Making Coffee For A Crowd – How To Brew Coffee For A Crowd Of People

Besides looking great and like a coffee pro when making coffee for a crowd with a French press, using a Chemex to make batches of coffee is eye catching and makes flavorful coffee.

Making great coffee is a labor of love and some effort is required when making pour over coffee with a Chemex. It is a great option and offers a different flavor profile. Chemex pour over coffee is very straight forward to make and will take around the same time as a French press.

Of course, for a group, you will need a much bigger Chemex 1.9 Liter, 64 ounce 8x 8 ounce cup Chemex is the biggest I have seen. Typically, only one will be needed for an event of 50 guests. This lovely piece of brewing equipment is typically used at a coffee party with a French press, not instead of.

It is a good option for making Pour Over Coffee In Large Batches. When you make it with a goose neck kettle to pour the hot water you will have a great visual effect.

Siphon Brewers – Make Coffee Like A Scientist!

These are outstanding when it comes to coffee at any event. Looks spectacular, amazing and like a scientist – especially if you have one with an alcohol or butane gas burner. Absolutely like an alchemist with the full brewing technology on display for all to see.

This one really gets the curiosity going and has an “I’ll try that” effect. I have a couple in my coffee shop, intentionally in plain sight. When it gets busy and the hip and trendy crowds are in, time for me to order one, sit back and enjoy it and plenty of curiosity will arise and people will order.

This is not a quick method of making coffee, hence why it is not the greatest of methods for making coffee for a party of people. Around 7 to 8 minutes is the average time to brew, double the four-minute brew time of a French press or Chemex pour over.

The method of elaboration somewhat mimics that of a French press and a Chemex mixed, where you get the benefit of all your grounds getting in contact with the water in the upper chamber and being in full control of all the variables.

Unlike the French press and similar to the Chemex the coffee oils are lost to the filter paper. The Coffee geek in the crowd will love it.

The biggest Coffee Siphon I have seen is 20 ounces in capacity and while good to use as part of your repertoire and what is available for the guests that love hot coffee you are not going to make too many mugs of coffee quickly with this.

Still,

it is eye candy for high-end events.

Cold Brew Coffee Before The Event

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a cold brew lover and despite some easy options available of using cold brew concentrate it is not an option that you should consider if you wish to keep your reputation intact as the maker of first class coffee.

Having the concentrate available as a backup is not a bad idea, but not as your first choice.

Thankfully, here you probably have all the brewing equipment already for the cold brew method and plenty of containers to decant your brew into. Obviously, the key here is to do all the preparation the night before and brew in advance of the event.

Due to being able to do the brewing the night before, you can brew the traditional cold brew and the more exotic less acidic Japanese flash cold brew method and offer up the option.

Keep it in mind the brewing time takes a minimum of 12 hours. Here you are not limited by how much you can serve at a time, as you can make as much as you need in advance of the coffee party.

An Automatic Drip Brewing Coffee Machine

This can be called the lazy way. But at small events and for convenience, it simply cannot be ignored. If and when the group that you are making coffee for is of 100 or more people, and you are performing the function of making coffee regularly for crowds of this size, then switch your automatic drip brewing percolator for a coffee urn.

A coffee urn makes coffee in large batches easily with a similar brew method and keeps your coffee hot. I’m not a fan at all of using this method but, in large crowds, at big events it simply cannot be ignored.

Espresso Coffee For A Party

This is probably the most difficult part of making coffee for 50 people or 100 people or more with the assumption that the event is off site.

The only way of being able to achieve this is by having access to a professional coffee maker with its own reservoir and the ability to keep it topped up with hot water. You will absolutely need a double machine with two twin portafilters to be able to make up to 4 espresso shots at a time.

These can be expensive, costing US$1,500 for a machine with a lever machine being much better in my experience. If you already have the equipment, or access to it via hiring, this is an option. Due to the cost involved I would not go out of my way to make one if I was making coffee for a crowd of people as a one-off event.

If you have regular events and large ones of 100 people or more, then yes, this is definitely worth consideration.

Keep Your Coffee Warm In A Thermal Pot Or Carafe

I have already touched on the need for decanting your coffee, particularly when and if you are using a French press to not only keep your coffee warm but to prevent over brewing.

These are going to be lifesavers and absolute gifts from heaven when everyone, inevitably, starts to ask for their coffee drinks all at the same time!

Personally, I don’t like to mix and match batches and this stick to thermal pots or carafes that match the size of Chemex or French Press that I am using. I would not, for the sake of consistency, put 2 lots of a 1.9l (64 ounce) into a 4 liter (130 Ounce) thermal pot or thermal carafe.

The same applies to Chemex or any other brewing method. Since I make coffee representing my brand and my establishment. Serve bad or inconsistent coffee and I could be turning away dozens, or hundreds of potential customers who may go on to become regulars.

Even though you have thermal carafes, you should always make your coffee as close to the time it is going to be served.

I don’t believe at all in using silly psychological techniques used in the industry such as pre-heating the mugs of coffee to make them appear hotter than they actually are. Hot coffee should be served hot and not luke warm in a hot mug pretending to be hot!

Quality control and the quality of your product and service at every moment for every cup served.

Beware Urn Burn

When your coffee urn is on for hours at a time, keeping coffee hot for hours, there are no prizes for guessing what happens to coffee grounds that are getting brewed under such conditions.

Yep,

the famed urn burn. This you will need to manage by sticking to a protocol and my golden rule, TAFO – Taste And Find Out.

Keep tasting and keep checking your coffee frequently and if it is burnt, or you suspect they are becoming burnt, simply replenish and replace. If your urn is too full, you wait a little but not too long. You can take advantage of any thermal carafes that you have on hand and decant and serve from them while the new batch of coffee in your urn heats up.

As a preventative measure, you can make sure your urn is sparkling clean both on the inside and outside. Work out the brew time beforehand. As a rough estimate, 15 min per 25 cups. Once the indicator light is telling you the coffee is ready, switch it off and remove safely and carefully the filter basket to prevent over brewing.

Use an electric timer plug to switch it on and off every 5 min to ensure the coffee in the urn remains warm. You will need to test and know your machine perfectly well. Only use this if your urn does not automatically keep your coffee warm.

Have Sugar, Cream and Coffee Whitener On Hand

We always have a plentiful supply of milk, coffee whitener and sugar, both brown and white, in supply. For my occasional events, I get a little cheeky. I use my own coffee shop products branded with the address, phone number, website and discount coupon printed on them, specially made for the event.

Don’t forget your sugars, sweeteners and milk options.

Something else not to forget is…

Not Everyone Like Coffee – Don’t Forget About Tea And Other Options.

Sure, the lion’s share will ask for coffee or tea. Some people will simply want cold water, fruit juice and some other refreshments.

If it is a summer event, make sure you have a plentiful supply of ice available for your ice drinks such as iced lattes.

Coffee For A Crowd Starbucks – Coffee For A Crowd To Go

If you’re meeting or crowd is not too large you can take advantage of the service by Starbucks who have 12 x 8 ounce (240 ml) option to take away, or a series of these. It is called their coffee traveler.

It might be a better idea to order in advance, especially if you are ordering a few of their coffee travelers.

 Frequently Asked Questions About Making Coffee For A Crowd

How Do You Keep Coffee Warm For A Crowd?

There are many ways to keep your coffee warm when making it for a crowd. The two most effective ways are to use a coffee urn and remove the coffee after it has brewed and a large thermos.

Note: If you forget to remove the coffee grounds from your urn after it has brewed your coffee will continue to brew and eventually the whole urn will become over brewed and bitter.

How Many People Can 1 Gallon Of Coffee Serve?

A 1 gallon coffee maker will help you to serve coffee for 50 people, assuming nobody requests a second cup.

How Do You Keep Hot Coffee Fresh?

Keeping hot coffee fresh is easy. For one or two people, simply using a coffee mug with a lid or a thermos will help to lock in the flavors and aromas.

For a crowd, a coffee urn is the best choice as the larger ones can keep 100 or more cups of coffee fresh and hot at a time.

What Container Keeps Coffee Hot The Longest?

For single use or less than a few cups of coffee a Thermos is the best option. A coffee urn for special events will keep reheating your coffee. Just be sure to remove the coffee grounds.

How Long Is Coffee Good For After Brewing?

A coffee is good for 3 to 4 hours after it has been brewed. If you have milk or creamer of any kind to it, this reduces to about 2 hours.

How Long Does Coffee Stay Fresh In A Coffee Urn?

Straight black coffee in a coffee urn is good for 12 hours after it has been brewed. Coffee that has been brewed longer than 12 hours don’t throw it down the sink as that is such a waste. Use the coffee to water your garden, plants etc as it is still full of nutrients.

How Long Can Coffee Sit For After It’s Been Brewed?

Brewed black coffee without creamer, milk or sugar is okay for up to 4 hours after it has been served. With milk or creamer it will go off quicker in only a couple of hours.

What Is The 1 week Rule For Coffee?

The one-week rule for coffee relates to specialty grade coffee beans and beans that are of premium quality. It states that your coffee beans are at their optimal flavor three days after roasting and for only 7 days after.

Frappé-ing It All Up – Making Coffee For A Crowd

Making coffee for a crowd of people, no matter how big or small, requires preparation, planning and having the equipment ready at hand and bigger than normal coffee brewing equipment than what you would use at home.

Be ready, be prepared to put a lot of thought into it and, above all, serve great coffee in every single cup.

Do you have your own tips and tricks for making coffee for a crowd?

Share them with us on our online coffee community on Facebook/Meta.

Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location