In this section you will find professional bar equipment organised by type of service: snacks and panini, smoothies and juices, cocktails, coffee bar, cooling and ice, and washing. These are machines and accessories from Fimar, Robot Coupe, Forcar Refrigeration, Hendi, The Bars and Paderno.
What you need to equip a bar
1. Snacks and panini
Fimar and Hendi panini grills come in cast iron or glass-ceramic, single or double, with smooth or ribbed plates. For cooking burgers, eggs and vegetables there is the gas or electric fry top. Refrigerated or heated snack display cases show off panini and sandwiches, and sauce dispensers serve mayonnaise and ketchup in consistent portions.
2. Smoothies, juices and fresh squeezes
Professional blenders from Robot Coupe, Fimar and Hamilton Beach make milkshakes and smoothies in volume, including models with a sound enclosure. For freshly squeezed juice there are electric and lever citrus juicers, including ones for pomegranates. For fruit and vegetable juices you will find the Robot Coupe J 80 and J 100 juice extractors and professional centrifugal juicers.
3. Cocktails
The heart of a cocktail bar is the workstation: in cocktail stations you will find insulated, built-in and complete catering drink stations from The Bars. Around them you need shakers, bartender accessories such as strainers and tool bags, cocktail glasses such as tiki mugs and Moscow mule mugs, and bar mats for the counter. For soda water and cream there are stainless steel siphons.
4. Coffee bar
To steam milk you need professional milk jugs in 35, 50 and 75 cl sizes, in stainless steel or colours, from Ilsa, Motta and Hendi.
5. Cooling, wine and ice
Ice makers produce 22 to 122 kg of ice per 24 hours, and an ice crusher turns it into crushed ice for cocktails. For drinks there are drinks fridges and Forcar wine coolers, with temperatures between -2 and 18 °C depending on the model.
6. Washing
Fimar glass washers clean glasses and coffee cups with short cycles, and there are models with a detergent dispenser, water softener and drain pump.
How to choose the main equipment
| Equipment | What to look at | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Panini grill | Cast iron or glass-ceramic plate, smooth or ribbed | Cast iron for busy service, glass-ceramic for easier cleaning. Ribbed for grill marks on the bread, smooth for toasties and piadinas. |
| Blender | Jar capacity and noise level | For smoothies in volume you need 1.4–2 litre jars. A sound enclosure helps in small venues. |
| Citrus juicer | Type of fruit and volumes | Electric for freshly squeezed orange juice in volume; cast iron lever models also squeeze pomegranates. |
| Ice maker | Kg produced per 24 hours | Work out consumption on peak days and add a margin, especially if you serve cocktails. |
| Wine cooler | Temperature range | 5–18 °C for whites and reds; models that go below 5 °C keep sparkling wines and soft drinks cold. |
Equipment by type of bar
- Coffee bar: milk jugs, citrus juicer, panini grill, snack display case, glass washer.
- Cocktail bar: drink station, shakers, bartender accessories, bar mats, ice maker, ice crusher.
- Bar with a snack kitchen: fry top, double grills, hot plates, sauce dispensers.
- Wine bar: wine coolers and glasses and wine glasses.
To find out more, read the guide to bar mats and the one on professional glass washers. If you are unsure which model to choose, message us on WhatsApp at +39 333 687 8297.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you need to open a bar?
It depends on the type of bar. Generally you need a panini grill or a griddle for snacks, a refrigerated display case, a blender and a citrus juicer for drinks, an ice maker, a drinks fridge and a glass washer. For cocktails, add a drink station, shakers and bar tools.
Cast iron or glass-ceramic panini grill?
Cast iron holds heat well and suits a busy bar. Glass-ceramic heats evenly and is easier to clean. A ribbed plate leaves grill marks on the bread, while a smooth one suits toasties and piadinas.
How much ice should the ice maker produce?
Output is stated in kg of ice per 24 hours. To choose, work out your consumption on peak days and add a margin: a cocktail uses far more ice than a soft drink served by the glass. The range includes models from 22 to 122 kg.
What is a drink station?
It is the bartender's workstation: an insulated ice well with space for bottles and tools. There are countertop models, models built into the bar counter and complete catering stations with a speed rail for the most-used bottles.
Glass washer or dishwasher for a bar?
A glass washer has a smaller basket and short cycles, suited to glasses and coffee cups. If the bar also washes plates and cutlery, you need a dishwasher with a larger basket. Many models have a detergent dispenser and a drain pump.
How are shipping costs calculated?
Shipping costs depend on the weight of the goods and the delivery location, and are shown during checkout before payment.