Can I bring an outside coffee vendor into a convention center?
It depends on the venue. Many convention centers have exclusive catering contracts that limit outside food and drink or add a fee. Check the exhibitor manual or ask show management before booking.
Can the cups and menu be branded?
Yes. Most vendors offer printed cups or sleeves, a custom drink named for your brand and a menu sign in your colors. Branded cups usually need a few weeks of lead time, so ask early.
How far ahead should I book for a trade show?
Six to eight weeks is comfortable, and more if you want printed cups or the show is a big one in town. Book before the exhibitor deadlines for power and catering waivers.
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