Truist Field: High-Volume Espresso Catering for 1,200 Guests

Our client, a leading executive event production company from Michigan transformed Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights into a world class private concert venue for 1,200 guests. The Roaming Spirits Coffee team provided espresso catering on the field alongside full service catering and multiple bar stations.  For this event, Roaming Spirits Coffee designed and built four custom-built event espresso bars featuring custom branded panels and LED under lighting.  The team navigated delivery and installation of the equipment and carts through a single access point shared by all vendors.

How did we plan for 1,200 guests?

At an event this size, coffee demand peaks around key moments in the program, so service has to be planned for those windows. The projected guest count is just the starting point. Guest count isn’t necessarily attendance and does not equal drink count.  Factors such as other beverage options, day vs evening and even weather dictate estimated consumption. Espresso cart design, layout and flow play in integral part in the guest experience. Splitting the bars into two service zones, one on each side of the field while staggering the coffee between the specialty cocktail and champagne bars resulted in optimized line management and minimal wait times.

The setup

Eight baristas worked across four custom-built espresso bars, each finished with event-branded acrylic panels and LED under-lighting:

• Four La Marzocco espresso machines capable of high volume production throughout the evening.
• Six commercial grinders, two dedicated to decaffeinated espresso.
• Latte printer stations to customize the beverages the event logo.
• Custom souvenir event cups provided by the event organizers.

The menu

A full espresso menu at all four espresso bars, plus chai and hot chocolate, with regular and decaf espresso on both sides. Cozy fall favorites included vanilla, salted caramel, pumpkin spice and rich dark chocolate mocha.  The Roaming Spirits Coffee baristas offered attendees both regular and decaffeinated espresso handcrafting each latte to the guest’s preference.

By the numbers

• 1,200 guests
• 3.5 hours of service with 14 hour on-site from set-up to final breakdown.
• 4 custom-built espresso bars with full branding and lighting operating across the venue
• 8 baristas
• 4 La Marzocco espresso machines
• 6 commercial grinders, 2 dedicated to decaffeinated espresso.
• 2 Ripple beverage printers

Planning a high-volume event?

We scale from one espresso bar to several, with branded panels and logo lattes at each. For sizing your own event, see How Much Coffee Catering Does Your Event Need? Send the date, venue and guest count, and we’ll plan the layout with you.

Book your event