How do I check the sealing and drink-making machines at a bubble tea shop?

List the machines that matter: the cup sealer, the tea brewers and dispensers, the shakers or blenders, the tapioca cooker and holder, the ice machine and the refrigeration. Ask when each was bought, how often it has failed and who repaired it. See each one run during a busy period, not just on a quiet visit, and note any leaks, odd noises or slow cycles.

Ask for servicing and repair invoices and look for repeated trouble with the same unit. A sealer that jams in a rush or a brewer that runs unevenly shows up first in the queue. Ask whether the shop keeps spare parts, a backup sealer or a technician on call, and how long a replacement of each would take.

Then settle ownership. Some machines are leased or financed, and some may be tied to a supplier. Ask your lawyer to review those papers. An independent appraisal of equipment can give you an outside view of condition if you want one. Find out too what the shop does for cups, film and tapioca if a supplier is late, since machines depend on these consumables.

Key takeaways

• Watch each machine in a busy hour, not just on a quiet visit.
• Look for repeated repairs to the same unit in the invoices.
• Ask about spare parts, backup units and a technician on call.
• Confirm who owns each machine and whether it is financed or leased.