Boba Catering Questions, Answered Straight

How much does boba catering cost?

Triple Sip, our most popular package, is $950 for 100 guests. That is $9.50 a head, all in.

Packages run $5 to $7 per guest depending on whether you want two, three or four flavors: Double Sip is $5, Triple Sip is $6 and Quad Sip is $7. On top of that there is one flat $350 service charge that covers the cart, setup and teardown, staffing, 16 oz printed cups with dome lids, straws, napkins, ice and travel within 30 miles of DFW.

Every drink is the same price, except Matcha Latte, which adds $1 a guest to the package rate. So Triple Sip with matcha is $1,050 for 100 guests. Minimum booking is 50 guests.

Why does matcha cost more?

Matcha is the most expensive ingredient on the menu and it is whisked to order, not poured from a batch.

Ceremonial grade matcha costs several times what our other bases cost, and each cup is whisked fresh at the cart instead of being pulled from a pitcher. That is slower work and pricier product, so it adds $1 per guest to the package rate.

It is the only exception on the menu. Every other drink is the same price, and matcha is worth it if your crowd wants it.

Is whipped cream extra?

It is available on request, depending on your event. We do not promise it as a standard finish.

Whipped cream needs cold hold and it will not survive a hot outdoor Texas event. It is great indoors and in cooler weather, but if your event is a July afternoon in an open field, we will tell you straight that it will not make it from the cart to your table.

We would rather talk you out of it than have it melt at your wedding. Ask about it when you book and we will figure out whether it makes sense for your day.

What do the drinks come in?

16 ounce clear cups printed with our logo, finished with a dome lid.

The cup is clear on purpose. The pearls and the layers are the whole visual, so your guests get to see them and so do their cameras.

Dome lids mean nothing gets crushed on the way to the table, and the cups are included in the flat service charge.

How many flavors should I pick?

Three covers most events well.

Triple Sip lets you offer a milk tea, a fruit tea and a specialty, so nearly every guest finds something they actually want. That is why most hosts land there.

Two works fine for smaller or more focused groups, like a shower or a team offsite where you already know the room. Four is for large or mixed crowds where you want maximum choice, or events with a wide age range.

How many drinks do I need per guest?

Plan on one drink per guest, and 1.3 if service runs longer than two hours.

Boba is filling, so most people have one. Long receptions, hot outdoor events and crowds under 25 push the average up. We would rather quote you at one per guest and count actual cups than sell you volume you will not use.

How many people can one cart serve per hour?

60 to 80 drinks per hour per bobarista.

Each drink is made to order: tea, ice, sweetness, shake, toppings, dome lid on. That is roughly 45 to 60 seconds of hands-on work. Over 75 guests we add a second bobarista for $150 and the line stops forming.

Take your headcount, divide by 70, and that is how many service hours one bobarista needs.

What space and power do you need at the venue?

About 8x6 feet of flat ground and a standard outlet within 50 feet. We bring everything else.

Flat matters more than big. Grass is fine if it is level. We bring our own water, ice, and a table if the venue has none, and the cart breaks down to fit a standard doorway or freight elevator.

No outlet available? Tell us early and we will bring a quiet battery pack instead.

What's included in the service charge?

The cart, setup and teardown, staffing, 16 oz clear printed cups with dome lids, straws, napkins, ice, and travel within 30 miles of DFW.

It is a single flat $350, charged once per event and not per hour. The only things outside it are the per guest package rate and any add-ons you choose, like a second bobarista or custom signage.

Do you have dairy-free, vegan or caffeine-free options?

Yes to all three, and the dairy-free milk swap is free.

Every drink can be made dairy-free at no charge, and every fruit tea is dairy-free as poured. Strawberry Milk and Lychee Refresher are caffeine-free.

Are you insured?

Yes. We carry general liability insurance and provide a certificate of insurance on request.

Most venues, office buildings and school districts require a COI naming them as additional insured before a vendor can set up. Ask on the quote form and we turn it around within one business day.

How far in advance should I book?

Six to eight weeks is comfortable, and three months for peak wedding and grad season.

Spring weddings, May and June graduations and December holiday parties are the crunch periods. We do take last-minute bookings when a cart is free, so it is always worth asking about a date inside two weeks.

What's your deposit and cancellation policy?

A 25% deposit holds the date and the balance is due one week out.

Cancel more than 30 days before the event and the deposit is fully refundable. Inside 30 days the deposit is non-refundable but transfers to any new date within 12 months. Final guest count is locked one week before, and we bill actual cups poured if you come in under it.

Do you travel outside DFW?

Yes. Travel within 30 miles is included, beyond that it is $2 per mile.

We are based in Dallas–Fort Worth and cover Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, Arlington, Irving, McKinney, Denton and the rest of the Metroplex at no travel cost. For large bookings we go further into Texas, including Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Ask and we will quote it.

Is a boba bar or a coffee cart better for my event?

A boba bar wins when guests want something fun and cold, and a coffee cart wins for early mornings, older crowds and cold outdoor events.

Book a coffee cart instead if your event starts before 10am, if the average guest age is over 55, or if it is an outdoor event under about 55 degrees. Nobody wants iced tea in a parking lot in January.

Book the boba bar for receptions, afternoon and evening events, anything with kids or a crowd under 40, brand activations that need a line, and any event where the drink is part of the entertainment.

Can you match drinks to our colors or theme?

Yes. We build a menu around your palette and print signage to match.

Taro gives you purple, matcha gives you green, mango and thai tea give you orange, strawberry gives you pink and brown sugar gives you a warm caramel. Popping boba adds another layer of color on top. Send us your palette and we will suggest three or four drinks that hit it.

Do you offer a tasting?

Yes, and it is free for couples and event planners with a date in mind, on weekdays in DFW.

We bring four drinks and the full topping set so you can taste sweetness levels before locking a menu. Very few caterers in Texas offer this, and it is the fastest way to know whether the drinks are any good.

What happens if it rains?

We set up under any covered space you have, or bring a 10x10 tent at no extra cost.

The cart runs fine in rain as long as it is covered and the ground is not flooded. If the whole event is called off for weather, your deposit transfers to a new date within 12 months.