How to Choose the Right Ice and Beverage Dispenser for Your Restaurant

Having the proper dispensers and equipment will make beverage service simpler and more profitable for your business. When it comes to choosing the right ice and beverage dispensers for your restaurant, these are some of the things you should consider...

While most people may come to your establishment for the food, your beverage service plays an equally important part in the dining experience. Having cold drinks available for customers on a hot day makes your establishment that much more enjoyable to be in. Having the proper dispensers and equipment will make beverage service simpler and more profitable for your business. When it comes to choosing the right ice and beverage dispensers for your restaurant, these are some of the things you should consider:

What Type of Ice Will You Need?

Crushed, cube, or nugget; your ice choice can make all the difference in presentation and serving. Cubed ice is the most commonly used in restaurants, as it melts more slowly than other types, and can cool a beverage quickly. Since it melts slowly, cubed ice can reduce ice consumption and waste, therefore saving you money in the long run. Crushed ice is perfect for cocktails and soda. It gives the drink a perfect amount of cooling without watering it down. Nugget ice is chewable and small in size, making it perfect for smoothies, blended drinks, and other cold beverages.

What Type of Beverages Will You Serve?

You will have to decide what kinds of beverages your restaurant will have available. Most establishments will want to start by serving a variety of sodas. If you have a health-conscious clientele, juices and teas may also be a good addition. If you want to serve alcohol, you will have to decide what types of beer and wine to provide. Each type of beverage will have different dispensers, gas systems, and valves, so planning ahead is integral before selecting your machines.

Wine

When it comes to serving wine, today’s market offers you many great options. Kegged wine is becoming increasingly popular because it stays fresh longer and is easy to serve. If you want to have kegged wine, you will have to determine if your space is better suited for long-draw or short-draw systems. This will depend on how your bar is set up and where you have space available for the kegs. Tabletop dispensers are also available if you need to save space. The table top option, which uses traditional glass bottles, keeps the bottles cool and dispenses the wine using a tap. Tabletop dispensers allow opened bottles to stay fresh for weeks.

Beer

Craft beers are becoming increasingly popular, and different varieties have different needs. Most beer dispensers utilize CO2, but certain draft beers like stouts require a mixed beer gas consisting of nitrogen and CO2.

How Many Beverages Will You Serve?

Once you have decided the type of beverages you will have available, you should choose how many varieties of each you will carry. Carbonated beverage dispensers can have up to 12 flavor valves in one machine. If you also want to offer teas and juices, you will need separate dispensers for each flavor of those as well. You will have to decide how many beer taps to have, and how many kinds of wine to make available.

Other Features

Modern beverage equipment can come with a lot of great special features. Think about what added benefits could make beverage service easier for your restaurant and staff. Features like portion controls, push-button operation, self-serve features, and built-in splash guards can make a huge difference in how smoothly your beverage service operates. Your restaurant’s budget, size, and electrical and plumbing requirements should also be taken into consideration.

No matter what you decide to have on your beverage menu, Tognazzini Beverage Service can help you choose the right equipment for your restaurant. Contact us today with any questions you may have 800-549-1144 or use our convenient Contact form.

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