Decanters, Carafes, & Pitchers

Beverage Servers: What You Need to Know

Drink serveware is generally divided into three categories – decanters, carafes, and pitchers – but which one you need will depend largely on what you're serving, as well as where and how your beverage server is being used. Do you need an oversized plastic pitcher for mixing and pouring non-alcoholic beverages in the back-of-house area, or would a decorative glass water pitcher be more fitting for your dining room? Learn more about the differences between your beverage serveware options below.

Common Questions About Drink Servers

What is the difference between a decanter, carafe, and pitcher?

Pitchers are meant to hold and serve cold drinks but are available in several different designs. Plastic pitchers with lids can be used to mix drinks behind the counter and may include a built-in mixing device for this purpose. Although they can be used as beverage servers in casual settings (such as at a luncheon or birthday celebration), large glass or plastic pitchers with a generous handle and one or more spouts are mostly frequently used in dining rooms and other customer-facing areas in restaurants and bars.

If your pitcher will be used to serve ice water, you may want to choose one that includes a specialized spout to help servers control how much ice they pour, helping prevent ice from splattering into the drink or onto the table. In addition to plastic and glass, these beverage servers can be made of stainless steel, which is generally viewed as a higher-end product and can impress guests at private or catered events and banquets.

Historically, decanters are used with wine and other liquids containing sediment since the process of decanting them enables the unwanted components to sink to the bottom and be separated from the portion of the beverage that will be consumed. Traditionally, a decanter meant to hold the liquid for an extended period of time includes an airtight lid or removable stopper, but those with neither feature are simply meant to aerate wine. Carafes may look similar to a decanter, but this type of drink serveware is usually taller and not designed to aerate wine since they are generally intended to serve water or juice.

How do I know which beverage serveware can be used with coffee?

Although the terminology is the same, coffee carafes and coffee decanters differ in design and purpose from regular carafes and decanters. When used for coffee service, a carafe refers to an enclosed, often insulated beverage server made of metal or plastic that's meant to keep coffee hot until it is served rather than leaving it on the burner. Coffee decanters serve a similar purpose but are made of metal or glass and must remain on the burner to keep coffee at serving temperatures. Drink servers designed for coffee service have little in common with those meant for cool beverages, so it is easy to tell them apart and purchase the beverage servers you need.