HOW MUCH COFFEE DO YOU NEED FOR YOUR EVENT IN LOS ANGELES? A SIMPLE DRINK COUNT GUIDE
Planning an event in Los Angeles means coordinating a lot of moving parts. Coffee is one detail that seems simple but quickly becomes one of the most important. Guests drink more than people expect, especially at morning corporate events, weddings with long timelines, or full day production shoots.
Knowing how much coffee you need for your event in Los Angeles can be confusing because consumption varies by event type, timing, and guest behavior. This guide gives you simple drink count estimates for corporate events, weddings, production sets, and brand activations so you can plan with confidence.
☕ What Affects How Much Coffee You Need
A few key factors influence how much your guests will drink.
Guest Count and Event Type
Each event type has its own pattern.
Corporate events: 1.5 to 2 drinks per person
Weddings: 2 to 3 drinks per person
Production sets: 3 to 5 drinks per crew member
Brand activations: 30 to 50 percent of attendees will order a drink
Event Duration and Timing
Short events (1 to 2 hours) have fewer repeat orders.
Medium events (3 to 4 hours) usually include multiple trips to the cart.
All day events, especially production days, have the highest consumption.
Mornings create the biggest rush. Evenings see a spike around dessert.
Weather and Menu Variety
Los Angeles weather matters. Hot days increase iced drink demand. Cooler days increase lattes and mochas. Signature drinks and seasonal flavors often lead to higher consumption because guests want to try more than one.
For more details on planning events across Los Angeles County, you can visit the county’s official information page here: https://lacounty.gov/
☕ Simple Coffee Consumption Estimates
Use these numbers as a baseline:
Corporate Events
50 guests = 75 to 100 drinks
Weddings
120 guests = 240 to 360 drinks
Production Sets
40 crew = 120 to 200 drinks
Brand Activations
300 attendees = 90 to 150 drinks, depending on traffic flow
☕ How to Calculate Your Drink Count
A simple formula works for most events:
Guest count multiplied by drinks per person = total drinks needed
Examples:
75 person office event: 110 to 150 drinks
200 person wedding: 300 to 400 drinks
30 person film shoot: 90 to 150 drinks
If your event includes morning hours, multiple breaks, or long downtime, assume more repeat orders.
For pricing details based on drink count and event size, our breakdown of how much coffee catering costs in Los Angeles can help you plan your budget.
☕ How Many Drinks a Coffee Cart Can Serve Per Hour
Most planners do not know there is a limit. A well equipped coffee cart in Los Angeles can usually serve 45 to 60 drinks per hour with one barista. Two baristas increase speed and reduce lines. Higher quality grinders and espresso machines matter because slow equipment creates bottlenecks that affect the entire event timeline.
This is one reason carts often work better than larger trailers or trucks for indoor venues, offices, and production sets where space and timing are tight.
If you want a deeper look at what separates an average cart from a great one, you can read our guide on choosing the best coffee cart catering in Los Angeles.
☕ Common Mistakes When Estimating Coffee Needs
Forgetting repeat orders
Underestimating high consumption on production days
Choosing a vendor without enough output for the guest count
Ignoring weather when planning cold brew or iced drink needs
Not accounting for dairy free preferences
Skipping a buffer for last minute walk ups
Avoiding these mistakes ensures smoother service and happier guests.
☕ Quick Copy and Paste Drink Estimate Guide
50 guests = 75 to 100 drinks
75 guests = 115 to 150 drinks
100 guests = 150 to 200 drinks
150 guests = 225 to 300 drinks
200 guests = 300 to 400 drinks
Production sets:
30 crew = 90 to 150 drinks
50 crew = 150 to 250 drinks
☕ Need a Custom Drink Estimate for Your Los Angeles Event
If you want help calculating drink counts for your specific event size, timeline, or venue, we can put together a recommendation tailored to your needs.
Request a quote here:
https://www.pulocoffee.com/contact
