What to buy for a philosophy café

A philosophy café needs more than coffee and chairs. Plan for a calm discussion space, simple food and drinks, and materials that help guests register, take notes, and follow the conversation. This shopping list covers the practical supplies for seating, serving, coffee preparation, audio, and discussion prompts. Check quantities against your guest count, then add a small buffer for cups, glasses, pens, and snacks so you do not run short during the event.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Chairsqty 60
Tablesqty 8
Registration desk
Stoolsqty 4

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 60
Glassesqty 80
Platesqty 70
Forksqty 70
Knivesqty 70
Spoonsqty 70
Serving bowlsqty 10
Serving spoonsqty 10

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knifeqty 3
Small bowlsqty 12

Equipment

Portable speaker
Wireless microphone
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3
Charging cablesqty 4

Paperwork

Attendance listqty 3
Name badgesqty 70
Pensqty 20
Notepadsqty 60
Conversation cardsqty 80
Flipchart padsqty 2
Sticky notesqty 8
Information leafletsqty 60
Paper tapeqty 4
Clipboardsqty 3

Decorations

Tableclothqty 8
Candle-free table lampsqty 8
Theme labelsqty 8

Lighting

Standing lampsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Washing-up tubsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Chai tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Coffee milk - 2 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Fresh mint - 4 bunches
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Young matured cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Goat cheese - 750 grams
- Vegan cheese - 750 grams
- Vegetarian tapenade - 6 jars
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 10 pieces
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Paprika chips - 5 bags
- Plain chips - 5 bags
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilos
- Olives - 6 jars
- Pickles - 3 jars
- Dark chocolate - 12 bars
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Brownies - 60
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Cleaning spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 2 packs
- Microfiber cloths - 2 packs
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 4 bottles
- Paper towels - 6 packs

Tips

Plan at least one chair per guest, plus a few extra seats if the room allows. A circle works best for discussion, while a small number of stools can fill gaps without blocking the conversation.
For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person, including coffee, tea, and water. Prepare extra cups and glasses because guests often switch between hot and cold drinks.
Set aside one registration table, one attendance list, and one name card per attendee. Keep at least one pen for every three guests so signing in does not create a queue.
Prepare one notepad and several discussion cards per table or conversation group. Post-its and flip-over sheets are useful when the group needs to collect questions or summarise ideas.
Test the portable speaker, wireless microphone, extension cords, and power strips before guests arrive. Charge every required device and bring the right charging cables; missing cables are easy to overlook until setup starts.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a philosophy café?: You need seating, tables, coffee and tea equipment, cups and glasses, simple serving supplies, registration materials, and discussion aids. Add audio equipment if the room is large or the facilitator needs a microphone.
How many chairs do I need for a philosophy café?: Plan one chair for every confirmed attendee and add 5 to 10 percent extra where possible. For 20 guests, prepare 20 chairs and ideally 1 or 2 spare seats.
How much coffee and tea should I buy for a philosophy café?: Allow two to three drinks per person during the first hour, then about one drink per person for each additional hour. For 20 guests over two hours, plan for roughly 60 servings, including water and other non-coffee options.
When should I buy supplies for a philosophy café?: Check your stock and complete the shopping list at least 3 days before the event. Buy fresh snacks and chill the drinks on the day itself, leaving enough time to prepare coffee, tea, and serving dishes before guests arrive.

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