A chai & tea station needs roughly 2m × 2m of floor space per counter, one dedicated 16A power socket per espresso machine, water access within 20 metres, and loading access for setup 90 minutes before service.
- ●2m × 2m per counter
- ●One 16A socket per machine
- ●Water within 20m
- ●90 minutes setup time
At a glance: the numbers that matter
Start here. These four figures answer most of what planners ask us in the first phone call about a chai & tea station, and the rest of this guide explains how each one moves.
- Counter footprint
- 2m × 2m
- Level floor, plus a metre of queue clearance
- Power per machine
- 16A
- Dedicated socket — never shared with lights or sound
- Water access
- Within 20m
- Tap preferred; we carry drums as backup
- Load-in window
- 90 minutes
- Service lift or ramp for the machine case
In short: a counter needs 2m × 2m of level floor, one dedicated 16A socket per espresso machine, water within 20 metres, lift or ramp access, and a 90-minute setup window before first serve. Everything else travels with our crew.
Venue requirement checklist
Send this table to your venue or facilities manager as it is. Every line is something that has delayed a load-in at least once, and the last row is everything you do not have to think about, because it travels with our crew.
| Requirement | What a counter needs | Why it matters | Arranged by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor space | 2m × 2m of level floor per counter | Baristas work both sides and queues need a metre of clearance | Venue |
| Power | One dedicated 16A socket per espresso machine | Circuits shared with lighting or sound trip mid-service | Venue |
| Water | Tap or drum access within 20 metres | Machines are refilled right through service | Venue (we carry drums) |
| Access | Service lift or ramp for the machine case | Stairs add 30–40 minutes to setup | Venue |
| Setup window | 90 minutes before first serve | Machines need 20 minutes to reach brew temperature | Both |
| Waste | Two bins within reach of the counter | Cups and spent grounds build up fast at peak | Both |
| Everything else | Brass kettles & kulhads, Chai wala in ethnic attire, Snacks pairing option | No venue equipment or staff required | Barista Station |
Outdoor and lawn venues add two lines: shade or a canopy, and a stated generator capacity so machines can be sized correctly. Hotels and convention centres usually need vendor passes — send us their vendor policy and we complete the paperwork.
The checklist
Share this with your venue manager:
- Floor space: 2m × 2m per counter, level surface
- Power: dedicated 16A socket per machine (no extension chains)
- Water: tap or drum access within 20 metres
- Access: service lift or ramp for equipment
- Setup window: 90 minutes before first serve
- Waste: bin space for cups and grounds
Outdoor and lawn venues
We bring a canopy and can run from a generator — share generator capacity in advance.
Hotels and convention centres
Most hotels require vendor passes; send us their vendor policy and we'll handle the paperwork.
How to get your venue ready for a chai & tea station
Here is the sequence we walk clients through, in the order the decisions actually have to be made.
- 1
Choose the counter spot on the guest flow
Step 1On the path between the hall and the lounge, never tucked into a corner. Leave a metre of clearance in front so the queue does not block a walkway at peak.
- 2
Get the power confirmed in writing
Step 2One dedicated 16A socket per espresso machine, on a circuit not shared with stage lighting or sound. This is the single most common cause of mid-service interruptions at Indian venues.
- 3
Sort water and waste
Step 3A tap within 20 metres is ideal; otherwise tell us and drums travel with the crew. Add two bins within reach of the counter — cups and spent grounds build up faster than hosts expect.
- 4
Book the load-in window and passes
48 hours beforeA 90-minute setup window, service lift or ramp access, and vendor passes if it is a hotel or convention centre. Send us their vendor policy and we complete the paperwork.
- 5
Share a floor plan or a few photos
48 hours beforePhotos are usually enough to spot a problem before the day. Site visits are only needed above roughly 1,000 guests, or for unusually complex multi-level venues.
Frequently asked questions
What if the venue has no water point?
What does the venue need to provide for a chai & tea station?
What if the venue has no water point nearby?
Can you run from an extension cord?
How we set these venue requirements
These are operator numbers, not market research. 5,000+ events and 2.5M+ cups since 2016, across 60+ cities, is the dataset behind this page — which also means the numbers carry our own assumptions, listed plainly below.
- ●Requirements written from load-in experience across hotels, convention centres, lawns and farmhouses
- ●The power specification reflects the fault that most often interrupts service
- ●Setup window measured from arrival to first calibrated shot, including access delays
- ●The arranged-by column reflects who genuinely controls each item at an Indian venue
What the quoted rate includes
- Brass kettles & kulhads
- Chai wala in ethnic attire
- Snacks pairing option
- Herbal tea selection
What it excludes
- 18% GST, invoiced separately on every booking
- Travel, transport and stay for venues outside city limits, charged at cost
- Venue-supplied floor space, 16A power points and water access
- Overtime beyond the booked service window, billed hourly
- Menu items outside the agreed list, and print production beyond the standard counter wrap
Who this guide is for
- Hosts who have to send a vendor requirement list to a venue or facilities manager
- Venue and banquet teams checking what a live counter actually needs from them
- Planners working with lawns, rooftops, farmhouses or generator power
Planning an event? Let us handle the coffee.
Get a menu and per-guest quote within 2 hours. Call +91 96731 98867.
Published 7 June 2026 · last reviewed 7 June 2026 by the Barista Station events team.
