A Caffeinated Wedding Day
Cheers! To coffee, that is. While you may see open bars and mixed drinks as a more traditional staple of a wedding, recently more couples are opting to add a unique pick-me-up to receptions with the addition of gourmet coffee service.
Here’s what you need to know about the hot new trend.
What’s Included
At Espresso Dave Coffee Catering in Portsmouth, NH, it’s all about gourmet espresso. Baristas serve a variety of espresso-based drinks, available in both regular and decaffeinated. They offer everything from lattes with seasonal flavor shots to cappuccinos and iced drinks. Tea lovers can even indulge in chai lattes.
David Salzman, aka Espresso Dave, started the coffee catering business 24 years ago, but has seen an uptick in coffee bars at weddings in the last five years.
For those who are looking for something different, but not necessarily caffeinated, Espresso Dave’s also offers smoothie, Italian soda and hot chocolate bars.
For most coffee catering companies, you’ll get professional baristas, a selection of coffee varieties, flavor toppings and custom-made drinks for your guests. Some go further with themed drinks, seasonal drinks, or extra details like the Beverage Toppers Salzman invented. The thin, edible wafers, credited as the ‘secret weapon’ of winning Team Enza on TLC’s “Four Weddings,” can display a wedding monogram on top of drinks.
What Makes it Unique
Thinking outside the box of traditional bar service adds a unique touch to your wedding day. Cupa Cabana, an espresso catering company serving the Northeast, says hiring a dedicated coffee caterer allows them to focus on a specialized beverage menu for guests. According to the company’s marketing team at Trinity Web Media, Cupa Cabana is able to create custom, detailed drinks, whereas venues and traditional caterers often need to focus on quickly serving guests an end-of-the-meal coffee.
“Many people have approached us at weddings and said the same thing,” says owner Marianne Cordillo. “They always say, ‘What a great idea, and what a great way to indulge guests!’”