One Very Busy Coffee Cart: Inside Microsoft’s ALPFA 2026 Activation
How Charlotte Mobile Coffee brought a custom, locally inspired café experience to Microsoft’s booth at the ALPFA National Convention:
944 drinks.
2.5 days.
One very busy coffee cart.
At the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) National Convention 2026, Charlotte Mobile Coffee had the opportunity to partner with Microsoft to create a coffee experience designed to do more than serve great drinks—it was designed to become part of the booth.
Turning a Booth Into a Café
For a trade show or conference, your booth has only a few seconds to capture someone's attention.
Microsoft wanted their booth to feel polished, welcoming, and engaging, and coffee was a natural way to bring people into the space.
We worked with their team to create a custom café-style experience that felt like an intentional part of the booth rather than an add-on.
The experience included custom:
Custom Branded Cart
Branded cups
Menu design
Every detail was designed to work together and create a cohesive experience for attendees.
944 Drinks Later…
Over 2.5 days, our team served 944 drinks to ALPFA attendees visiting the Microsoft booth.
That kind of volume takes more than a great espresso machine.
It takes preparation, organization, and a team that can keep the line moving while maintaining the quality and hospitality guests expect.
For us, high-volume events are about finding the balance between speed and experience. Guests should be able to get their coffee quickly without feeling like they're simply moving through a beverage station.
Making a National Event Feel Local
One of our favorite parts of this activation was bringing a little bit of Charlotte to a national event.
The coffee we served was supplied by Enderly Coffee Roasters, a local Charlotte roaster we’re proud to work with.
For us, partnering with local businesses is about more than sourcing ingredients. It gives us an opportunity to create experiences that feel connected to the city where the event is taking place.
A national brand activation doesn't have to feel generic, It can still have a local story.
Coffee That Gives Back to the Community
We also wanted to think beyond the coffee itself.
With nearly 1,000 drinks being served, there were plenty of spent coffee grounds left behind. Instead of sending those grounds to the landfill, we partnered with a local composting company to make sure they were composted.
It's a small detail—but we believe the small details matter.
From choosing a local coffee roaster to finding a local composting partner, we were able to make the activation feel more intentional from start to finish.
More Than Just Coffee
Coffee has become an increasingly popular part of trade shows, conferences, and brand activations—and for good reason.
A well-designed coffee experience can:
-Create a reason to stop.
A coffee cart naturally attracts attendees and gives them a reason to visit a booth.
-Encourage conversation.
People tend to stick around while their drink is being prepared, creating opportunities for meaningful connections.
-Extend the brand experience.
Custom carts, cups, menus, and drinks can turn coffee into another piece of branded event content.
-Make an event memorable.
Great coffee is something people remember—and often talk about long after the event ends.
For Microsoft, the coffee bar became another touchpoint within their ALPFA experience.
Planning a Trade Show or Brand Activation?
Whether you’re exhibiting at a national convention, hosting a corporate event, or creating a branded activation, Charlotte Mobile Coffee can create a custom coffee experience designed around your brand, your guests, and your event.
Let’s make your booth the one people want to visit.
Planning a brand activation, trade show event, or brand experience in Charlotte?