Brewing Connections at HOMES UK: What We Learned Serving 1,000 Coffees at Excel
Social Espresso took our mobile coffee catering service to HOMES UK at Excel London, served nearly 1,000 drinks with one barista, and saw first-hand how great coffee helps guests settle in, start conversations and make the most of a busy conference show.
A look inside HOMES UK
On November 25th & 26th our team headed to Excel London for HOMES UK to represent metroSTOR, who deliver external storage infrastructure for the social housing sector, helping to reduce the risk of fire, cut the costs of waste management, and enhance local environments while simultaneously supporting sustainability targets. The event is known as the largest free-to-attend conference and exhibition of its kind in the housing sector. Its purpose is simple. Bring together thousands of people who shape housing policy, management and development at the very moment the autumn budget lands. It creates a natural energy, and that energy always flows straight to the coffee bar.
HOMES UK expected close to 5,000 attendees this year. Add 275 speakers, 150 exhibitors and a packed agenda, and you have two full days where every second counts for exhibitors and guests. With numbers like this Social Espresso prepared for a steady stream of people looking for a reliable caffeine boost. As it turned out, steady quickly became constant.
Why event guests head straight for the coffee
Our mobile coffee catering brings warmth, familiarity and connection to any stand. At events like HOMES UK, people spend hours moving between talks and exhibitor spaces. A well-made cappuccino gives them a moment to pause. More importantly, as an exhibitor, it gives your brand a natural meeting point.
You can feel it as the day gets underway. A queue forms, conversations spark, and people stay for longer than they planned. Guests naturally gather around great coffee. It is a simple way to start conversations without forcing anything.
Throughout both days we saw the same pattern. People spotted the bar from a distance, smiled, and walked over with a sense of relief. The recognisable sound of milk steaming has that effect.
Being a registered vendor at Excel makes a real difference
Not every exhibitor knows this, but Excel has strict rules around food and drink service. Corkage fees can surprise first-time exhibitors, but because Social Espresso is a registered vendor, our clients do not pay these fees when they book a show with us. It keeps budgets predictable and makes life easier during planning.
We have spent years working inside Excel. We know the loading bays, the access points, and every practical detail behind a smooth build. It means our set-up is quick, our service runs cleanly, and exhibitors do not need to think about logistics. They simply arrive to a **mobile coffee catering set-up** that already feels part of their stand.
A Two-day Service Powered by One Barista
Behind every smooth espresso is a calm, confident barista who makes your brand look competent and effortless. At HOMES UK we ran the entire mobile coffee catering service with one barista, which surprised a few exhibitors. They were expecting at least two people behind the bar once they saw the size of the crowds.
It comes down to experience. When we work at exhibitions we know what drinks will be most popular and how to pace workflow around footfall. We also design our mobile coffee bars so that everything is within easy reach. It keeps serving lines fast without compromising on quality.
Across two days we served just under 1,000 drinks. The cappuccino won the popularity contest as usual, and our mobile barista noticed a particular increase in oat milk orders. This has been growing steadily across all events, but HOMES UK made the trend impossible to ignore. People enjoy having a choice, and we make sure those choices feel natural. We stock a full range of dairy and non-dairy options including soya milk, oat milk, almond milk and coconut milk, so no one has to hesitate at the front of the queue.
Why High-quality Event Coffee Still Stands Out
Good coffee at exhibitions and conferences used to be a luxury. These days people expect it. Even so, many venues still rely on push-button machines. But guests notice the difference immediately, a barista preparing your drink by hand feels much more personal, and much higher quality. It slows the moment just enough for people to reset before heading back into conversations, panels or meetings.
For exhibitors this really matters. When people are relaxed they are more open to talking. They stay longer, ask more questions and remember the experience. Your mobile coffee catering station becomes part of your hospitality rather than a simple refreshment point.
At HOMES UK we saw this play out again and again. Someone would queue for a flat white, strike up a chat with the person next to them, then realise they had something in common professionally. Several exhibitors told our barista that these chance encounters led to significant connections and conversations they would not have had otherwise.
What Exhibitors Told Us After the Show
Towards the end of day two we had a steady flow of exhibitors stopping by to say thank you. The most common feedback was about consistency. People were impressed that one barista could keep quality high during peak times. Others mentioned how the bar made their nearby stands feel more inviting. A few even said they had been sending their own teams to us throughout the day because the queue was the shortest they had seen at any coffee point in the hall!
Comments like these are important, confirming what we always say… that mobile coffee catering for events is not a small detail. It is part of the atmosphere that shapes how people experience the event. When done well, it supports everyone around it.
Planning Your Own Event at Excel
If you’re exhibiting at Excel or another major venue, there are a few things worth considering. The first is footfall. Busy events benefit from at least one high-capacity mobile coffee bar. The second is placement. Positioning the bar near your main stand or meeting space helps you capture natural attention. The third is service style. A friendly barista sets the tone for the entire interaction.
When all three come together you give guests something memorable. The drink becomes part of their day rather than a quick stop.
Key Takeaways
- Coffee brings people together and makes exhibition stands more inviting
- As Social Espresso is a registered vendor at Excel, this helps clients avoid corkage fees and logistical headaches
- One experienced barista can comfortably deliver high-volume mobile coffee catering with the right set-up
- Thoughtful event coffee catering adds real value to busy events like HOMES UK
Get in Touch to Arrange Your Next Mobile Coffee Catering Service
Social Espresso have been providing exceptional quality mobile coffee catering for exhibitions, conferences, business fairs, trade shows, expos, product launches and all types of events across the UK and Europe since 2016. Our speciality coffee is produced to the highest standard to wow your guests and help make your event memorable!
Call us: 020 3808 9126
Or simply request a quote and we’ll get back to you!
FAQs About our Mobile Coffee Catering Service
Can you handle back-to-back exhibition days?
Yes. Our set-up is designed for multi-day events. We prep stock, manage staffing and handle all logistics so each day starts smoothly.
How many coffees can you serve per day at an event?
Depending on foot traffic and setup, our teams typically serve between 200–500 coffees per barista per day. At large exhibitions, we can scale up to multiple bars and machines.
Do you offer non-dairy options?
Absolutely. Oat milk, almond milk and soya milk are standard at all events. We can also adjust menus to meet specific dietary needs.
What size events can you support?
Everything from small meetings to multi-day exhibitions, we’ve been delivering our high quality mobile coffee for events since 2016 acorss the UK and Europe. We scale the number of bars and baristas to match expected footfall.