Serving coffee is not necessarily done the same everywhere. Maybe you're waiting on tables with a decanter, slowly pouring someone a pour-over, or simply filling a mug from an airpot behind the counter. While there are many ways to serve coffee, not all these ways will be effective for your restaurant. It's important to have the right coffee equipment to set your staff up for success when serving customers. So, let's determine which coffee vessel is best for your restaurant.
First, ask yourself two questions:
1. How many pots of coffee do you want to make a day?
When shopping for a coffee pot, one of the first things to determine is how much coffee you want it to hold. You don't want to buy a coffee pot that is too small, or you will constantly have to make a new pot, possibly making your customers wait or disrupting your staff in the middle of a task. On the other hand, you don't want to buy a coffee pot that is too big, otherwise it may go to waste at the end of the day. Finding an appropriate sized coffee pot can help you save time and money in your restaurant.
2. How do you want to use the coffee vessel?
Depending on the restaurant, a coffee vessel will be used in many different ways. Three common ways coffee vessels can be used are: handheld, self-service, or behind the counter. Identify which way your business wants to use the coffee pot to determine the vessel to purchase:
Handheld: Coffee Decanter
If you are working in a diner-styled restaurant, you are most likely using a handheld coffee pot, otherwise known as a decanter. This makes it easy for staff to walk around the restaurant filling customers cups throughout the meal, or allowing customers to have a small pot on their table so they can help themselves. Depending on the size of your restaurant will help determine how many decanters you will need.
Cups Served (1.9 Liters): 5 12 oz. cups
Heat Retention: Vacuum Insulated, 4–6 hours
Self-Service: Coffee Airpot
If you are working in a casual coffee shop, or a stop-and-go shop, airpots are a great serving vessel. Simply make a coffee station or bar, where people can help themselves to coffee by a simple push of the lever. Learn how to setup a coffee station with multiple airpots here.
Cups Served (3 Liters): 8-9 12oz. cups
Heat Retention: Vacuum Insulated, 4–6 hours
Behind the Counter: Thermal Container
Feeling drowned from the rushes of people coming through your cafe? It may be time to invest in a thermal container. If you are serving people from behind-the-counter and constantly running out of coffee, a thermal container will keep your coffee hot, and serve multiple people before running low.
*Large capacity airpots can also work great for behind the counter service.
Cups Served (7.5 Liters): 21 12oz. cups
Heat Retention: Vacuum Insulated, 4–6 hours
Other ways to serve coffee, not mentioned earlier, are by using a french press or pour over. These serving methods are more commonly used for one or two people, not a group of people.
There are multiple ways to serve coffee, and these three are the most-common for high-volume settings. When thinking about purchasing your next coffee pot, ask yourself theses two main questions: How many pots of coffee do you want to make a day? and How are you using your coffee vessel? By investing in the right serving vessel, it will not only help your staff and restaurant run more efficiently, but also save you time and money.