Dartmouth College has teamed up with Botrista, a leader in automated beverage technology, to launch a new boba tea program on campus, revolutionizing the way students enjoy their favorite drink. The program, which debuted in early September at the café in Dartmouth’s Baker-Berry Library, allows students to enjoy premium, customizable boba teas at the touch of a button—without the need for complex preparation or high labor costs.
The partnership was sparked by Jon Plodzik, Director of Dining Services at Dartmouth College, who discovered Botrista’s automated beverage program during the National Association of College and University Foodservice (NACUFS) conference this summer. Seeking a way to utilize underused space in one of Dartmouth’s dining venues and meet growing student demand, Plodzik found Botrista’s solution to be the perfect fit.
“We’ve seen a growing demand for boba tea on campus, but it’s always been a challenge to get it just right,” said Plodzik. “Botrista’s automated program solves that problem by ensuring consistent quality with minimal labor. This makes it possible to serve the high-quality boba tea our students want, without the hassles we faced when trying to make it in-house.”
Botrista’s technology ensures each boba drink is prepared consistently, with a variety of drink options, from traditional milk teas to fruit-infused beverages and smoothies, available at the push of a button. The system’s simple operation allows foodservice staff to focus on customer service while maintaining the highest quality standards.
“Botrista’s automated system is a game-changer for us,” said Plodzik. “It’s incredibly easy to operate, requiring minimal training. The consistency of the product is something we couldn’t achieve when trying to make boba ourselves. Now, every student who comes in can enjoy the same great taste, every time.”
Botrista’s program, which includes a range of customizable beverages, has been a hit with Dartmouth students. The most popular item? Boba tea. “Students love the variety and the convenience of being able to grab their favorite boba tea right on campus instead of heading off to downtown Hanover,” added Plodzik.
Boba tea, a Taiwanese drink made with chewy tapioca pearls and flavored tea, has seen a massive surge in popularity across the United States, particularly among younger generations. A recent study by Botrista revealed that 86% of college students want boba tea on their campuses, a demand that Dartmouth College has now met with its automated solution.
According to Jason Valentine, Chief Strategy Officer for Botrista, the company’s automated beverage solutions are quickly becoming a staple at colleges and universities nationwide. “Boba tea is a hot category, especially on college campuses where students are looking for convenient, quality beverages. Our system provides a simple, reliable way for universities to offer boba tea, meeting student demand and enhancing the campus experience.”
The convenience of Botrista’s system has proven to be a hit not only in the college market but also in other foodservice sectors such as theme parks and movie theaters. At Dartmouth, the program is already seeing positive results with repeat business and increasing sales.
In addition to boba tea, Dartmouth students are also enjoying other beverages like refreshing lemonades, fruit-flavored boba chillers, and smoothies, all prepared with the same automated system. One of Plodzik’s personal favorites is the passionfruit lemonade with exploding boba, which offers a fun twist to traditional bubble tea.
“The fact that our system can offer such a wide variety of beverages has made it even more popular,” said Plodzik. “From salted caramel milk tea to fruit-infused options, the flavors are endless. And because it’s so easy to operate, we can keep our focus on delivering the best experience possible for our students.”
As boba tea continues to capture the hearts and taste buds of students across the nation, its presence on college campuses is expected to grow. Botrista’s automated beverage technology makes it easier than ever for universities to meet this demand, providing students with consistent, high-quality drinks that can be enjoyed quickly and affordably.
“We are excited to be part of this trend and to help colleges like Dartmouth offer an innovative, student-friendly beverage program,” said Valentine. “Botrista is all about simplifying the complex, and we’re thrilled that Dartmouth students are now able to enjoy premium boba tea right on their campus, every day.”
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