I often get the question about my main advice when it comes to throwing a congress or a trade show. I always answer with these six words.

Coffee! Coffee! Coffee! Internet! Internet! Internet!

If you fulfill these requirements then you're good to go. Especially if you follow the my 3 golden rules as well (find them in this post about Mass Communication). The sad situation that brewing good coffee for more than even 10 people can be a struggle. Then think about that if it has to be ready for hundreds or thousands people at any given time... So most venues use instant coffee of different qualities.

A solution that I've become used to is to rent an external barista. Support a local coffeehouse by offering them a free spot at the venue and allow them to sell good coffee to the attendees. But be smart and get a discount from them to allow your speakers and VIP guests to drink for free.

Here are two clever coffee companies that we know of:

Fogarolli - a small company with even smaller cars that has one goal: Bring great coffee to the masses

Coffee Cow - Fresh brew distributed in camelbacks around on festivals and other events. 

Have you seen any other clever coffee solutions? Please drop me and I'll ad them here.

/Finnur