Frequently Asked Questions

Thought about great coffee for your next event, but have some questions you want answered - Chances are they have been asked before

Q - What do we need to provide for you to come to our event?

A - All we require is some power (2 x 15amp single phase for our van or large cart or 1 x 15amp single phase for our smaller carts and stand alone machines, 10amp for our single group machines) or we can use both 20amp or 32amp 3 phase as well.

Q - Our event doesn't have any power and water, can you still do it?

A - Yes, we carry our own water and for an additional charge plus the cost of fuel used we can organise a generator for your event.

Q - How many hot drinks can your cart serve in an hour?

A - With just one barista working, we can serve up to around 120 mixed drinks in an hour, with 2 trained barista's we can put out a maximum 160-180 an hour (dependent on the drinks ordered) which is the physical limitation of just about all mobile coffee carts (2 group heads)

Q - We are organisers of a Trade Show, we need catering services, what can you supply?

A - We are happy to provide our coffee cart for a full Hot Beverage service and can provide snacks, light lunch, light dinner as well as Morning & Afternoon Tea or supper service. Please contact us for menu planning and costs. We are happy to work on a voucher based system which you reimburse us for or a public retail service.

Q - What is the minimum number of Drink sales you have to make to consider doing an event?

A - The minimum number of drink sales we require before we will consider doing a public booking varies depending upon location of the event and the duration of that event. As a guide, events on the Mornington Peninsula (where we are based) usually require only $500 sales, for Melbourne metro usually around $550, outer Melbourne Metro North or West $600 for those in country Victoria please ask. It is necessary to have minimum sales requirements as we do not charge for travel time or fuel etc. and without meeting these minimum requirements events can end up actually costing us more than we take.

Q - What are your terms of Trade?

A - With Public Bookings, we handle the entire transaction and then give your club or association the agreed donation or negotiated site fee at the conclusion of the event (Same Day - No waiting for your donation).

For private bookings, functions, conferences, Hire bookings etc. Full payment must be received at the conclusion of the coffee / catering service or for our corporate clients, within our terms of trade - usually 7 days. We accept Cash, Business Cheque, EFT (Direct Credit) and all Major Credit Cards including American Express and Diners. Due to High Merchant Charges from the Banks and Diners Club, a Credit Card fee of 2.0% for Visa and Mastercard and 3.0% for Diners applies, However American Express cards are now accepted without any Merchant Fee surcharge and for accounts under $2500 paid within 7 days we will usually waive any VISA or MasterCard charges. We do not extend credit on any occassion as we have been burnt in the past by slow and non payers. A deposit of 50% of the base package price is required at the time of the booking for bookings of 2 or more days.

Q - We are running a fundraising event, what will you give back to us from your coffee service?

A - The Coffee Cure doesn't do small sized public events. We get a lot of requests from Kinders, Pre-Schools, Primary Schools and small clubs, past experience shows that they almost always won't meet our minimum requirements as stated above. However where a committee is prepared to guarantee any shortfall upfront we will consider the event.

However on larger public events we can provide our fully staffed coffee service and we will donate to your club, association or charity the following amount in cash. Sales from $550 to $999 - 10% on the whole amount sold, sales over $1000 - 15% on the whole amount sold, so for example, if we sell 400 coffee's at $3.50 each, you get around $210 at the end of the coffee service, that's around 50+ cents a cup.

Q - How can our Club make more money with hiring of a coffee cart?

We receive a lot of emails and phonecalls each week wanting us to do a coffee service for Schools, Clubs and Churches and most times we hear the same questions over and over again, why only 10% or 15% donation, "we want a $1 a cup or more" This is just not possible. The perception among the public that a cup of coffee costs 20 cents to make is a very big myth that frustrates the entire coffee industry. If we break down what goes into a cup, we actually have to produce a lot of cups to make an event worth our while.

1 shot of Coffee $0.24 cents

190 ml Milk $0.20 cents

Disposable Cup $0.17 cents

Lid if Req�d $0.07 cents

Sugar & Stirrer $0.02 cents

GST on $3.50 $0.32 cents

Actual material cost & tax per cup of coffee is $1.02

Add to that $0.35 donation (based on 10%) and that leaves around $2. that we have to pay staff out of, pay travel, fuel, wear and tare and depreciation, machine maintenance, spoilages and other costs associated in running a business.

With the rate calculated on 10% or 15% you also get the benefit of cookie sales and if someone wants a large or an Iced Coffee/Choc or Milkshake then if we sell in excess of $1000 of drinks etc. then you could actually be getting 60 cents or more from the sale of a large coffee or Milkshake / Iced Coffee etc. sale.

If your question hasn't been answered then email us or call us and find out how we can add to your next event.