What to Buy for a Sunday Brunch

A Sunday brunch shopping list needs more than eggs, bread and coffee. Plan the food around your final guest count, then check that you have enough plates, cups, glasses, serving pieces and buffet equipment. Fresh fruit, yogurt toppings and hot dishes are easy to underestimate, while coffee supplies and allergen labels are often left until the last minute. Buy fresh groceries close to the event and leave time to chill drinks, wash fruit and set up the buffet.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Buffet tablesqty 3
Dining tablesqty 5
Chairsqty 36
High tablesqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 40
Breakfast platesqty 40
Coffee cupsqty 40
Drinking glassesqty 45
Champagne glassesqty 36
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving trays with lidsqty 6
Serving tongsqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8
Butter knivesqty 4

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Hot traysqty 4
Coolersqty 2

Kitchen

Frying pansqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Measuring cupsqty 2
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Kitchen scale

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 7
Napkinsqty 60
Flower arrangementsqty 5
Menu standsqty 4

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 3

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Washing-up basinsqty 2
Cleaning clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- White bread - 4 loaves
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Croissants - 36 pieces
- Multigrain bread rolls - 36 pieces
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Bacon - 3 kilogram
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Cooked ham - 2 kilograms
- Smoked salmon - 1.5 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Apricot jam - 2 jars
- Honey - 1 jar
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Avocado - 12 pieces
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Fresh chives - 4 bunches
- Fresh parsley - 4 bunches
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Yogurt - 6 kilogram
- Granola - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 24 pieces
- Bananas - 24 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Blueberries - 1 kilogram
- Melons - 3 pieces
- Oranges - 24 pieces
- Coffee beans - 1 kilogram
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Still mineral water - 12 bottles
- Prosecco - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then add extra water and coffee for a longer brunch. Chill bottled drinks before guests arrive and keep backup drinks in coolers.
For the buffet, allow one dinner or breakfast plate per guest plus at least 10% extra. Count coffee cups, drinking glasses, cutlery sets and napkins separately rather than assuming one shared supply is enough.
Buy fresh fruit, bread, yogurt and toppings no more than one or two days before the brunch. Wash and cut fruit on the day, so it stays fresh without making the kitchen rush.
Allow two eggs per guest if eggs are a main hot dish, plus a small buffer for seconds. Check that frying pans, hot trays and serving utensils are available before cooking begins.
Set aside serving platters, trays with lids, tongs and spoons for every buffet dish. Label allergens before opening the buffet, especially when dietary requirements were collected during registration.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a Sunday brunch?: For a mixed buffet, plan around 5 to 7 food portions per guest across bread, fruit, yogurt, eggs and hot dishes. Add about 10% extra once the final guest count is known, especially for popular items.
How many eggs should I buy for brunch?: Buy two eggs per guest when eggs are one of the main hot dishes. For 20 guests, that means 40 eggs, plus 4 to 6 extra if you expect seconds or cracked eggs during cooking.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a brunch?: Start with one plate, one glass and one cutlery set per guest, then add 10% spare. For 20 guests, prepare at least 22 of each, plus separate coffee cups and enough champagne glasses if champagne is being served.
When should I buy groceries for a Sunday brunch?: Buy non-perishables and drinks up to a week ahead, but buy bread, fruit, yogurt and other fresh groceries one or two days before. Do the final quantity and dietary-requirement check the day before the brunch.

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