Choosing the Right Coffee Airpot
Last updated on Nov 2, 2009Nora FulmerAirpot coffee makers are designed to maintain a constant temperature through the use of insulation. Airpots can keep coffee or other beverages piping hot for hours without scorching or tainting their flavor.
Shop All Coffee AirpotsPush Button vs. Lever Airpots
When choosing an airpot for your business, there are several elements to consider. First, you have the option to choose between a push button or lever airpot. A push button model features a large button on its lid that you push down to dispense coffee. A lever airpot has a top handle that dispenses coffee when depressed.
Glass Liner vs. Stainless Steel Liner
Second, you can select an airpot with either a glass or stainless steel liner. Glass airpot liners do a better job of insulating your beverages and are less expensive, but they also break more easily. On the other hand, stainless steel liners are more costly and do not insulate as well as glass, but are far more durable.
Pros of Using Airpots
Airpot coffee makers can be an excellent choice for any restaurant, diner, coffee shop, convenience store, or catered event. Here are a few reasons why you might want to select an airpot for your business:
- Airpots keep coffee or other beverages hot and tasting fresh for longer periods of time than a decanter.
- Airpots are portable and can be placed on any flat surface.
- Airpots do not require a warmer and therefore save space in your kitchen or dining room.
- Because they have closed tops, airpots are less likely to spill and burn your servers or guests. Similarly, airpots prevent debris or dirt from falling into your coffee.
- You can choose to brew directly into the airpot or make beverages in your coffee maker and then pour them into an airpot.
Cons of Using Airpots
While there are many benefits of incorporating airpots into your foodservice establishment, there are also situations where airpots may not be the best option. Here are a few reasons why you might want to avoid airpots:
- Stainless steel-lined airpots can lose their vacuum seal if dropped too hard or too many times.
- Similarly, glass-lined airpots can break if dropped.
- Airpots are not translucent, which means guests or servers may have trouble identifying their contents.
- The process of dispensing coffee from an airpot could be difficult for children, senior citizens, or the disabled.
For more information, check out these coffee-related articles:
Related Resources
How to Clean a Coffee Maker
Running hard water through your coffee equipment can cause mineral buildup and calcify your heating elements. If you’re looking to get the most out of your commercial coffee maker, then it’s important to make sure it’s properly cleaned. Cleaning your coffee maker will prolong its life span and improve the taste of your coffee. Follow our video and step-by-step instructions to get your coffee maker back in top shape, and don't forget to set up a water filtration system for your coffee equipment to cut down on mineral buildup in the future. Shop All Coffee, Espresso, & Tea Machine Cleaners How to Deep Clean a Coffee Maker Video Tutorial <iframe scrolling="no" src="/v/?num=3760&width=600&height=500&embed=1" frameborder="0" height="500" width="600"></iframe> Step-by-Step Instructions for How to Clean a Coffee Maker 1.Unplug the coffee maker. 2.Wipe down the machine with a damp towel. Once dry, plug it back in to begin the deliming process. 3.To delime your coffee maker, mix 10 oz. of lemon juice with 32 oz. of water. 4.Pour the mixture into the water reservoir. 5.Turn your coffee machine on as if you are brewing a pot of coffee. 6.Once your coffee machine has finished its brewing cycle, remove the machine's spray head. 7.Remove any residue that may block the holes in the spray head. 8.Insert a deliming spring into the opening where the spray head was. In a sawing motion, move the deliming spring back and forth about 5-6 times. 9.Wash the coffee filter with warm, soapy water. Then run two or three brewing cycles with plain water to remove any traces of lemon water solution. Coffee Maker Cleaning FAQs Get answers to the most frequently asked coffee maker cleaning questions below: How to Clean a Coffee Maker with Vinegar White vinegar is very effective for cleaning a coffee maker. You can sub white vinegar for lemon juice when you follow our step-by-step coffee maker cleaning instructions. To clean a coffee maker with vinegar, add equal parts vinegar and water to your machine's reservoir until it's full. Put a paper filter into your machine's empty coffee basket and put the pot into place. Brew the solution halfway and then turn off the machine. Let it sit for 30 minutes before turning the coffee maker back on and finishing the brew cycle. Dump the coffee pot before rinsing it and the basket out. Next, put a new paper filter into the basket and brew a full pot of clean water twice to remove all the vinegar. How to Clean a Coffee Pot Your coffee pot should be cleaned every day. You can clean your coffee pot by washing it in your three-compartment sink. Most commercial coffee pots are dishwasher safe but check with your manufacturer before running it through your dishwasher. How to Descale a Coffee Maker If you follow our step-by-step instructions for the best way to clean a coffee maker and your unit still shows signs of hard water residue and limescale buildup, then you'll need to add a rest period. Turn the coffee pot off mid-cycle and allow the lemon juice solution to rest inside your machine and carafe for one hour before completing the brew cycle. How Often Should You Clean a Coffee Maker? You should clean and delime your machine at least once every six months. However, if the water you use is extremely hard, you may need to clean it monthly. Best Coffee Pot Cleaner Both diluted lemon juice and vinegar are effective coffee pot cleaners. If you're looking for ready-to-use coffee equipment cleaning wipes, espresso equipment cleaners, and coffee equipment descalers, there are numerous commercial-grade coffee maker cleaning solutions available to you. To uphold food safety standards, cafes must regularly clean their coffee shop equipment. Taking a few minutes to clean your coffee maker will improve the taste of your coffee. This is a simple way to improve your restaurant's coffee service.
Coffee Grind Size Chart
The perfect cup of coffee starts with the perfect grind. Just like there are multiple types of coffee roasts, there are multiple grind consistencies and methods. Our comprehensive coffee grinding guide outlines everything you need to know about grinding coffee beans. Shop All Commercial Coffee Grinders Click below to learn everything you need to know about grinding coffee: Different Coffee Grinds Coffee Grind Size Chart Types of Coffee Grinders How to Store Ground Coffee Coffee Extraction Explained Types of Coffee Grinds Discover the types of coffee grinds baristas prepare and how how they brew each one. After learning about the different coffee grinds and their extraction rate, use our coffee maker guide to pick the best brewing equipment for your business. 1. Extra Coarse Ground Coffee Extra coarse ground coffee has the consistency of peppercorns and takes a long time to release its flavor. Slow brewing methods such as cold brewing work best for extra-coarse ground coffee. Extra Coarse Ground Coffee Uses: Cold Brew Cowboy Coffee Extraction Rate: Extremely Slow 2. Coarse Ground Coffee Coarse ground coffee has the consistency of sea salt and requires extended brew times. Grinding coarse coffee keeps a lot of the bean intact, preserving its flavor/aroma. Q Graders prefer coarse ground coffee for coffee cupping. Coffee cupping is the professional process of observing the flavors and aromas in brewed coffee. The Coffee Quality Institute licenses Q Graders to weigh coffee against the Specialty Coffee Association's methods and practices. Coarse coffee grounds supply the richness coffee cupping requires. Coarse Ground Coffee Uses: French Press Percolators Cupping/Tasting Extraction Rate: Very Slow 3. Medium-Coarse Ground Coffee Medium-coarse ground coffee has the consistency of rough sand. Slow immersion ensures full saturation when using medium-coarse ground coffee. Medium-Coarse Ground Coffee Uses: Immersion Brewers Batch Brewers Extraction Rate: Slow 4. Medium Ground Coffee Medium coffee grounds resemble regular sand. Their middle-of-the-road consistency rarely leads to either over or under extraction. Grinding medium-ground coffee beans is the least involved way to achieve a delicious cup of coffee. While its flavor payoff is lower than other grind consistencies, medium ground coffee is a good option for restaurants that do not specialize in coffee but want to offer delicious coffee that enhances their menu. Medium Ground Coffee Uses: Drip Brewers with Flat Bottom Filters Single-Serve Brewers Vacuum Brewers Stovetop Brewers Extraction Rate: Moderate 5. Medium-Fine Ground Coffee Between the sand consistency of medium ground coffee and the sugar consistency of fine ground coffee lies medium-fine ground coffee. This coffee grind consistency is ideal for pour-over coffee brewing. Once you master the pour-over method, medium-fine grounds produce perfectly extracted cups of coffee. Medium-Fine Ground Coffee Uses: Pour Over Brewers Drip Brewers with Cone Shaped Filters Extraction Rate: Slightly Faster Than Medium 6. Fine Ground Coffee Your fine ground coffee should look and feel like sugar. Fine coffee grounds work best with brewing methods where the grounds briefly contact water. Otherwise, you end up with an over-extracted final product. The best grind consistency for espresso is fine grinding. Espresso machines build up pressure that forces water through finely-ground coffee. Fine Ground Coffee Uses: Espresso Machines Extraction Rate: Fast 7. Extra Fine Ground Coffee Extra fine ground coffee should be the consistency of powdered sugar. Few types of coffee require extra-fine coffee grounds, so the extra-fine grind isn’t usually achievable with commercial coffee grinders. If you know you’ll need this coffee grind consistency, make sure you choose a grinder that produces extra-fine coffee grounds. Extra Fine Ground Coffee Uses: Turkish Coffee Arabic Coffee Extraction Rate: Very Fast Back to Top Coffee Grind Chart Knowing the different grind sizes helps you brew rich and smooth coffee drinks. It also helps entrepreneurs choose equipment when they're starting a coffee shop. Use this coffee grind chart to find the right grind size for your brewing method. Coffee Grind Size Chart PDF Types of Coffee Grinders Coffee grinders and espresso grinders are essential items on any coffee shop equipment checklist. There are four main types of coffee grinders: burr, blade, roller, and pounding. We explain how each type of coffee grinder works below. Burr Coffee Grinders - Burr coffee grinders crush coffee beans between two wheels or conical grinding elements without adding frictional heat (which cooks the coffee beans). This releases the coffee bean oils, so they are easy to extract during the brewing process. The coffee ground in a burr coffee grinder is uniform which leads to even extraction. Most units allow you to move the abrasive wheels/cones closer or further apart to adjust your grind size. Conical burr models produce even less friction heat and preserve more coffee bean aroma than disc grinders, but they are more expensive. Blade Coffee Grinders - Blade coffee grinders chop coffee beans with a high-speed blade/propeller whirling between 20,000 to 30,000 RPM. This method often produces uneven coffee grounds which makes proper extraction challenging. A blade coffee grinder adds friction heat to coffee beans, reducing their flavor quality before brewing. In general, blade coffee grinders aren’t your best option for producing high-quality cups of coffee. Roller Coffee Grinders - Roller coffee grinders pass coffee beans through two corrugated rollers which produce inconsistent coffee grounds. Varied coffee grind sizes tend to create acidic and bitter cups of coffee. Roller coffee grinders expose the coffee beans to a lot of frictional heat, stripping them of their aroma. Pounding Coffee Grinders - Pounding coffee grinders create a fine coffee powder by pounding the beans with a mortar and pestle. Very few coffee beverages require a pounding coffee grinder, but it is necessary for making Turkish and Arabic coffee. Back to Top How to Store Ground Coffee For optimum freshness, store ground coffee in a nontransparent, airtight container. Place the container of ground coffee on a pantry shelf away from heat, light, and moisture. Storing Coffee in the Freezer Storing Future-Use Coffee Beans in the Freezer - You can store whole coffee beans in the freezer for up to a month if you do not use/disturb them within that period. Before freezing your coffee beans, divide them into small portions in airtight bags. Defrost frozen coffee beans on a shelf away from heat, light, and moisture. Grind and brew your coffee beans within two weeks of thawing them. Storing Daily-Use Coffee Beans in the Freezer - Never store the coffee you use daily in the freezer. When you store daily-use coffee in the freezer, you expose it to fluctuating temperatures, which produce moisture. Moisture changes the cell structure of coffee and damages its aroma and flavor. How Long Does Coffee Last? Whole coffee beans stay fresh for two to three weeks before their quality and flavor reduce. Pre-ground coffee holds its peak freshness for approximately 30 minutes. Coffee beans are the seeds of small cherries that grow on coffee plants, so you should approach coffee bean freshness with the same mindset you would any other plant product. Just like you wouldn’t cut pineapple and serve it to guests three months later, you shouldn’t grind coffee and serve it to guests months later either. Back to Top What Is Coffee Extraction? Coffee extraction occurs during the brewing process. It is the art of diffusing coffee beans' natural coffee solubles into water. Desirable coffee solubles include lipids, carbohydrates, melanoidins, caffeine, and acids. If too few coffee solubles permeate the water, the brew’s flavor is weak. However, if the solubles over-saturate the water, the brewed coffee will taste bitter. The ideal coffee bean extraction percentage lies between 18-22%. How to achieve ideal extraction varies by the size of your coffee grounds. The more intact your coffee beans are, the slower their extraction rate is. This is neither good nor bad, you just need to match your brewing method with your grind size. Choosing the wrong grind size for your coffee brewing method will ruin your beans and yield either under or over extracted cups of coffee. Here are the coffee extraction terms you need to know: Balanced Extraction tastes rich with balanced acidity and offers a velvety palatal sensation. It is easy to achieve a balanced extraction when your coffee grounds are uniform. Under-Extracted Coffee tastes sour and tangy because it doesn’t have enough coffee solubles. Over-Extracted Coffee tastes bitter because it has an overpowering amount of coffee solubles. What Makes Coffee Bitter? Over-extraction makes coffee bitter. When coffee beans are ground too fine for their brewing method, brewed too long, or are steeped in scalding water, the coffee grounds over-extract, lose their flavor, and yield bitter cups of coffee. In contrast, under-extracted coffee is sour, salty, and acidic tasting. How to Make Coffee Taste Good The secret to making coffee taste good is having symmetrical coffee grounds, water between 195- and 205-degrees Fahrenheit, and the appropriate brew time for your brewing method. Check out our troubleshooting advice and transform your bitter or sour-tasting coffee into delicious beverages. You'll also want to clean your coffee grinder regularly to prevent rancid flavors from transferring into your coffee. How to Fix Bitter Coffee Use coarser coffee grounds Raise the water temperature Reduce the brew time How to Fix Sour Coffee Use finer coffee grounds Lower the water temperature Extend the brew time Back to Top You don't need an expensive coffee maker to serve a delicious cup of coffee. Grinding your coffee beans is the least expensive way to achieve balanced extraction and delight guests with smooth and rich cups of coffee. Reference back to our coffee grind chart to achieve the right coffee grind consistency for your brewing method.
Types of Coffee Drinks
If you have ever been to a cafe or coffee shop, you know the drink menu is often overwhelming. As a coffee shop owner, there are so many types of coffee drinks you can offer your customers that it's difficult to understand the difference between them. We explored the most popular coffee drinks and their recipes so you can get familiar with them and keep up with current coffee trends. Click the following link to check out our printable coffee drinks chart. Use these links to jump ahead and find out how your favorite coffee drink is made. Espresso Double Espresso Red Eye Black Eye Americano Long Black Macchiato Long Macchiato Cortado Breve Cappuccino Flat White Cafe Latte Mocha Vienna Affogato Cafe au Lait Iced Coffee Brewing Styles Compared Not all coffee is brewed in the same way. Different brewing styles can cause changes in the flavor and strength of the drink. Here are just a few brewing styles that you may incorporate in your shop: Drip Brew Ground coffee is added to a brew basket and placed in an automatic coffee machine for this brewing style. Gravity is used to pass water through the grounds, resulting in a traditional cup of coffee. Pour Over This brewing style is achieved by pouring boiling water slowly through coffee grounds as they sit in a filter basket. The coffee then drips into a single cup, resulting in a potent brew. Cold Brew For cold brew, coarsely ground coffee is placed in room temperature water and allowed to steep for an extended period of time. This results in a less bitter, highly caffeinated brew. Espresso To achieve an espresso brew, you'll need an espresso or cappuccino machine. These machines pass pressurized hot water through a filter containing dark roasted finely ground coffee beans. The force of the water produces a highly concentrated shot of coffee known as espresso. This is the method most commonly used for the base of coffee drinks. Ristretto Brewed in a similar method to the espresso, pressurized water is passed through the coffee grounds. However, you would use half the amount of water. The shorter brewing cycle creates a more concentrated and darker shot of espresso. Shop All Coffee Supplies 6 Classic Coffee Drinks VideoLearn how to make 6 of the most common types of coffee drinks with our video: <iframe scrolling="no" width="392" height="226" src="/v/?num=13265&width=600&height=500&embed=1" frameborder="0"></iframe> Different Coffee Drinks Most types of coffee drinks comprise three common ingredients: espresso, steamed milk, and foam. Additional toppings can be added to each coffee type based on your customers’ unique preferences. The following are just some of the coffee drink definitions and possible cup pairings you may consider adding to your coffee shop menu. It’s important to note that drink ratios may vary from coffee shop to coffee shop. Espresso The espresso, also known as a short black, is approximately 1 oz. of highly concentrated coffee. Although simple in appearance, it can be difficult to master. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso Cup: 2-4 oz. Espresso Cup Double Espresso A double espresso may also be listed as doppio, which is the Italian word for double. This drink is highly concentrated and strong. Ratio: 2 shots of espresso Cup: 3-4 oz. Demitasse Cup Red Eye The red eye's purpose is to add a boost of caffeine to your standard cup of coffee. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 6 oz. of drip-brewed coffee Cup: 8 oz. Coffee Mug Black Eye The black eye is just the doubled version of the red eye and is very high in caffeine. Ratio: 2 shots of espresso + 6 oz. of drip-brewed coffee Cup: 8-10 oz. Coffee Mug Americano Americanos are popular breakfast drinks and thought to have originated during World War II. Soldiers would add water to their coffee to extend their rations farther. The water dilutes the espresso while still maintaining a high level of caffeine. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 3 oz. of hot water Cup: 5-6 oz. Glass Coffee Mug Long Black The long black is a similar coffee drink to the americano, but it originated in New Zealand and Australia. It generally has more crema than an americano. Ratio: 2 shots of espresso + 3 oz. of hot water Cup: 6-8 oz. Glass Coffee Mug Back to Top Macchiato The word macchiato means mark or stain. This is in reference to the mark that steamed milk leaves on the surface of the espresso as it is dashed into the drink. Flavoring syrups are often added to the drink according to customer preference. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 1 to 2 teaspoons of steamed milk Cup: 3 oz. Glass Espresso Cup Long Macchiato Often confused with a standard macchiato, the long macchiato is a taller version and will usually be identifiable by its distinct layers of coffee and steamed milk. Ratio: 2 shots of espresso + 2 to 4 teaspoons of steamed milk Cup: 5 oz. Rocks Glass Cortado The cortado takes the macchiato one step further by evenly balancing the espresso with warm milk in order to reduce the acidity. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 1 oz. of warm milk + 1 cm of foam Cup: 5 oz. Rocks Glass Breve The breve provides a decadent twist on the average espresso, adding steamed half-and-half to create a rich and creamy texture. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 3 oz. of steamed half-and-half + 1 cm of foam Cup: 5-7 oz. Low Cup Cappuccino This creamy coffee drink is usually consumed at breakfast time in Italy and is loved in the United States as well. It is usually associated with indulgence and comfort because of its thick foam layer and additional flavorings that can be added to it. Ratio: 1-2 shots of espresso + 2 oz. of steamed milk + 2 oz. of foamed milk + sprinkling of chocolate powder (optional) Cup: 6-8 oz. Cappuccino Mug Flat White A flat white also originates from New Zealand and Australia and is very similar to a cappuccino but lacks the foam layer and chocolate powder. To keep the drink creamy rather than frothy, steamed milk from the bottom of the jug is used instead of from the top. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 4 oz. of steamed milk Cup: 6 oz. Glass Tumbler Back to Top Cafe Latte Cafe lattes are considered an introductory coffee drink since the acidity and bitterness of coffee are cut by the amount of milk in the beverage. Flavoring syrups are often added to the latte for those who enjoy sweeter drinks. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 8-10 oz. of steamed milk + 1 cm of foam Cup: 6-9 oz. Coffee Mug Mocha The mocha is considered a coffee and hot chocolate hybrid. The chocolate powder or syrup gives it a rich and creamy flavor and cuts the acidity of the espresso. Ratio: 1 shot of espresso + 1-2 oz. of chocolate syrup/powder + 1-3 oz. of steamed milk + 2-3 cm of foam or whipped cream Cup: 6-8 oz. Irish Coffee Mug Vienna There are a few variations on the Vienna, but one of the most common is made with two ingredients: espresso and whipped cream. The whipped cream takes the place of milk and sugar to provide a creamy texture. Ratio: 1-2 shots of espresso + 2 oz. of whipped cream Cup: 4-5 oz. Espresso Mug Affogato Affogatos are more for a dessert coffee than a drink you would find at a cafe, but they can add a fun twist to your coffee menu. They are made by pouring a shot of espresso over a scoop of vanilla ice cream to create a sweet after-meal treat. Ratio: 1-2 shots of espresso + 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream Cup: 5-7 oz. Dessert Dish Cafe au Lait The cafe au lait is typically made with French press coffee instead of an espresso shot to bring out the different flavors in the coffee. It is then paired with scalded milk instead of steamed milk and poured at a 50/50 ratio. Ratio: 5 oz. French press coffee + 5 oz. scalded milk Cup: 12 oz. Coffee Mug Iced Coffee Iced coffees become very popular in the summertime in the United States. The recipes do have some variance, with some locations choosing to interchange milk with water in the recipe. Often, different flavoring syrups will be added per the preference of the customer. You can even top it off with some cold foam. Ratio: 2 oz. drip coffee or espresso + 4 oz. of ice + 4-6 oz of milk or water + flavoring syrup to taste Cup: 14 oz. Mixing Glass Back to Top Being familiar with different types of coffee drinks allows you to cater to even more customers and improve your coffee service. Providing this information where customers can see it can help them make confident decisions about their coffee order and properly kick-start their day. If you truly want to elevate your coffee drink menu, start roasting your coffee in-house for the freshest flavor. Coffee Drinks Chart Printable Version Back to Top
