What to Buy for a Business Breakfast
A business breakfast needs more than coffee, pastries and a few tables. Plan the food, drinks, tableware and serving equipment around the number of guests, then allow time for chilling drinks and preparing fresh items. You will also need separate options and labels for dietary requirements, plus enough buffet and tableware to keep service moving. Use this list alongside your guest registrations and confirm quantities before shopping.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 36
- Buffet tablesqty 3
- Reception desk
- Clothes racks
Tableware
- Breakfast platesqty 40
- Coffee cupsqty 40
- Water glassesqty 40
- Tea glassesqty 20
- Knivesqty 40
- Forksqty 40
- Teaspoonsqty 40
- Serving utensilsqty 12
- Coffee potsqty 3
- Milk jugsqty 4
- Sugar bowlsqty 3
- Serving plattersqty 8
- Serving trays with lidsqty 4
- Bread basketsqty 4
- Butterfly netsqty 2
- Water jugsqty 4
- Juice dispensersqty 2
Kitchen
- Bread knifeqty 2
- Cutting boardsqty 3
- Kitchen knivesqty 3
- Coolersqty 2
- Serving tongsqty 4
Equipment
- Coffee makerqty 2
- Kettleqty 2
- Heating plateqty 2
- Extension cordsqty 3
- Power stripsqty 3
- Presentation screen
- HDMI cable
Decorations
- Table runnersqty 6
- Name badge holdersqty 36
- Name badgesqty 36
- Menusqty 6
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 3
- Trash bag holdersqty 3
- Washing-up bowlsqty 2
- Spongesqty 6
- Cleaning clothsqty 12
- Hand brush and dustpan
- Mop and bucket
Catering
- Groceries
- Coffee beans - 2 kilograms
- Black tea - 60 bags
- Herbal tea - 20 bags
- Whole Milk - 5 Liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Granulated sugar - 1 kilogram
- Mints - 1 box
- Still mineral water - 12 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Whole wheat bread - 5 loaves
- White bread - 3 loaves
- Mini croissants - 36 pieces
- Mini Sandwiches - 36 Pieces
- Unsalted butter - 750 grams
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Aged cheese - 1 kilogram
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 750 grams
- Hummus - 750 gram
- Cream cheese - 750 grams
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Apricot jam - 1 jar
- Peanut butter - 1 jar
- Honey - 1 jar
- Boiled eggs - 36 pieces
- Plain yogurt - 4 kilograms
- Granola - 1.5 kilogram
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Salt - 1 shaker
- Pepper - 1 shaker
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Paper cups - 50 pieces
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Garbage bags - 20 pieces
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
Tips
- Plan breakfast portions from your confirmed guest list, then add 10% for late additions and second helpings. Keep vegetarian, vegan and allergen-friendly items separate and label them before guests arrive.
- Allow two to three drinks per person during the first hour, including coffee, tea, water and juice. Chill bottled or canned drinks several hours before setup rather than relying on coolers at the last minute.
- Count one breakfast plate, cup, water glass, knife and fork per guest, plus at least 10% spare. Provide extra teaspoons and serving cutlery because these are easy to run short of at a buffet.
- Buy fresh bread, spreads and other perishable items no earlier than the day before where possible. Check the bread, fruit and dairy products again on the morning of the breakfast before setting out the buffet.
- Match the amount of serving equipment to the number of buffet stations: each station needs platters or covered serving dishes, tongs or serving utensils, bread baskets and water or juice dispensers. Test the coffee maker, kettle and heating plate before guests arrive.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for a business breakfast?
- Use your confirmed guest count as the baseline and add about 10% for late arrivals and extra portions. For a breakfast lasting around two hours, plan a complete serving of bread or pastries per guest, with spreads and toppings available throughout the buffet.
- How many drinks should I buy for a business breakfast?
- Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add roughly one drink per person for each additional hour. Include coffee, tea, water and juice, and keep a 10% reserve for guests who stay longer.
- When should I buy food for a business breakfast?
- Buy non-perishable supplies and drinks several days ahead, but purchase bread, dairy, fruit and other fresh items the day before or on the morning itself. Check dietary products and labels at least one day before the event.
- How many plates and cups do I need per guest?
- Start with one breakfast plate, coffee cup, water glass, knife and fork per guest, then add at least 10% spare. Plan extra teaspoons and serving utensils separately, since guests often use them more than once.
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