To serve espresso at a conference, choose your coffee based on the machine available rather than opting for a pyramid tea bag: pyramid bags are designed for tea or herbal infusions. Coffee beans require a machine with a grinder, while capsules and pods must match the system installed. Pyramid tea bags can complement your coffee station if you’d also like to offer tea or herbal infusions.
If the venue has an automatic coffee machine with a grinder, whole beans are an option for serving lots of cups. Lavazza describes packs of at least 1 kg as suitable for automatic machines used in bars and restaurants. You’ll still need to plan for adjustments and maintenance during service.
Capsules or coffee pods mean you don’t have to measure out the coffee for every drink. Before placing an order, identify the machine’s exact system: a capsule and an E.S.E. pod are not interchangeable.
If attendees should be able to choose between espresso, tea and herbal infusions, plan for two separate offerings. Individual pyramid tea bags are for serving tea and herbal infusions, not for making espresso.
First, decide whether you need to serve espresso, an infused drink or both. For espresso, the machine model determines which formats are suitable. The way breaks are organised will then help you choose the packaging and set up your station.
| Criterion | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee compatibility | Note the machine model, whether it has a grinder, and which capsule or E.S.E. pod system it accepts. | If my machine requires a specific format, I want to avoid ordering coffee I can’t prepare; compatibility would be the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Serving during breaks | Consider the preparation method, expected demand and number of stations available. | When demand peaks during a short break, I want to minimise the steps involved at the coffee station. Around 30% of consumers would put ease of service first. |
| Tea and herbal infusions | Confirm whether you need infused drinks, then check your chosen products and their stated brewing times. | I want to offer attendees who don’t want espresso another option; this would be the main requirement for around 20% of consumers. |
| Coffee selection | Once you’ve confirmed the compatible format, check the options available and the labelling of any decaffeinated product. | If I’m offering several coffees, I want to be able to distinguish between their flavour profiles and offer a decaffeinated option. This variety would come ahead of other criteria for around 10% of consumers. |
A pyramid tea bag is used to make tea or an herbal infusion, while a coffee pod must be compatible with the machine. Treating them as the same type of consumable could leave your espresso station without usable coffee.
If you’re planning to serve both types of drink, create two separate shopping lists: coffee compatible with the machine, and tea or herbal infusions in pyramid bags.
Capsule systems and the E.S.E. standard are designed for different equipment. A pre-portioned product won’t suit every machine.
Ask for the machine’s exact make and model, then check that your chosen product is compatible.
If the format isn’t compatible, you’ll need to find another coffee before service starts.
Carte Noire states that its Espresso N°8 pods are intended for industrial composting and should not be put in a home compost bin, in the garden or in the countryside.
Check what waste collection facilities are available at the conference venue and follow the guidance for the product you’ve bought.
For prepacked food in France, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control specifies that any allergens present in the ingredients must be listed and highlighted.
Keep the packaging or product information for anything you serve to hand, particularly if your station includes flavoured drinks, milk or biscuits.
Lavazza’s professional range includes whole-bean and ground coffee, capsules and pods.
illy offers whole-bean and ground coffee, capsules and E.S.E. pods.
Depending on your equipment, Carte Noire offers options including soft E.S.E. pods and other coffee formats.
These capsule and whole-bean coffee options are for the espresso part of your conference buffet. First choose a format that’s compatible with your machine, then work out how much you’ll need for the planned breaks.
Image unavailable
If you’re setting up an espresso station that uses capsules, check which system the machine accepts before choosing this product.
The pack is listed as × 50; adjust the quantity you order to suit the service you’re planning.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for a station with a machine that accepts Dolce Gusto capsules; check the model before buying.
The pack contains 16 capsules and weighs 112 g: work out how many packs you’ll need based on the number of cups to serve.
Image unavailable
To make espresso from whole beans, make sure the venue has a grinder or a machine with a built-in grinder.
The 1 kg pack is labelled “screw cap”; consider its quantity in relation to the number of cups you expect to serve.
Image unavailable
This whole-bean coffee requires equipment that can grind the beans before making espresso.
The pack contains 1 kg of coffee; check whether you’ll need to restock during the conference.
Image unavailable
If your espresso station has a grinder, check that the equipment and service arrangements are suitable for using whole beans.
The stated intensity is 11/13 and the pack contains 1 kg. If the blend’s composition matters to you, check the product labelling.
A pyramid tea bag for tea or herbal infusions is no substitute for the coffee and equipment needed to make espresso. If you’re serving both drinks at a conference, plan for separate consumables and preparation methods.
Note the machine’s make and model, then check whether it has a grinder or accepts a specific capsule or E.S.E. pod system. Next, estimate how many cups you’ll need to serve so you can choose the right quantities.
Not necessarily: Carte Noire states that its Espresso N°8 pods are for industrial composting and should not be put in a home compost bin, in the garden or in the countryside. Check the guidance for the specific product and the collection facilities available on site.
Keep the packaging or product information for every item you serve to hand. In France, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control specifies that any allergens present in prepacked food must be listed and highlighted.