Conferences & Expos · Portland, ME
Conference & Expo Coffee Catering in Portland, ME
High-volume specialty espresso for Portland conferences, trade shows, and multi-session events — built for tight break windows and large crowds.
“No exaggeration: the absolute top of the line. Timely, personable, professional, and, most importantly, truly delicious coffee. My highest recommendation.”
~50
drinks/hr per barista
500+
attendees served in a day
2+
stations for large events
All-day
or break-window format
Conference breaks in Portland are a logistics problem as much as a hospitality one. You have 150 people, a 20-minute window, and a line that starts the moment the session ends. Hotel urns and self-serve stations don't move fast enough — and the coffee they produce isn't worth the wait.
Side By Side Coffee is built exactly for this. We bring a professional, fully self-contained mobile espresso bar to corporate events in Portland, trade shows, expos, and multi-session events across Greater Portland — from the Cross Insurance Arena and the Portland Expo to Thompson's Point and downtown conference venues. Kenny has 12+ years in specialty coffee and personally runs every event we take on. One barista handles up to 50 drinks per hour. For larger events, we add staff. Every drink is pulled fresh from Tandem Coffee Roasters beans — one of New England's most respected roasters.
We arrive before your first session, run clean service through every break, and leave the venue exactly as we found it.
Venues
Portland Conference Venues We Serve
We've served events at and around Portland's major conference and expo venues:
Cross Insurance Arena
Southern Maine's largest event and convention facility, home to trade shows, expos, and large-scale conferences including New England Expos and Maine Restaurant Association events. 34,500 sq ft of event floor space.
Thompson's Point
Portland's waterfront event complex hosts conferences, summits, corporate retreats, and large outdoor gatherings with a mix of indoor and open-air spaces.
Portland Expo
Historic downtown Portland venue with flexible conference and trade show space, well suited for mid-sized industry events and local business conferences.
Maine Pointe and Portland Harbor Hotel
Downtown conference and meeting event spaces popular for corporate summits and professional association events.
Westin Portland Harborview
Hotel conference floors for multi-day professional events and corporate retreats.
What Makes Conference Service Different
Speed without shortcuts
Conference breaks are short and lines form instantly. We move with purpose — every drink still made to order, but efficiently. Espresso pulled, milk steamed, served and handed off in under 90 seconds. No pre-batching, no thermoses.
Tandem Coffee, not event coffee
We pour Tandem Coffee Roasters — sourced and roasted with precision in Portland, ME. Attendees who drink good coffee every day notice immediately. That detail reflects well on your event.
Everything included
Espresso machine, grinder, specialty coffee, oat milk, whole milk, decaf, cups, lids, syrups, consumables, and waste handling. Nothing to coordinate with the venue on the coffee side.
Branded conference add-ons
Custom cups with your event or sponsor logo, a signature drink for your conference theme, and a custom menu board — all available with two weeks' notice. The coffee station becomes a brand moment.
Owner-operated, every event
Kenny manages every event personally. The person you communicate with during planning is behind the cart on event day.
Scale & Capacity
Capacity and Staffing
We scale to your event:
1 barista — up to 50 drinks/hour
Right for half-day events, single-session breaks, and conferences up to 150 attendees with staggered timing.
2 baristas — up to 100 drinks/hour
Right for full-day conferences, trade shows, and high-volume events with 200–400+ attendees hitting the cart simultaneously during scheduled breaks.
Share your headcount and break schedule when you request a quote. We'll recommend exactly what you need.
What Conference Clients Say
"No exaggeration: the absolute top of the line. Timely, personable, professional, and, most importantly, truly delicious coffee. My highest recommendation."
"We had the pleasure of having Kenny serve coffee at a large corporate work event. He was an absolute pleasure to work with — very responsive and took on the task with very short notice."
Areas Served for Conference & Expo Events in Maine
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions — Conference Coffee Catering Portland ME
Do you serve conferences and trade shows in Portland, ME?
Yes — conferences, expos, and trade shows are a core part of what we do. We serve events at the Cross Insurance Arena, Thompson's Point, Portland Expo, and venues across Greater Portland and Southern Maine.
Can you handle 200 or 300+ conference attendees?
Yes. With two baristas running simultaneously we handle up to 100 drinks per hour. For conferences where the full attendee count isn't in line at once — typical during scheduled breaks — two baristas covers most events up to 400 attendees. Share your break schedule and we'll recommend the right setup.
What do you need from the venue?
A standard 110V/15A outlet and roughly 6x6 feet of floor space. No plumbing required — we bring our own water supply. We carry a 25-foot extension cord so outlet placement is flexible.
Do you serve multi-day conferences?
Yes — multi-day events are quoted per day of service. Reach out with your full schedule and we'll build a quote for the complete run.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as possible. Fall conference season in Maine runs September through November and fills quickly, especially for larger venues. For branding add-ons, we need at least two weeks. For standard service, we accommodate shorter timelines when available.
Do you offer branded cups or a custom drink for our conference?
Yes — custom cups with your event or sponsor logo, a signature drink for your conference theme, and a custom menu board are available as add-ons. These are popular upgrades for sponsored events and multi-day conferences.
Where We Serve
Based in Portland, ME
We serve conference and trade show events throughout Greater Portland and Southern Maine — including Cross Insurance Arena, Thompson's Point, Portland Expo, and beyond.
Areas We Cover
No travel fees for most Greater Portland conference events.
Planning a Conference or Trade Show in Portland?
Tell us about your event — attendee count, venue, and dates — and we'll send a custom quote the same day.
Request a Custom Quote