This article explores essential bar equipment tools every aspiring bartender needs.
So, you’re ready to step up your home bartending game, but where do you start? Sure, you’ve got the bottles, maybe even a few recipes in mind, but without the right tools, even the best ingredients can fall flat.
Whether you’re aiming to impress friends with your cocktail skills or just want to enjoy a perfectly mixed drink at home, having the right bar equipment is a game-changer. The tools you choose are just as important as the spirits you pour. Let’s explore the must-have bar equipment that will take your drinks from ordinary to extraordinary.
Essential Bar Equipment
Glassware
Martini Glasses
The martini glass is a staple in any bar and is instantly recognizable by its elegant, conical shape with a long stem. The design is not just for show; it helps keep the drink cold by minimizing contact with warm hands. Martini glasses are perfect for serving cocktails like martinis (obviously!) and other mixed drinks.
Red Wine Glasses:
The glasses have a larger, rounder bowl than white wine glasses, allowing the wine to breathe and the aromas to develop. The wider opening directs the wine to the back of the mouth, highlighting its rich and complex flavors. The long stem prevents your hand from warming the wine, keeping it at the perfect temperature.
White Wine Glasses:
White wine glasses are a must-have in any bar. They are designed to bring out the best in lighter, more delicate wines. Compared to red wine glasses, white wine glasses have a smaller bowl and a narrower opening. The design helps preserve the wine’s crispness and directs the wine to the front of the palate.
Beer Mugs
Beer mugs are classic bar essentials, perfect for serving a variety of beers. The sturdy, large glasses usually have a thick handle, making them easy to hold without warming the beer with your hands. The mug’s wide mouth allows for a generous head of foam, which helps release the beer’s aromas and enhances the drinking experience. The thick glass keeps the beer colder longer, ensuring every sip is refreshing.
Highball Glass:
A highball glass is a versatile and essential piece of barware, perfect for serving various mixed drinks and cocktails. Tall and slender, this glass typically holds between 8 to 12 ounces. It is ideal for drinks with a significant mixer like soda or tonic water. The highball glass is perfect for classics like gin and tonic, rum and coke, or a refreshing mojito.
Collins Glass:
Collins glasses are similar in shape to highball glasses but slightly taller and narrower. They typically hold about 10 to 14 ounces. They’re perfect for drinks like Tom Collins, which is where they get their name, as well as other fizzy and iced beverages.
Rocks (Double Old Fashioned) Glass:
Rocks glasses are essential for serving short drinks and spirits on the rocks. These sturdy, wide glasses have a thick base, making them perfect for cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Negroni, or a neat pour of whiskey.
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Coupe Glass:
The coupe glass is a charming and elegant addition to any bar. It is perfect for serving classic cocktails and champagne. With its shallow, broad bowl and short stem, the coupe glass has a vintage appeal that dates back to the early 20th century. It typically holds about 6 to 8 ounces, making it ideal for cocktails like the French 75, Daiquiri, or Sidecar. The wide bowl allows for easy garnishing and enhances the presentation of your drink.
Champagne Flute:
known for its tall, slender design, which enhances the experience of drinking sparkling wines. The flute’s narrow shape helps maintain the bubbles, ensuring your champagne or prosecco stays effervescent for longer. This design also concentrates the aromas at the top of the glass, enhancing the flavor with each sip.
Pilsner Glass:
A Pilsner glass is a classic choice for serving light and crisp beers, particularly Pilsners and other lagers. The glass is recognizable by its tall, slender shape with a slight taper towards the top. The elongated shape allows for easy gripping and keeps the beer cool longer.
Pint Glass:
A pint glass is a versatile and ubiquitous piece of barware. It is cylindrical with a slight taper towards the top and is commonly used for serving a wide range of beers and ales. Pint glasses come in various sizes but commonly hold around 16 ounces of liquid.
Hurricane Glass:
The hurricane glass is a distinctive piece of barware known for its curvaceous, tulip-like shape and generous size. Originally designed for serving the Hurricane cocktail, this glass typically holds around 16 to 20 ounces of liquid. Its wide bowl and narrow top make it ideal for layered and fruity cocktails.
Margarita Glass:
The margarita glass is an iconic piece of barware, recognizable by its wide, bowl-like shape with a long stem. The wide rim allows for salt or sugar to be added easily, complementing the sweet or savory flavors of the cocktail. The margarita glass adds a touch of fun and sophistication to your drinking experience.
Cocktail Shakers and Mixers
Crafting the perfect cocktail requires the right tools, shakers and mixers are essential to any well-stocked bar. Understanding the different types of shakers and mixers can elevate your mixology skills.
Types of Shakers
Boston Shaker
The Boston shaker consists of a large mixing tin and a slightly smaller mixing glass or tin.
It’s versatile, durable, and often favored by professional bartenders for its efficiency and ease of use.
Cobbler Shaker
The cobbler shaker is a three-piece shaker with a built-in strainer and a cap.
It’s user-friendly, making it ideal for home bartenders and beginners. The built-in strainer simplifies the shaking process.
French Shaker
Also known as a Parisian shaker, the French shaker is a two-piece shaker similar to the Boston shaker but with a more elegant design.
The equipment is stylish and easier to seal than the Boston shaker. It provides a good seal, preventing leaks.
Mixers and Blenders
Mixers and blenders are essential for crafting a wide range of cocktails. Here’s a look at some popular options:
Handheld Mixers
Handheld mixers are great for quickly blending small batches of cocktails or for emulsifying ingredients like eggs in a whiskey sour.
They are portable, easy to use, and ideal for quick mixes.
Electric Blenders
Electric blenders are powerful tools for creating frozen cocktails, pureeing fruits, and other ingredients.
The blenders can handle large quantities and produce smooth, consistent results.
Stand Mixers with Attachments
Stand mixers with cocktail-specific attachments can be used for whipping, mixing, and blending ingredients.
Bar Tools
A well-equipped bar requires various tools to ensure precision, creativity, and cocktail-making efficiency. Here’s a rundown of essential bar tools that every bartender should have in their arsenal:
Jiggers
Jiggers are small measuring devices that ensure accurate and consistent measurements of spirits and mixers.
They typically come in various sizes, the most common being the 1 oz and 2 oz double-sided jigger.
Muddlers
Muddlers crush and mix ingredients such as herbs, fruits, and sugar in the bottom of a glass.
Available in wood, plastic, or stainless steel, with flat or toothed ends.
Strainers
Strainers remove ice and other solids from mixed drinks as they are poured into serving glasses.
Common types include the Hawthorne strainer, the Julep strainer, and the fine mesh strainer.
Bar Spoons
Bar spoons are long-handled spoons used for stirring cocktails and layering drinks.
Then, have twisted handles for easy spinning and a flat end for muddling or measuring.
Peelers
Peelers are used to create garnishes like citrus twists or to peel fruit for muddling.
The main types include swivel peelers, Y-peelers, and channel knives are common varieties.
Zesters
Zesters are used to finely grate the outer skin of citrus fruits, adding aromatic zest to cocktails.
Microplane zesters are the most common type used in bars. they add intense citrus flavor and aroma without bitterness.
Ice Makers
An ice maker is a vital appliance in any bar, ensuring a constant supply of ice for cocktails. Available in various types such as;
- under counter models that fit neatly into bar setups
- portable units ideal for smaller spaces or events
- heavy-duty commercial machines for high-volume needs
- ice makers produce ice in cubes, flakes, or nuggets.
Kitchen Appliances for Bar Setup
When setting up a bar, the right kitchen appliances will ensure smooth operations and maintain the quality of drink preparation.
Here’s a comprehensive look at key kitchen appliances that complement a bar setup:
Refrigeration Units
Refrigeration units are crucial for storing perishable ingredients, bottled beverages, and garnishes at optimal temperatures.
Undercounter refrigerators fit into bar counters, while beverage coolers are designed specifically for chilling drinks.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers streamline cleaning by efficiently washing glassware, utensils, and bar tools.
Commercial dishwashers are designed for heavy use, while compact models are suitable for smaller bars.
Blenders and Food Processor
equipment are versatile tools for preparing ingredients such as fruits, herbs, and ice for cocktails.
High-performance blenders are ideal for crushing ice and blending smoothies. Food processors on the other hand are used for chopping and pureeing.
Ovens and Microwaves
Ovens and microwaves help prepare garnishes, heat appetizers, or quickly warm ingredients.
Convection ovens provide even cooking, while microwaves offer rapid heating.
Specialized Equipment for Advanced Bar Setup
incorporating specialized equipment enhances your ability to offer diverse, high-quality beverages.
Here’s a detailed overview of essential specialized equipment for advanced bar setups:
Draft Beer Systems
Draft beer systems dispense beer directly from kegs, ensuring freshness and optimal serving temperatures.
The dispensers maintain beer quality and enhance customer experience with variety and freshness.
Coffee Machines and Grinders
Coffee machines and grinders are essential for preparing specialty coffee beverages.
Espresso machines make espresso shots and steam milk, and coffee bean grinders grind coffee beans to different fineness levels.
Juicers
Juicers extract fresh juice from fruits and vegetables.
Citrus juicers for lemons, limes, oranges, and centrifugal or masticating juicers for other fruits and vegetables.
What famous bartenders have to say
Must-Have Tools
Agostino Perrone, the director of mixology at London’s Connaught Bar, often emphasizes the importance of a high-quality cocktail shaker.
“A well-balanced shaker is the cornerstone of any good bartender’s toolkit,” he says[1].
Salvatore Calabrese, known as the “Maestro” and one of the world’s leading bartenders, agrees. He also highlights the value of a jigger for precise measurements.
Mixing It Up with Unique Equipment
Rich Woods, also known as “The Cocktail Guy,” is celebrated for his innovative approach to mixology.
He often incorporates a smoking gun to infuse his cocktails with unique flavors.
“A touch of smoke can transform a drink, adding depth and complexity that surprises and delights,” Woods shares.
Practical Advice for Aspiring Bartenders
For those starting, Simone Ciambrone, a beverage assistant manager and former bartender at prestigious London bars, recommends beginning with the basics. A solid set of bar spoons, a muddler, and a fine strainer. “Mastering the fundamental tools will set a strong foundation for any bartender,” he advises.
High-Tech Innovations
Shannon Tebay, the head bartender at The Savoy Hotel’s American Bar, incorporates high-tech gadgets like centrifuges and rotovaps to create ultra-refined cocktails. “These tools allow me to push the boundaries of what’s possible in a drink,” Tebay explains.
