CLASSIFICATION OF BAR TOOLS AND

EQUIPMENT

Bartending is more than pouring a drink into a glass.How good a bartender you are will depend on a lot of things, like your social skills, the actual bar you work from, your looks, but mainly your skill. And there is no such thing like skill without tools...

Bar tools and small equipment are classified according to their use.

The 1st group is used for mixing and pouring.

The 2nd group for preparing condiments and garnishing.

The 3rd group for serving.

Small Wares for Mixing and Pouring

1) Bar spoon is a shallow spoon with a long handle, ideally made of stainless steel. The typical size is 25 to 28 cm. long. It is used for stirring drinks, either in a drinking glass or in a mixing cup.

2. The Bar Strainer is a round wire spring attached to a handle, the size if which fits the top of a shaker or mixing glass. The bar strainer prevents ice and fruit pulp from getting into the glass when the drink is poured.

3. Fruit Squeezer is a hand size gadget used to squeeze half of a lemon or orange at the same time straining the juice to remove pulps and pits.

4. The funnel is used to transfer a liquid from one container to another. It has a screen at the wide end to strain out pulp and other solid particles .Funnels must available in different size.

5. Hand Shaker is a combination of a mixing glass and a stainless steel container which is made to fit on top of the glass. This is used to shake drink ingredients together, with ice , as they are mixed.

The stainless steel container is also known as Mixing Cup, Mixing Steel, or Mixing Glass.

6. Ice Scoop is used to take ice from the ice bin. It usually comes in 177 to 236ml.size. The standard size make it easier for the bartender to measure the exact amount of ice needed for the mixed drinks.

Instead of the bare hands , ICE TONGS are used to pick up cubes of ice.

7. A jigger is used to measure out liquors for cocktails and other mixed drinks. It measures the liquor in ounces or fractions.

8. Mixing Glass is a heavy glass container in which drink ingredients are stirred together with ice. A typical mixing glass has a 473 to 503 ml. It should be heat treated and chip proof.

9. A pourer is a device that fits into neck of a beverage bottle. A pourer is attached to the liquor bottle once it is opened. Pourers come in three types; the slow, the semi fast, and the fast.

10. A muddler or muddling stick is a wooden tool with flat end used for crushing one substance into another. It designed like a small baseball bat.

Tools and Equipment for Garnishing

Garnishes and bar condiments are a part of the bartender’s standard supplies. Drinks are served garnished with fruits or other food items to enhance their merchandising appeal.

1. Bar Knife is a small or medium size

stainless steel knife, with blade always kept sharp to make the finished product look neat and appealing.

2. Cutting Board Ideally, the chopping board

should be made of rubber or plastic so that no particles of food may stick to the surface after washing.

3. Relish Fork Is a 25 cm thin two tined fork made

of stainless steel. This is used to pick small items such as pickles, cherries and olives from a narrow mouthed bottle.

4. Zester Also called router or stripper, is a

special cutting tool for making lemon twist.

This device peels away the yellow portion of the lemon skin to exclude the white portion underneath which imparts a bitter flavor.

SERVING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT The tools used for serving in the bar

. Stainless steel is the suggested material for bottle and can openers.

1. The wine opener Also known as the corkscrew It doesn't really matter what model

you use as long as you are skilled with it. But if you want to look professional, the "waiter's corkscrew" model is what you need.

2. The bottle opener The most used tool in a bar A bottle opener is crucial for

bartending.The one you use depends on personal preferences, but make sure you use it well.The most simple model is made of metal and is actually quite easy to use.

3. Coasters Unless you want to clean your bar every

other minute If you want to keep your bar clean and not

sticky, you need coasters.There are 2 types of coasters.One is made out of carton and can only be used so many times. The carton will become wet and eventually crack or tear. However, they are cheap, you can print advertising on them and you wouldn't mind when people take them home.

If you are a bartender in a more fancy and chique place, chances are they'll be using reusable coasters made of plastic, steel or any other material possible.

4. Swizzle sticks Swizzle sticks have 2 purposes.

Foremost, they are used to stir the drink. Secondly they are used to pick up pieces of fruit or olives from the drinks without using your fingers.

5. Serving Tray

6. Tip Tray