What a Coffee Cart Needs From Your Venue

Venue coordinators ask me this before couples do, usually in one short email: "What do you need from us?" I like the question, because the answer is short, and because getting it settled early means nobody is hunting for an extension cord twenty minutes before the ceremony.

Power: one normal outlet

The cart runs on a standard 120V outlet, the same kind as a kitchen counter. We need it within 50 feet of where the cart will sit. A dedicated 15 to 20 amp circuit is ideal, because our espresso machine is a commercial La Marzocco Linea Mini and it likes a steady supply, but a normal household outlet does the job at most venues.

Two things help us here:

• Tell us which outlet we'll be on, so we're not sharing a circuit with the DJ or the caterer's warming trays.
• If the only outlet is far away, say so. We'd rather plan the cable run than discover it on the day.

No special power, no generator, no electrician. If your venue has lights, it almost certainly has what we need.

Water: none, we bring it

This surprises people. The cart is fully self-contained and carries its own triple-filtered water, so we don't need a sink, a hose or a plumbing hookup anywhere near us. Barns, gardens, rooftops and glass rooms on a mountainside all work the same way.

It also means we don't leave anything behind. Spent grounds and rinse water go back out with us.

Space: about the size of a dining table

The cart is 6 feet long, 2.5 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Add a little room behind it for the barista to work and for guests to collect their drinks, and you're looking at roughly a 6 by 8 foot patch of floor. That's smaller than most sweetheart tables.

Where it sits matters more than how much room it gets. The best spots we've poured from share a few things:

• Near the flow of the day, not in it: just off the path from ceremony to reception, or along the edge of cocktail hour.
• Somewhere with a wall or a view behind the cart, so it looks finished in photos.
• Not next to the loudest speaker. Baristas and guests do talk.

We'll work out the exact spot with your coordinator, and if you'd like, we'll suggest one based on your floor plan.

Getting in: a level path

The cart fits through standard doors and into standard elevators. The one thing it can't do is stairs. We need a level or ramped route from where we park to where the cart will stand. A loading dock, a side entrance or a garden path all work; three steps up to a porch do not.

If you're not sure, send a photo of the entrance and we'll tell you right away. It's the single most useful photo a venue can send us.

Outdoors: flat, paved, covered

We love pouring outside, and a lot of Puget Sound weddings are built around a view. Three conditions keep the equipment safe and the espresso consistent:

• A flat surface. The machine and the grinder need to sit level.
• A paved or hard surface. Grass, gravel and sand aren't friends to a cart on wheels or to a hot machine.
• A tent, awning or roof overhead. Rain and espresso machines don't mix, and even a bright sun on the machine all afternoon changes how it behaves.

If your outdoor spot can't meet all three, an indoor or covered placement nearby is usually the better call, and the view is still right there.

Timing: we arrive early

We get to the venue one to one and a half hours before service starts. That gives us time to roll in, set up, heat the machine and dial in the espresso so the first cup is as good as the hundredth. For venues far from our base in Auburn, like Ashford or Olympia, we build in more margin still. Your coordinator only needs to make sure we can get in at that time.

Paperwork: a COI on request

We're licensed and fully insured. If your venue requires a certificate of insurance, which most larger venues do, tell us the venue's name and address and we'll send one over. There's no charge for it. Travel within 30 miles of Auburn is included in every package; for venues farther out, we quote the drive up front. Our Tacoma and Bellevue page covers the service area in more detail.

What we don't need

It's a shorter list than people expect:

• No water hookup or sink.
• No generator or special circuit (a dedicated one is nice, not required).
• No tables, linens or bussing from the venue. The cart is the bar.
• No kitchen access.
• No heavy lifting from your staff. We bring the cart in ourselves, as long as there's a level path.

Common questions

Does the coffee cart need a water hookup?

No. The cart carries its own triple-filtered water and is completely self-contained. We don't need a sink, hose or plumbing anywhere near the cart.

What kind of power does the espresso cart use?

A standard 120V outlet within 50 feet of the cart. A dedicated 15 to 20 amp circuit is ideal but not required at most venues. No generator is needed.

How much space does the cart take up?

The cart itself is 6 feet by 2.5 feet and 3 feet tall. With room for the barista to work and guests to collect drinks, plan on about 6 by 8 feet of floor.

Can the cart go upstairs?

No. It fits through standard doors and elevators but can't be carried up stairs. We need a level or ramped route in. If you're unsure, send us a photo of the entrance.

Can you set up outside?

Yes, on a flat, paved surface under a tent, awning or roof. If the outdoor spot can't meet those, we'll suggest a covered placement nearby.