As we bid farewell to the past year, and settle well into the new event season, it’s the perfect time to take a quick pause, savour a cup of our favourite brew, and reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had in Social Espresso’s 2023. From serving our delicious coffee at events to expanding and embracing new exciting challenges, here we’ll talk you through some of the highlights of our busy past year!
Our mobile espresso bars became the focal point of 197 events all across the UK and Europe. From corporate conferences that buzzed with productivity to bustling sporting events such as the London Marathon; we were honoured to be part of countless exciting moments that helped fuel thousands of event guests. With such an action packed year it’s been hard to whittle down our top picks, but here are a just few of our favourite events from the past year –
Financial Times Weekend with Rosslyn Coffee
This year we partnered with specialty coffee experts, Rosslyn Coffee to support them on their stand at the Financial Times Weekend Festival. As renowned coffee aficionados, they trusted us to sling out tasty espresso drinks to the hundreds of guests at Kenwood House in London. Our sleek La Marzocco espresso machine aligned perfectly with their existing brand aesthetic and was more than capable of producing 100s of coffees over the course of the day. We loved working alongside the Rosslyn team and it was great to have other like-minded coffee heads behind the machine with us!
Driving engagement at Salon Privé 2023
Every year we have the pleasure of working alongside premium motoring brands at Salon Privé which is often heralded as the ‘UK’s most stylish automotive event’. Taking place on the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace, we installed our coffee bars among the supercars to create coffees for the guests that paired the luxurious surroundings. With the event taking place in the summer, we were lucky to have blue skies throughout and it’s always lovely to serve up coffees in the sunshine.
ESMO 2023
One of our largest and most exciting abroad jobs of 2023 was undoubtedly ESMO 2023. It brought together oncology professionals from across the globe to the vibrant heart of Spain in Madrid. We had seven of our coffee bars positioned throughout IFEMA and loved the hustle and bustle that comes with an exhibition of this scale.
ESMO 2023 was also committed to promoting sustainability and ethical sourcing in every aspect of the event which of course, included our barista coffee bars. Conscious efforts were made to keep our waste to a minimum, from using compostable cups to implementing recycling initiatives. As always, the coffee we served at the event was sourced ethically, ensuring fair compensation for the coffee farmers and promoting environmental stewardship.
Fuelling innovation at Google Zeitgeist 2023
The Google Zeitgeist event is known for bringing together thought leaders, innovators, and visionaries from around the world to discuss and explore the latest trends shaping our future. Google entrusted us with five of our specialty coffee bars dotted around the beautiful Grove Hotel in Watford. Our specialty coffee bar set ups integrated seamlessly with Google’s high-end branding and we even had custom programmed iPads with our full coffee menu and information about our ethical coffee sourcing. Of course, Google always strives for the best, and we served up our delicious coffee to high profile guests such as Dermot O’leery (even Prince William was in attendance!).
London Marathon 2023
For the second year in a row we had the joy of supplying our coffee to the prestigious finish line area of the London Marathon. Three of our bars were installed amongst the chaotic excitement of the finish line, and we were more than happy to refresh and rejuvenate the exhausted runners! As they collected their finishing medals, our coffee bars became focal points for celebration and camaraderie. Friends, family and members of the press gathered around the coffee stations, swapping their stories of the race and sharing in the joy of their achievement.
Celebrating Milestones and Gratitude
The past year has been a bit of a milestone year for us at Social Espresso to say the least! Not only have we been able to expand our wonderful team, but we also acquired our neighboring warehouse unit. This allowed us the space to more than double our operations. With a larger fleet of new La Marzocco machines, custom made event coffee bars and a new state-of-the-art training room we’re able to tackle whatever 2024 has for us! As we reflect on the past year, we celebrate not only the milestones but also the relationships we’ve built along the way. To our loyal clients, event partners, and the entire Social Espresso team, we express our heartfelt gratitude. Your support has been the driving force behind our journey.
Sustainability and looking Forward to the Next Chapter
At Social Espresso, our commitment to environmental responsibility is an ethos that shapes our identity. We believe in the responsibility that businesses have toward the communities they serve and the planet we all inhabit. By prioritising sustainable practices at all events, we have become mindful of the impact our operations have on ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate health. By continuing to reduce our ecological footprint in 2024, we contribute to the preservation of resources, ensuring the availability of raw materials and a stable business environment for future generations. We also pledge to use fully electric vans to transport to and from all London venues by the end of 2024 as part of our E-Event Initiative.
As we turn the page on another chapter, we’re excited about what the future holds for Social Espresso. New events, fresh faces, and continued opportunities to share the love for great coffee await us. Thank you for being part of our story so far, and here’s to another year filled with busy event stands, freshly made brews, and beautiful memories!
Stay caffeinated,
The Social Espresso Team