Equipping a cocktail bar: the essential pro gear
Beer tap, glasswasher, ice machine, bottle cooler: every piece of pro equipment behind a high-performing bar, from speakeasy to brasserie.
The refrigerated bottle cooler under the counter is the bartender's main workstation. Pick a 2 to 3 swing-door model with right-hand opening, climate class 5 (up to 40 °C ambient) and forced-air cooling to keep beer and soft drinks at 3-4 °C even at peak service. A 4-door bottle cooler covers a 15-metre bar without breaks.
The pro beer tap is sized to throughput. A 1-line tap suits occasional service (up to 10 kegs per month). Beyond that, a 2 or 3-line tap with a chilled column and python keeps draft beer flowing without recovery time. Don't forget the maintenance: monthly descale and a properly purged keg change are the keys to a consistent quality.
The ice machine is the most underestimated piece of bar equipment. Reckon about 1 kg of ice per customer per hour for cocktails. A 25 to 40 kg / 24 h output covers most 50 to 80-seat bars. Pick the gourmet (hollow) format for infused cocktails and the full cube for serving by the glass.
The pro glasswasher is non-negotiable. A short cycle (1 min 30 to 2 minutes) guarantees clean, dry glasses returned in under 3 minutes in service. Pick a model with a built-in softener in hard-water areas to avoid white marks and protect the heating elements. A pre-rinse spray and 400 × 400 mm square baskets complete the setup.
Frequently asked questions
How much electrical power for a complete pro bar?
For a bar with a 3-line tap, 40 kg / 24 h ice machine, glasswasher and refrigerated bottle cooler: plan a three-phase 32 A supply minimum, about 12 kW usable. Beyond that, add a wine cellar or display cabinet.
What temperature for keg beer storage?
Kegs should be kept between 2 and 5 °C, ideally in a dedicated fermentation cellar. Glass temperature is achieved by a python chilled to -2 °C in the tap column, bringing beer to 3-4 °C at the faucet.
Do I need a softener for the glasswasher?
Yes as soon as water exceeds 15 °fH (15 French degrees of hardness). In hard-water zones (Île-de-France, South-East), a built-in softener in the glasswasher avoids marks and triples the lifespan of the heating elements.