Which Decanter Coffee Maker Do You Need?

If you want to build a successful foodservice business, providing fresh, hot coffee is a sure way to win a customer's loyalty. Several types of commercial coffee makers are available, though the most common is the decanter brewer, which brews directly into a glass decanter. Operating these devices is simple, and they require little counter space.

Decanter coffee brewers are available in two categories: automatic coffee makers and manual coffee makers, also known as pourovers. Automatic units are typically found in high-volume establishments because they don’t take as much labor and can brew quickly. However, installing one requires plumbing because they draw directly from a water supply. Manual-fill models – like those found in most American homes – don’t require that extra water line, but they do require more operator effort because they are filled manually.

Plumbed Coffee Makers

As noted, an automatic coffee maker requires a direct connection to your water supply. Water is pumped into the brewer automatically when the operator begins brewing, eliminating the need for manual filling. This decanter brewer type is simple to operate, producing a few dozen to nearly 130 cups of coffee an hour and suiting it for high-volume establishments that serve lots of coffee.

In locations where water pressure is an issue, you can make use of automatic coffee brewers designed to work under those circumstances. Some automatic models can be operated as a manual fill coffee maker when a direct source is unavailable or the supply is inconsistent.

Unplumbed Coffee Maker

Manual coffee makers are a great solution for businesses where a direct water line hook-up is unavailable, installing a water supply would be impractical, or the brewer must remain mobile. To operate these units, fresh water from an external source must be poured into the reservoir for each batch.

Although they are rated to brew as many as 60 cups of coffee per hour, this maximum requires perfect operating conditions and considerable operator effort: the user must pour cold water into the top without the convenience of automatic filling. Coffee makers without water lines are available with one, two, or three warmers, occupying approximately 2 to 5 square feet of counter space.

No matter which type you choose, you should never rest a decanter on the burner for more than 20 to 30 minutes to achieve the highest quality of coffee. After that time, the heat will begin to degrade the coffee quality noticeably. If you must hold your java for longer than that, thermal servers can hold coffee for two hours.

Specialty Options

Many digital brewers can adjust automatically to different water pressures and water hardness conditions, preventing those factors from adversely affecting your coffee quality. If the equipment is constructed with a bean hopper, digital brewers can record the volume of beans dispensed to aid in inventory tracking.
Digital brewers with LCD displays and programmable controls enable users to set brew levels and tank temperatures, giving the operator close control over each part of the process.
Pre-infusion saturates the coffee grounds before the introduction of water at full force, correcting inconsistencies that could occur with the grind of the coffee, such as air pockets or fissures.
Pulsation turns the spray head on and off in a cycle, ensuring that the grounds get extracted for optimal flavor. This prevents grounds from rising along the filter's side and avoids over-agitating the coffee bed. Pulsation also executes positive agitation, which disrupts grinds softly so they move about, ensuring even contact with water molecules.
Bypass brewing enables some of the brewing water to bypass the grounds, diluting the coffee for customized flavor.
Built-in grinders combine brewing and grinding into one convenient footprint. These models often come with multiple modes that enable grinding only, brewing only, or simultaneous brewing and grinding. Operators can further modify grinding for half or full batches. Many of these units are designed with mechanisms that protect the grind head from water vapor, preventing malfunctions and clogging.
Hot water faucets enable operators to serve hot beverage alternatives to coffee, expanding menus and revenue streams.

Electrical Requirements

Standard models are available with and without a power cord. Units with a power cord – sometimes called "plug-and-play" models – can be connected to an outlet for their power supply. Those without a power cord should be wired directly into the electrical supply by a qualified electrician.

The tanks in these units are comparable to a hot water heater – if usage is low, the recovery time to bring temperatures back up for brewing is shorter. Higher-voltage machines can achieve faster temperature recovery, so if you’ll be producing high volumes of coffee every day, consider a more powerful 208/240-volt model. Just be sure that your facility has the appropriate resources to operate the equipment.

Care & Maintenance

Coffee brewers require a water inlet, water heating unit, drip or spray head, and a filter. The water spray head must be cleaned daily and the water filters changed regularly. If the need arises, check for broken parts and replace them. Coffee brewers can last 25 years when cared for properly.

Temperature drops, constant dripping, and inconsistent fill levels indicate lime buildup on the heating elements or the valves that control waterflow. Lime is a crusty white film that results from hard water leaving behind mineral deposits, which can lead to inefficient coffee brewers. Brewers should be cleaned and delimed thoroughly every three months. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for deliming your coffee maker, which will likely include the following steps:

Unplug the brewer and let it cool down.
Remove the spray head by turning it with your fingertips and setting it aside.
Insert all but two inches of a deliming spring into the spray head tube. Slide the tool in and out five or six times to loosen lime deposits. It may require some twisting and pushing to get the tube cleaned thoroughly.
Check the holes of the spray head. If they are plugged with mineral deposits or white flakes, they can be cleared using a toothpick.
Clean the spray head with a cloth and mild detergent. Rinse it thoroughly with water and reinstall it.
Plug in the brewer and allow the water in the tank to reheat before using it again.