Is an On-Booth Barista Worth It? 6 Reasons to Say Yes

Even when catering is available from the congress organisers or nearby cafés, having an on-booth barista can make a real difference. It’s not just about coffee — it’s about connection.

Here’s why we think a barista service is always worth the spend:

• It draws delegates in.
  Even in a crowded, noisy exhibition hall, delegates will make a beeline for your stand if they spot a barista serving quality drinks. Add a biscuit or pastry to their chai latte, and you’re golden.
• Crowds attract more crowds.
  When your barista service starts generating a queue, even more delegates are drawn in. Nothing attracts attention like a crowd — and word always gets around about where the best coffee can be found in the hall.
• Queues become conversations.
  When delegates are queuing, they’re a captive audience. It’s the perfect time for your sales team to start conversations — and once those delegates have their drinks, they’re more likely to linger if there’s a comfortable spot to sit. The longer they dwell, the greater the chance of a meaningful interaction.
• It creates social buzz.
  We’ve seen our coffee printer used to great effect — people love tweeting their faces or logos printed on foam! It’s fun, unexpected, and makes even the most serious delegate smile.
• Your branding goes walkabout.
  Branded coffee cups turn every delegate into a walking advert for your company. It’s subtle, effective exposure that travels beyond your stand.
• It helps track engagement.
  By logging the number of drinks served, you can easily track footfall and generate valuable post-show metrics — another simple way to measure success.

Pro tip: We’ve even used colour-coded coffee cups to help teams triage delegates — one colour per country or audience group. It’s a smart, low-cost way to identify priority visitors at a glance and make sure the right team member starts the right conversation.

So when it comes to budgeting for your next booth, the barista service gets a definite thumbs-up from us — because the best conversations often start over coffee.

Get in touch if you would like to use our coffee printer at your next event.