In Minnesota, food service businesses — including coffee caterers — are required to be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health or their local health authority. This isn’t optional. It means they’ve been inspected, they follow food safety protocols, and they’re accountable to regulations that protect your guests.

If something goes wrong at your event — equipment damage, a guest injury, property damage — who’s responsible? Professional caterers carry liability insurance to protect both themselves and their clients. Without it, you could be on the hook.

There’s a reason commercial espresso machines cost $9,000+ each and home machines cost $500. Commercial equipment is NSF-certified for food safety, built for volume, consistency, and reliability. Home equipment is built for making one latte at a time for yourself — and it’s not certified for commercial food service. Big difference when you’re serving 150 guests.

Experience matters. A caterer who’s been doing this for years has seen everything — venue challenges, equipment issues, guest rushes, dietary requests. They know how to handle the unexpected.

Some operations are one-person shows. Others hire random help for each event. You want to know that the people representing your event are trained professionals — not someone’s friend who “knows how to make coffee.”

Professional catering equipment requires professional transportation. Commercial espresso machines are heavy, delicate, and expensive. A caterer who’s transporting equipment in a sedan or personal vehicle is cutting corners — and that usually means equipment that’s been banged around, improperly stored, or falling apart. If parts are hitting the floor during setup, they’re going in your drinks.

Professional caterers know exactly what they need and communicate it clearly upfront. If someone can’t tell you their electrical requirements or how much space they need, that’s a sign they’re figuring it out as they go.