Privacy Policy

Alongside Coffee (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy informs you how we look after your personal data when you visit our website, inquire about our services, or attend an event we serve, and tells you about your privacy rights.

1. Information we collect

We may collect, use, and store different kinds of personal data, including:

• Identity data: first name, last name.
• Contact data: email address, telephone number.
• Event data: event dates, locations, guest counts, and service requirements submitted via our inquiry form.
• Event platform data: information processed through Alongside Events, our digital event platform — see Section 3.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type and version, time zone, and operating system.

2. AI assistant and chat data

Our website uses an AI chat widget (“Alongside AI”) powered by Google Gemini. When you interact with it, your text inputs are processed by Google’s API to generate a response.

• Please don’t share highly sensitive information (such as credit card numbers or passwords) in the chat window.
• If you provide contact information to request a quote, it is temporarily processed to forward your inquiry to our team.
• We do not use your chat data to train public AI models, but interactions are processed by a third-party provider (Google) under their API data processing agreements.

3. Alongside Events platform & event data

Some events use Alongside Events, our own digital platform for bar customization, guest mobile ordering, order tracking, and a private post-event recap. Where it is used, we may process:

• Client planning data: the choices you make when customizing your bar (for example, a color palette, a welcome message, or signature drink names).
• Guest data at the event: when a guest places an order, the platform may collect a first name and, only if the guest chooses to provide it, a phone number or email address used to send a one-time “your drink is ready” notification. Guests may also choose to leave a short note or photo for the client.
• Order data: the drinks ordered and timing, used to operate the bar and to compile the client’s recap.

How we use it: solely to operate your event experience, to send transactional order-ready notifications during the event, and to produce a private post-event recap for the client. We do not use guest contact details for marketing, and we do not sell personal data. Order-ready messages are transactional and limited to the event; standard carrier rates may apply to recipients.

Connectivity: guest mobile ordering and notifications require adequate internet or cellular connectivity at the venue. Where digital features are unavailable, the platform collects little or no guest data and service falls back to in-person ordering at the bar.

Service providers: the platform runs on infrastructure we operate together with trusted third-party providers (for example, hosting and message delivery), who process data only as needed to deliver the service.

4. How we use your data

• To provide event quotes, pricing, and service information.
• To manage and execute our mobile espresso catering for your booked event.
• To operate the Alongside Events experience and the post-event recap, where included.
• To communicate with you about your inquiry, invoice, or booking status.
• To use analytics to improve our website, services, and customer experience.

5. Data security & retention

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, accessed in an unauthorized way, altered, or disclosed. Access is strictly limited to team members and service providers who have a business need to know. Event and recap data is retained to provide the client’s recap and for a reasonable period afterward, then deleted or anonymized.

6. Cookies & local storage

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users, which helps us provide a better experience and improve our site. We also store small preferences in your browser’s local storage (such as your light/dark mode and display choices) to remember your settings between visits; these stay on your device. You can set your browser to refuse some or all cookies, though some parts of the site may not function properly if you do.

7. Your rights & choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal data we hold about you, and to object to or restrict certain processing. Guests may request that their event data be deleted. To exercise any of these rights, email us at alongsidecoffee@gmail.com and we will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

8. Contact us

Questions about this policy or our privacy practices? Contact us at alongsidecoffee@gmail.com.