HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a mobile coffee van in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A mobile coffee van in Ireland costs €250–€700 per event, typically around €400. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a mobile coffee van in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers mobile coffee van work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — catering Services — in addition to drinks, many mobile coffee vans can provide light snacks or pastries.
- How does duration of the event change the price?The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does number of guests change the price?Each addition is small, but they add up across the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does variety of beverages offered change the price?It is the detail most people forget to mention when asking. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Mobile coffee vans usually do not provide full meal catering or extensive equipment rentals — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile coffee van job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers mobile coffee van work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — catering Services — in addition to drinks, many mobile coffee vans can provide light snacks or pastries.
A good answer: The duration you choose is the main thing you control. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Each addition is small, but they add up across the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is the detail most people forget to mention when asking. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Mobile coffee vans usually do not provide full meal catering or extensive equipment rentals — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile coffee van job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — beverage Options — mobile coffee vans typically offer a range of beverages including espresso, cappuccino, latte, and various teas.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the mobile coffee van starts, and an itemised invoice after — coffee and Pastry Pairing Service — offering a selection of coffees paired with pastries or desserts, ideal for brunch events or afternoon gatherings.
Getting the quote right
- Duration of the event — the duration you choose is the main thing you control.
- Number of guests — each addition is small, but they add up across the job.
- Variety of beverages offered — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking.
- Any additional catering services — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: duration of the event — the duration you choose is the main thing you control
- They will not talk about it: number of guests — each addition is small, but they add up across the job
- They will not talk about it: variety of beverages offered — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking
- A price for the mobile coffee van before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the mobile coffee van has begun
What a mobile coffee van costs: €250–€700 per event
The figures are for the job, per event, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Corporate coffee catering and Wedding coffee service each carry their own band. Mobile Coffee Van price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Mobile coffee vans near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstDuration of the event — the duration you choose is the main thing you control — that is what the mobile coffee van is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneNumber of guests — each addition is small, but they add up across the job — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfVariety of beverages offered — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAny additional catering services — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the mobile coffee van is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the menu — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs.
- Beverage Options
- Mobile coffee vans typically offer a range of beverages including espresso, cappuccino, latte, and various teas.
- Catering Services
- In addition to drinks, many mobile coffee vans can provide light snacks or pastries.
- Corporate Coffee Catering
- Providing coffee services for business events, including meetings and conferences, with a focus on professional presentation and speed.
- Wedding Coffee Service
- Specialised coffee service for weddings, offering personalised drink options to match the couple's preferences and style.
- Festival Coffee Vendor
- Setting up a coffee van at outdoor festivals, catering to large crowds with a variety of drinks and quick service.
- Private Party Barista
- Bringing a barista to your home or venue for intimate gatherings, providing a bespoke coffee experience for guests.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a mobile coffee van: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on factors such as the duration of the event, the number of guests, the variety of beverages offered, and any additional catering services. Specialty drinks or custom branding may also increase the price.
Mobile coffee vans can typically serve for a duration ranging from a few hours to a full day, depending on your needs. Most vendors will work with you to determine the best time frame to accommodate your event.
Same-day availability can vary by vendor, but many can accommodate last-minute requests, especially during off-peak times. It's best to contact vendors directly to check their availability.
Yes, many mobile coffee van providers can coordinate with other event services, such as catering or dessert trucks, for a comprehensive package. Discuss your needs with the vendor to explore options.
Mobile coffee vans usually do not provide full meal catering or extensive equipment rentals. Additionally, items like tables, chairs, and event infrastructure are generally outside the scope of their service.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in events & entertainment
Mobile coffee vans near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — MOTOR VEHICLES - REPAIRS (Certain repair and related services) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only