Essential Bubble Tea Equipment List (Melbourne Setup Guide)
Opening a bubble tea shop in Melbourne requires the right equipment — but many new owners either buy too much or miss essential items.
This guide covers:
- Essential bubble tea equipment list
- Optional equipment (when to buy)
- Equipment cost breakdown
- Small shop vs large shop setup
- Melbourne-specific recommendations
This checklist is designed for new bubble tea shops, kiosks, and takeaway stores.
Essential Bubble Tea Equipment (Must Have)
These are the minimum equipment required to operate a bubble tea shop.
| Equipment | Required | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| POS system / order machine | Yes | $800–$2,500 |
| Hot water boiler / steam boiler | Yes | $800–$2,500 |
| Under bench fridge | Yes | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Ice machine | Yes | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Pearl Cooker or Induction Cooker | Yes | $300–$800 |
| Blender | Yes | $150–$500 |
| Small tools & utensils | Yes | $200–$800 |
Minimum setup cost: $5,000 – $15,000
POS System (Order Machine)
A POS system is essential for:
- taking orders
- tracking sales
- managing menu
- printing receipts
Typical POS setup includes:
- iPad POS
- cash drawer
- receipt printer
Cost: $800 – $2,500
Popular systems in Australia:
- Square POS
- Lightspeed
- Shopify POS
Even small takeaway stores should install a POS system.
Hot Water Boiler / Steam Boiler
Bubble tea requires constant hot water for:
- brewing tea
- dissolving powders
- making syrups
Typical capacity:
- Small shop:
10L – 20L boiler - Medium shop:
20L – 30L - Large shop:
30L+
Price range: $800 – $2,500
This is one of the most important machines.
Under Bench Fridge
Used to store:
- milk
- toppings
- fruit
- jelly
- tea
Recommended size:
- Small shop:
2 door fridge - Medium shop:
2–3 door
Price: $1,500 – $4,000
Ice Machine
Bubble tea uses large amounts of ice.
Recommended capacity:
- 100 cups/day:
40kg/day - 200 cups/day:
80kg/day - 500 cups/day:
200kg/day
Price:
$1,500 – $4,000
Most Melbourne bubble tea shops install 50kg machines.
Pearl cooker/Induction cooker
Required for:
- tapioca pearls cooking
- brown sugar tapioca pearls keeping warm
- jellies cooking
Cost: $300 – $800
Blender
Used for:
- smoothies
- slush drinks
- matcha drinks
- fruit blends
Commercial blender: $500 – $1,500
Start with 1 blender, add more when your shop gets busier.
Small Tools & Utensils
These are low cost but essential:
Measuring jugs
Tea filters
Tapioca scoops
Mixing spoons
Shaker cups
Cost: $200 – $800
Optional Bubble Tea Equipment (Can Buy Later)
These machines improve efficiency but are not essential.
| Equipment | Alternative | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cup sealing machine | Cup + lid | $500–$1,500 |
| Fructose machine | Measuring cup | $600–$1,500 |
| Shaker machine | Hand shaking | $800–$2,000 |
| Automatic tea brewer | Manual brewing | $800–$3,000 |
| Topping display bar | Standard containers | $400–$1,200 |
| Cup dispenser | Shelf storage | $100–$300 |
You can operate fully without these at the beginning.
Cup Sealing Machine (Optional)
Many new shops assume sealing machine is required — but it's optional.
Alternative:
Use cups with lids.
Pros of using lids:
- cheaper startup
- flexible
- easier maintenance
When to buy sealing machine:
- high volume stores
- Uber or other food delivery stores
- branding focus
Cost: $500 – $1,500
Fructose Machine (Optional)
Used for:
- automatic sugar dispensing
- consistent sweetness
Alternative:
Use measuring cup.
Most small Melbourne stores start without fructose machine.
Cost: $600 – $1,500
Automatic Tea Brewer (Optional)
Brews tea automatically.
Alternative:
Manual tea brewing.
Manual brewing requires:
- tea bucket
- hot water
- timer
Cost:$800 – $3,000
Shaker Machine (Optional)
Automatic shaker improves speed.
Alternative:
Manual shaking.
Manual shaking is fine for:
- small shops
- low volume
- owner-operated stores
Shaker recommended when:
200+ cups per day
Cost: $800 – $2,000
Minimum Equipment Setup (Small Shop)
Recommended for takeaway shops:
POS system
hot water boiler
under bench fridge
ice machine
bench + sink
1 blender
small tools
Estimated cost: $6,000 – $10,000
Supports: 100–200 cups per day
Standard Equipment Setup (Medium Shop)
Add optional machines:
sealing machine
fructose machine
shaker machine
Total cost: $10,000 – $18,000
Supports: 200–500 cups per day
High Volume Shop Setup
Full equipment:
dual shaker
automatic sealer
fructose machine
large ice machine
multiple fridges
Total cost: $18,000 – $30,000
Supports: 500+ cups daily
Equipment Layout Recommendation
Best workflow:
Tea→Powder→Ice→Syrup→Sugar→Shake→Pour→Sealing→Serve
Ideal bench size: 1.2m minimum, 2.4m recommended
FAQ — Bubble Tea Equipment
What equipment do I need to open a bubble tea shop?
Minimum equipment:
- POS system
- hot water boiler
- fridge
- ice machine
- bench + sink
- blender
- tools
Optional:
- sealing machine
- shaker
- fructose machine
Do I need sealing machine?
It is optional. You can use cups with lids.
Many small Melbourne stores operate without sealing machines.
Do I need fructose machine?
It is optional. You can measure sugar manually using measuring cup for small volume shops.
How much does bubble tea equipment cost?
Minimum setup:
$5,000 – $10,000
Standard setup:
$10,000 – $18,000
Full setup:
$18,000 – $30,000
Can I open bubble tea shop without a tea brewing machine?
Yes.
Manual brewing works fine for: under 200 cups per day
What is most important equipment?
Most important:
POS
hot water boiler
ice machine
fridge