Beverage Dispensers

Increase revenues when you sell beverages with the right drink dispensers
By Jenni Simcoe, Writer Beverage dispensers can pump up sales in all kinds of businesses, not just in restaurants. Convenience stores, retail shops, hotels and lobbies can also benefit from drink dispensers. Beverage dispensing machines can be used to provide a service to your customers or to create an extra revenue source.
 

Beverage dispensing machines come in a variety of styles, depending on the type of beverage being served, and you may need several different types of drink dispensers to meet the needs of your customers. For instance, you may want to invest in:

1. Hot coffee vending dispensers.
2. Cold beverage dispensers, including soda dispensers, for serving sodas, juice, iced coffee or iced tea.
3. Blended beverage dispensers for smoothies or blended coffee drinks.
4. Liquor and beer dispensers for bars and sporting venues.

Cold beverage dispensers

Cold beverage dispensers come in different varieties, including soda dispensers for sodas and other dispensers for juice or iced tea.
Try: BigTray offers triple bowl cold beverage dispensers for juice, coffee or tea. Karma Inc. offers iced tea beverage dispensers and juice dispensers. Cuda Coffee offers iced tea and iced coffee brewers/dispensers from Bunn and Grindmaster. A variety of countertop and under the counter commercial soda dispensers are available from At Home Soda or from Manitowoc Beverage Equipment.

Blended beverage dispensers

Smoothies and blended coffee drinks have grown exponentially in popularity in recent years. Some blended beverage dispensers come in varieties that blend and dispense pre-measured servings; other blended beverage dispensers continually mix and dispense iced blended drinks.
Try: AAA Commercial Products offers commercial smoothie makers and blended beverage dispensers. Blendtec sells blenders that blend and dispense different flavored drinks in pre-programmable portions.

Thermal beverage dispensers

Hot coffee never goes out of style. Whether you're offering fresh brewed coffee as a courtesy to customers or making money on the cups of joe, thermal beverage servers keep it piping hot until dispensed.
Try: The Restaurant Source carries many thermal beverage dispensers, including coffee urns, air pots and insulated plastic coffee dispensers. Able Kitchen has BrewMatic two-hopper gourmet coffee dispensers for cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate and gourmet coffee drinks.

Beer taps and liquor and beer dispensers

Beer dispensers allow bars to serve draft beer, which can be more efficient than serving beer in bottles.
Try: Berg Company carries a variety of beer taps and wine and soda draft beverage dispensers. BeverageFactory.com is a supplier of keg beer pumps, beer taps and regulators that keep CO2 and nitrogen levels correct. Perlick manufactures direct draw beer dispensers, glass frosters and beer systems for restaurants, sports arenas and breweries.

Coffee vending dispensers

Coffee vending dispensers allow you to offer brewed coffee to customers without having to provide staff to make the coffee and take payment. The customer can put change or bills into the machine, press their selection and have hot coffee in a manner of seconds.
Try: Embassy Vending provides coffee vending dispensers that feature six different product compartments and that can be set to charge a variety of prices you determine. Global Vending Group has a good variety of coffee vending dispensers.

• Look for beverage dispensing machines that combine brewing and dispensing to cut down on valuable counter space.
• Air pot thermal beverage dispensers allow you to brew coffee directly into the glass lined thermal pot and put the lid on for customers to help themselves.
• Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions and clean drink dispensers regularly. They can be a breeding ground for germs and mold.