How Much Does It Cost to Make 1 Cup Of Bubble Tea?

You are planning to open a new bubble tea shop, but have no idea how to price your menu? No problem, we've got you covered.

How to Price Your Bubble Tea Menu Without the Guesswork

Opening a bubble tea shop is exciting, but figuring out how to price your menu can be confusing. To help, here is a clear breakdown of what it costs to make one cup of bubble tea.

Ingredient Costs per Cup

The total cost for one standard cup usually falls between 40p to 63p depending on what you use. Let’s break down the main components:

1. Tapioca Pearls

These typically come in 1kg bags. With about 15g used per drink, one bag makes roughly 66 regular size cups. That works out at about 7p per serving.

2. Tea (Black, Green or Oolong)

On average, our loose tea leaves costs between 10p and 12p per cup depending on the type (black, green or oolong) and quality.

3. Sweetener

Sugar syrup or fructose comes to around 9p per cup.

4. Creamer

A regular serving costs about 8.5p. If you add extra or make milk tea without flavour powders, the cost can go up to 20p per cup.

5. Flavoured Powders

These add colour and unique flavours like taro or strawberry. They cost more, around 30p to 36p per cup. They are pricier but popular and important for variety. Since these powders replace the tea base, they balance out the overall cost.

6. Flavoured Syrups

These cost about 20p per cup and offer an alternative to powders. You don’t use both in the same drink.

7. Ice Cubes

Ice is cheap, about 1p to 2p per cup if you have an ice machine.

8. Straws and Cups

Basic plastic cups, lids and wide straws cost between 10p and 25p each. Custom or eco-friendly packaging might cost more but usually not much. Using sealing film instead of lids can lower the cost to just under 1p per cup.

Putting It All Together

Adding these costs up, you get a ballpark ingredient cost of 40p to 63p for one cup.  For classic milk teas, count on average 40p per cup. For flavoured milk teas, count on average 65p. For fruit teas, count 55p. If you add extra toppings like popping balls or jelly, factor in a bit more.

Most bubble tea shops charge between £3.50 and £5.50 for a standard size drink. That gives you a comfortable margin to cover rent, staff and other expenses while still making a profit.

Knowing your ingredient cost per cup is essential. It lets you set prices that cover your costs and make sense to your customers.