In any place in the world there is no restaurant, cafe or bar where an ice machine is not used. They are an integral part of equipment in any business and therefore must be chosen with care if you want to satisfy your customers or clients every time.
Ice generators provide the necessary amount of ice needed for the daily work of any business serving cold foods and beverages. They produce and store ice for commercial kitchens, and because of the attached water source and freezing system, they can produce large quantities of ice quickly and easily over a 24-hour period.
For example, if you open a new bar, one of the many important considerations that you should think about is ice machines. There are different types of ice machines on the market, and each of them provides a different type of ice that is suitable for different drinks. The first and most popular type of ice will be full cube or full cubic ice. They have a large surface area and slowly melt, so that the drinks stay cold longer, making them ideal for whiskey, Scotch and cocktail drinks.
The next ice type will be a semi-cube or semi-boxed ice, which can be more tightly packed into glasses, therefore it displaces more liquid. It also allows the drink to be super-chilled, so it is best used for cocktails and blended coffee drinks. On the other hand, the flakes of ice are ground to make them packaged for displays. They are commonly found at seafood shows in supermarkets or products, as well as in salad bars.
The same applies to another type - native ice, which is a favorite among customers, because it is chewing and keeps the taste and color of drinks longer. Other less well-known types of ice include crescent and gourmet ice, which makes your drinks too watered and gives them greater visual appeal.
The following consideration will be the types of compressors that are of three types: air-cooled, water-cooled and remote-controlled. Most bar owners recommend using air-cooled compressors, which are the least expensive because they do not require too much water and are easy to install.
On the other hand, water-cooled compressors do not affect the ambient temperature and use less electricity. They are also calm, so it doesn’t disturb your business with annoying noises. Last but not least, remote compressors are the most expensive, with the most costly installation and maintenance, although it is quiet and does the same effective work as the others. It will just depend on if you have a budget for this.
Then you need to think about what size ice machines will be best for you. If you are just new to the business, you need to make your assessments to include potential business growth, but if you created a business, you will need to correctly calculate your needs for ice per day and buy which can meet your capacity requirements. You must also take into account peak times so that you do not run out of ice when you need it most. To calculate your ice needs, you need to consider the number of people you serve, where you will place your ice machine and the type of ice you need.
Last, but not least, consider whether you want to use ice bins or dispensers. Again, this will depend on your need for ice during working hours, so if you store too much ice, it can melt and be wasted if your customer traffic does not match ice production. Too little, and you risk that your car will break down because it is difficult for her to maintain balance. If your ice is on an as-needed basis, then dispensers are your best bet, as it will dispense ice only when necessary. It is best used for hotels and medical facilities.
