What Equipment Do You Need for a Bar?
The equipment at a bar is just as important as the drinks served to customers. It not only allows professional bartenders to make beverages but it also equips them with quality tools that can make the experience of preparing drinks smooth and simple. Most bars stand as a full-service area in restaurants where the clientele can enjoy a cocktail with a meal at their table and payment is collected after they’ve finished. Others are known as limited service bars. This type of service requires customers to order and pay for their drink before they receive their cocktail, hard liquor, and other types of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
Whether you have an existing bar in a restaurant, a stand-alone establishment, or an at-home bar, here at JB Prince you’ll be able to find the perfect bar equipment needed to mix, pour, blend, and serve. If your goal is to become a professional server, chef, or mixologist, learn about the equipment needed to have an exceptional collection.
Cocktail Shaker
Blend cocktails and drinks efficiently with an essential piece to add to any collection, the cocktail shaker. This equipment comes with two pieces and set options, used together by filling either side and then safely securing it before shaking. The cocktail shaker is also great for making drinks cold at a fast pace by filling the shaker with ice. Having this for bars increases agility for any bartender during the busiest times.
Cocktail Strainer
To make sure you’re pouring quality drinks without mishap, there are two types of cocktail strainers you can choose from. The Hawthorne cocktail strainer has a flat disk with coiled springs affixed to it to prevent ice cubes and other solids like fruit to pour into a drink. This type of strainer can be used on mixing glasses or shakers. The Julep cocktail strainer is a traditional style that was first used on mint juleps to prevent mint and ice from falling into the drink. It essentially does the same thing as a Hawthorne strainer but its structure is simple and resembles a slotted spoon placed inside the glass you’re pouring from. (Source: Serious Eats)
Bar Jiggers
Known to pour accurate amounts of alcohol into a drink, bar jiggers (or simply jiggers) are commonly shaped like an hourglass with two measuring amounts on either side. This tool is one of the most important ones to have in your collection to provide consistency across every pour. To establish the jigger size you’ll get, it’s best to first determine the amount of spirits you want to use in your drinks. We carry them as big as 2 oz with some featuring inner markings for lesser amounts. They come in materials like stainless steel so they’re easier to clean and maintain without getting damaged.
If you’re a chef looking for higher measuring capacities for recipes in the kitchen, or if you're preparing a drink in a pitcher, there are plastic measuring cups that can be used. If you own a restaurant or bar we suggest carrying all sizes in your collection so you never run out of choices.
Zester and Peeler
Zesters and peelers are multi-use tools used in the kitchen as well as a bar to add a hint of citrus and more to foods and beverages. These utensils are usually used with oranges, lemons, and limes. By removing the zest from the fruit you can infuse a variety of cocktails and beverages or top them off. For presentations that require a decorative touch, you can use peelers that cut peels of these fruits smoothly with the featured slotted metal blade.
A bar is one of the first locations customers see or a gathering area in the home after a meal. Complimenting this friendly ambiance with exceptional drink service begins with having the finest bar equipment to make the experience unforgettable. Whether you’re a chef or professional bartender, you can trust that you’ll invest in quality products at affordable price points at JB Prince. The Barfly Cocktail Line and the Cocktail Kingdom Line are great places to start.
