Bar Equipment Checklist

Having the proper bar equipment is essential to operating a successful bar. It can be difficult to know exactly what types of bar equipment you will really need. Serv-U recommends the following types of bar equipment to all bar owners: a commercial bar sink, a commercial bar blender, a commercial ice machine and a commercial back bar cooler.

Commercial bar sinks are available in a variety of sizes and can feature up to four sink bowls. The size of commercial bar sink you purchase should be based on the average number of patrons served in your bar at one time. The right size commercial bar sink will allow you to easily and efficiently clean and rinse bar glasses.

A quality commercial bar blender is often considered a bartender’s best friend. There are a variety of drinks that can be prepared in a commercial bar blender, and by adding frozen drinks to your menu you can appeal to a wider group of customers. Beverages made with fresh fruit purees can also be made with commercial bar blenders, allowing you to serve terrific, fresh-tasting drinks.

No bar can operate successfully without a reliable commercial ice machine. Whether you choose a compact, self-contained or undercounter commercial ice machine you will want to make sure that the commercial ice machine’s daily production rate can meet the demand of your bar. Serv-U recommends that you allow for 3 pounds of ice, per person, in a bar setting.

A back bar cooler allows you to keep refrigerated bottled and canned beverages, beverage mixers and fresh garnishes within easy reach at all times. Back bar coolers are available with solid or glass doors. One benefit to glass door coolers is that they can offer an attractive way to display product for your customers. A glass door cooler can help to reduce energy costs, as your employees can see the contents of the back bar cooler without having to open the doors of the cooler. 

As you setup and begin to operate your bar, you may find that additional types of bar equipment are needed to optimize your bar’s performance. A few other pieces of bar equipment that you may find beneficial are wine coolers, frozen beverage machines, draft beer dispensers and bottle coolers.

Bar Blender Basics

Below are some points to consider when purchasing one of the most essential pieces of bar equipment, the bar blender. Commercial blenders offer many features for making custom frozen drinks. Using programmable controls, speed/power sequences, variable speed pulse options, automatic ramping and shut-off, as well as digital readouts, commercial blenders should deliver smooth and consistent beverages with little operator assistance.

Just a few things to consider before purchasing a commercial blender:

Horsepower – Choose a blender with at least a 2-HP motor, a blender with less horsepower will chop the ice into irregular sized pieces.

Controls – Blenders that produce perfect frozen drinks feature advanced electronics that automate the duration, speed, sequence and power level of each blending step.

Customization Capabilities – Blenders that offer custom programming provide consistent blending, while freeing-up busy bartenders.

Material and Design – For superior performance, a professional blender should have blades with sealed ball-bearing assemblies of the highest-grade stainless steel that maintains a honed, unbreakable edge, regardless of the hardness of ice or frozen ingredients. For safety, select units equipped with overheating protection. Blender base units with seamless, touch-sensitive panels offer protection from harmful bacterial growth and are easy to clean.

Containers – Blender containers should be built to fill to capacity and still blend drinks well. They should be tough, yet easy to clean. Polycarbonate is the industry-preferred material because it’s durable and ingredients can be seen while blending.

Drink Volume – The number and types of drinks that are served should be considered when purchasing blender equipment. If the volume will exceed 100 drinks per day, a pre-programmed portion ice shaver blender should be purchased so that ice is added automatically, preferably by ingredient weight. If serving 50-100 drinks per day, try a pre-programmed machine blending station for fast and efficient service. If you are making very thick frozen drinks, make sure the blender container is designed for extreme blending conditions.

Choosing the Right Bar Equipment Part 2 – Bar Blenders

Choosing the right bar equipment is essential to your business. In a series of articles I am going to focus on what I feel are the four most essential categories of bar equipment: bar refrigeration, bar blenders, bar sinks and beer equipment.

In this second bar equipment article let’s discuss bar blenders. Commercial grade bar blenders are designed to efficiently and effortlessly prepare frozen drinks, daiquiris and smoothies. Most bar blenders feature sealed motors for minimal maintenance and a single blade assembly at the bottom of the mixing container. Many bar blenders are available with either a stainless steel or a polycarbonate mixing container.   

Pre-programmable bar blenders are one piece of bar equipment that will save valuable time and money. Bar blenders with a pre-programmed shut-off device allow bartenders to attend to other tasks behind the bar while drinks are mixing. Optional bar equipment accessories for bar blenders such as noise-reducing shields ensure that your employees and customers can hold a conversation while the bar blender is operating. 

Related Articles:
Choosing the Right Bar Equipment Part 1: Bar Refrigeration
Choosing the Right Bar Equipment Part 3: Bar Sinks
Choosing the Right Bar Equipment Part 4: Beer Equipment