There is nothing quite like having a nice cold drink on a hot day, especially in temperate climates such as ours. And we should know, because we have all been there, craving for a drink to cool us down and the disappointment of holding in our hands a drink that's not cold enough. By serving cold drinks, you are also looking at an easy way to boost impulse sales at your establishment.
A refrigerated beverage dispenser would ensure that your drinks are always perfectly chilled. But with so many varieties available in the market, choosing one can be a daunting task.
Here are some things to know about these dispensers that keep drinks cold all day long.
First of all, it is important to know where and how the unit will be used. You will then need to consider how much available space you have and the drink flavors you would be serving. It is necessary to know your target audience and to consider if you have the manpower to monitor and refill as needed.
By being aware of the drinks you wish to serve, you can ensure that you only serve the best drink quality to your customers.
Size
The models range from having one drink bowl to as much as four drirnk bowls, giving you the option to provide a wide variety of drinks. This also depends on how much counter space you can dedicate to your beverage dispenser. These can be as narrow as 7-inches wide, and are available in sizes as large as 28-1/2 inches wide.
Additionally, it is also important to consider the bowl size. They come in a range of capacities, from as small as 1 gallon to as large as 5.4 gallons. To better help you decide the size you need, you can measure this by the amount of sales of each drink you expect and how often you will be able to refill the bowls. S
Another important measurement is the size of the cups you plan to use. Cup clearance on juice drink dispensers can range from rom 7 to 11-inches high, so it is imperative to make sure that the largest size cup you plan to offer will fit between the pouring valve and drip tray.
Mixing Method
As they are an incredibly versatile equipment, it can serve a wide selection of drinks, including dairy, carbonated, or alcoholic, depending on your model.
Broadly speaking, they can be categorized by the two types of standard methods for mixing drinks.
One type, called a 'bubbler', uses a spray mechanism to move product from the bottom of the bowl to the top. This will create what looks like a fountain, which is a dynamic, always-moving display that could attract customers. This also works to circulate the product to keep it mixed and chilled evenly. It is ideal for non-foaming, low-sediment products such as pulpless drinks, powdered, concentrated, or syrup-based drink mixes.
The other type, utilizes impellers and agitators that spin in the bottom of the bowl to mix the drinks.This type is suiltable for dairy and high-sediment drinks sich as fresh juice. Drinks that produce froth when mixed too quickly, such as high-pulp orange juice, coffee, tea and any product that contains milk are recommended for use in a dispenser with an agitator. Some even feature adjustable agitator speeds, so you can set the perfect mixing speed for your drinks.
Construction
Many dispensers feature clear polycarbonate bowls that allow the drink to be seen from all sides. These are often visible measurement markings on the bowl, making it simple to keep track of sales and knowing when to refill simple. This type of bowl is refrigerated from the bottom or through an ice core.
Some models have the bowls surrounded by a plastic casing that houses refrigeration components, allowing the drink to be cooled on three sides. This is more energy-efficient, and also means the blank side panels can be used for merchandising graphics. Most companies offer a few graphics options, or you can have yours custom-made.
All of the bowls are made of a clear polycarbonate, but base construction varies. Some models have an economical plastic base, while others feature stainless steel, which is more durable and easy to clean.
Another construction factor to consider is how easily the components of the drink dispenser are removed for cleaning. Some models require the user to reach down into the bottom of the bowl to remove it, while others have an easy bowl-release mechanism. The bowl, pour valve, and drip tray must be cleaned regularly, so choocsing a model which allows those pieces to be easily removed can help keep maintenance simple.
Other Considerations
Having the right voltage is also important as higher voltage means a faster recovery time. For example, a 220V machine will yield more product than a 120V unit in a shorter period of time. However, just because the voltage is doubled doesn’t mean that the output is doubled.
The output of your unit will vary depending on the manufacturer or the type of drink you’re making. Thicker drinks that contain dairy or alcohol will have a different output than a more liquid-y beverage like lemonade.
For more information, you can take a look at the specification sheets on the units you are considering to purchase .
