Commercial beverage coolers are pivotal for maintaining the quality and freshness of drinks. Achieving the perfect temperature is key to preserving beverages effectively. Here, we’ll delve into the ideal temperature settings for commercial beverage coolers, ensuring your drinks remain fresh and enticing for customers.
What Temperature Should a Commercial Beverage Cooler Be?
Commercial beverage coolers are everywhere. We find them in grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations. While each of these coolers are used to ensure that the beverages inside them are kept fresh and tasting great, that does not mean that they should all be stored at the same temperature.
There are some ground rules: Federal Law requires that commercial fridges that house food products must be at least 40 degrees for refrigerators and 0 degrees for freezers. However, the industry standard typically dictates that the optimal temperatures should be between 35 and 38 degrees for commercial refrigerators and as low as -15 degrees for freezers.
What is the Correct Storage Temperature for Beverages?
Many factors dictate the appropriate temperature for commercial beverage refrigerators. A restaurant or alcohol distributor that offers an expansive variety of wines and beers might use their beverage coolers differently.
- Beer & Liquor: Beer is best served between 44 and 50 degrees, whiskey is best served at 59 degrees, whereas vodka is better when chilled to 44 degrees.
- Wine & Champagne: The best temperatures for wines depend on the type of wine itself, with red wines typically best between 60 and 64 degrees, white wines between 50 and 53 degrees, and champagne best between 46 and 50 degrees.
- Soft Drinks & Sodas: Optimal temperatures for soft drinks and sodas are between 40 – 42 degrees.
- Juice & Energy Drinks: The ideal storage temperature for juices and energy drinks typically ranges from 40-46 degrees.
What Factors Influence Ideal Temperatures for Commercial Beverage Coolers?
Variables such as beverage type, carbonation, and storage time impact ideal temperature settings, particularly in commercial beverage coolers:
- Beverage Type: Different beverages have distinct temperature requirements for storage and serving. Wines often demand cooler temperatures for long-term storage to maintain their flavor profiles, while specific variations between reds, whites, and sparkling wines necessitate precise temperature control. Beers have varying ideal serving temperatures based on their style, impacting taste and aroma. Non-alcoholic drinks, like juices or sodas, might also require specific cooling to preserve taste and freshness.
- Carbonation Levels: Carbonated beverages, such as sodas or sparkling drinks, maintain their effervescence and taste best when stored at cooler temperatures. Higher temperatures accelerate carbonation loss, affecting taste and the overall drinking experience. Maintaining a consistent, lower temperature helps retain carbonation and ensures a more satisfying beverage.
- Storage Duration: The duration of storage plays a crucial role in determining the ideal temperature. Short-term storage might allow for some flexibility in temperature control, but for longer durations, maintaining a stable and appropriate temperature becomes imperative. For instance, wines intended for aging or cellaring require specific and consistent temperatures to mature gracefully without compromising quality.
These factors guide temperature settings in commercial beverage refrigerator, catering to diverse beverage needs. Precise temperature control ensures that beverages maintain their quality, taste, and characteristics, meeting customer expectations and preserving the integrity of the beverages being stored and served.
How to Maintain The Ideal Temperature In a Display Fridge for Drinks?
Knowing the best temperature for the drinks inside your commercial beverage cooler is only half the work; it is also important to know how to maintain those temperatures. Some tips to help ensure that your fridge stays at the right temperature include:
- Avoiding overcrowding your commercial beverage cooler
- Try to limit the number of times you open the doors
- Do not place the refrigerator in direct sunlight or near heating or cooling vents
- Never leave the fridge door open longer than needed
- Avoid stocking the fridge with warm products
- Use a thermometer to help monitor the internal temperature of the refrigerator
What Can You Do To Make Your Beverage Refrigerator More Efficient?
There are several things you can do to make sure that your commercial beverage cooler runs its best.
- Periodically taking the time to clean your unit of accumulated dust and debris is a great way to make sure that airflow is unobstructed, and that the various parts of the cooler are clean.
- Avoid overstocking because too much product in your fridge can inhibit airflow and make certain areas of the cooler colder than others.
- It is also a good idea to set aside some time every few weeks to inspect all of the different parts of your display fridge for drinks.
- Is the seal on the door in good shape?
- Are the door gaskets intact?
- Are there signs of cracking along the cooler walls?
If any of these aspects are not working correctly, then cool air may be escaping, making your refrigerator work overtime to maintain the ideal temperature.
How To Troubleshoot If Your Beverage Refrigerator Fails To Meet Ideal Temperature
If you notice that your commercial beverage refrigerator is not operating as it should be, there are some things you can do to identify the problem.
- If the refrigerator is not cold enough, you may want to double-check that your temperature gauge is operating correctly. If it is, determine if the fridge is overstocked, if it is being opened too frequently, or if the room it is housed in is too hot. If that doesn’t seem to be the problem, try giving your cooler a good cleaning, and while you do that, make sure all the parts, including the compressor and condenser coils, are operating correctly.
- Remove any ice buildup and make sure the doors close properly. Too much ice or an improperly sealed door might be the reason why your cooler struggles to maintain a constant temperature. Finally, double-check that the power outlets are functional and there is no fraying in the power cord.
- One last thing: if your commercial beverage cooler was recently installed, there may have been a mistake with the installation process.
Powers Equipment is Your Trusted Partner for Commercial Beverage Coolers
Not yet one of our valued customers? We’d love the opportunity to change your mind! We are well versed in sliding glass door and swing door beverage refrigerator systems with customizable accessories like external thermometers for maintaining the perfect internal temperature. We are always happy to explain what our products can do for you! Contact us today to learn more about what a commercial beverage cooler can do for your business.
At Powers Equipment, we don’t just offer exceptional commercial beverage refrigerators. We want to build a relationship that lasts the lifetime of your beverage cooler. This means that we are always available to work with our customers to identify issues that may arise and help you resolve them. We are always happy to come to your business and provide maintenance work, and repairs or give general advice about your refrigerator. This level of care is why our customers continue to rely on us to supply them with beverage display refrigerator.