best way to make coffee for a crowd

[Live It Up]

So, I'm catering a wedding for 60 people out of my home kitchen (more details available in the special occasions forum). Anyway, they want coffee. I know that those huge percolator urns are cheap and easy, but how's the coffee they make? I am a bit of a coffee geek and I don't want to serve crappy coffee. So far I have no plans to cater any other large parties, so I don't want to invest a lot of money in equipment. Is there any other way?

[prasantrin]

I think you're stuck with the percolator/urn type maker for that many people. You could try renting one rather than buying, and perhaps use better quality coffee to help offset the percolator-ness of it?

Take a look at this topic for hints on making good percolator coffee (read all the way through).

[KatieLoeb]

Beat me to it. I was going to say the exact same thing. There's no other way to make coffee for that many folks at once without renting some sort of large capacity brewing/percolating device.

Investing in good coffee and making certain that it's ground and measured properly for the device you're using should guarantee at least palatable coffee for the masses.

[JAZ]

I find that the coffee from percolators is acceptable right when it's brewed -- the problem comes if it sits around, reheating. So along with the percolator, invest in some big airpots, and pour the coffee into them right when it's brewed. You'll have much better results.

[Live It Up]

Actually, I was looking at buying an airpot brewer from ebay. There are used ones around $50 right now, but the airpots themselves are like $50 each on top of that. Does anyone know of a source for cheap airpots other than ebay? I might be able to borrow one or two from a cafe that I used to work at. Also, how many airpots would I need for 60 people? Seems like they don't really hold that many cups, but then I'm thinking in terms of 16oz to go cups.

[phaelon56]

Airpots are usually about 3 liters in size - that's about twelve 8 oz cups. I've seen Bunn airpots in boxes of six at $90 per box on eBay. If you nose around you should be able to find them by the each for $20 - $25.

[sanrensho]

Try Chinatown? They might have more affordable versions there.

[lesliev]

I've been handed the unenviable task of providing excellent morning java for 60 bleary-eyed co-workers this week. I'm a Melitta plastic-cone-over-the-cup kinda girl, but I just don't see my method working too well for dozens of drinkers.

Any advice on brewing methods or equipment? Keeping the coffee warm without burning it could be my biggest challenge...yes?

[weinoo]

Make a large amount of concentrated, cold brewed coffee, and then all you'll need is the hot water.

Cold-brewing topic

[Richard Kilgore]

Welcome lesliev!

Mitch's cold brew idea may work well for you. What equipment do you have available or access to?