Water Dispensers: Types, Features, and Best Brands
Water dispensers provide easy access to the world's most essential beverage: water. Able to dispense filtered, heated, or chilled water, they're ideal for offices, restaurants, and hotels. Read below to discover the best water dispenser for your operation.
What Are the Different Types of Water Dispensers?
Whether you're looking for countertop water service at your restaurant or a low-profile water dispenser for the office breakroom, each kind of dispenser has a specific use.
Countertop
Countertop water dispensers are easy to install in most environments and provide both volume and style. Suitable for front- or back-of-house use, these dispensers often include built-in ice makers and operate similarly to countertop soda machines. Jim Van Vleet, representative at PMR, explains, "There’s more interest in dispensers that can handle both still and sparkling water. Operators want more versatility out of fewer machines."
Standard Features
- Raised Legs: easy to install on countertops
- Variable Sizes: available in large or small footprints
- Ice Makers: options with ice bins can make hundreds of pounds of ice daily
- Multiple Water Styles: dispenses cold, hot, or sparkling water
Ideal Uses
- Hotel lobbies
- College dormitories
- Front-of-house restaurant service
- School cafeterias
- Office drink stations
Freestanding
Freestanding water dispensers are larger, standalone units designed to be placed directly on the floor. Most units have large water- and ice-dispensing capacities to meet high demand.
Standard Features
- Standalone Design: can be installed on the ground
- Large Footprint: with large capacities for high demand
- Durable Construction: for heavy use
- Large Storage Bins: ideal for beverage ice dispensers
Ideal Uses
- Restaurant back-of-house
- Hospitals
- School cafeterias
- Hotel lobbies
Wall-mount
Wall-mount water dispensers are great space savers, since they are installed on walls at convenient heights. They're available in a variety of sizes, and many feature touch-free activation for hygienic use. As Jeff Biel of Scotsman Ice explains, touch-free designs are great for healthcare purposes because they're the most sanitary options on the market.
Standard Features
- Wall-mounted Design: saves valuable counter and floor space
- Large Ice Bins: help keep up with demand
- Touchless Operation: promotes hygienic use
Ideal Uses
- Doctor or medical waiting rooms
- Office beverage centers
- Airports
- Sports arenas
Drop in
Drop-in water dispensers are designed to be added to countetops, providing convenient access to ice storage and water. They feature ice bins below the counter, offering low-profile, ADA-compliant dispensers with a minimal counter footprint and a refined presentation.
Standard Features
- Ice Bins for Storage: compatible with remote ice machines
- Drop-in Design: keeps ice bins hidden for a seamless look
- Small Footprint: provides a clean look and saves counter space
Ideal Uses
- Office beverage centers
- Upscale hotel lobbies
- Hospital cafeterias
- Food halls
Undercounter
Undercounter models create a sleek, minimalistic appearance for professional settings. They usually include undercounter water pumps that filter and dispense hot or cold water through spigots positioned above the counter. This hidden design helps save space while maintaining an elegant look. Biel explains that just because a model is simple on the outside, doesn't mean it's not intelligent and user friendly.
Standard Features
- Undercounter Dispenser: keeps large machinery out of view
- Simple Spigot: provides a minimalistic design
- Hot or Cold Water: versatile and efficient
Ideal Uses
- Back bar water dispensers
- Upscale hotel lobbies
- Front-of-house beverage centers
- home kitchens
Portable Containers
Designed for fast and easy use, portable options include glass and plastic beverage dispensers. These products are great for serving smaller crowds and often have infuser tubes that allow operators to add fruit to enhance the water's flavor. Some portable water containers are insulated for hot or iced water storage.
Standard features
- Small Size: usually holds around 1-5 gallons
- Variety of Shapes: complement any setting
- Infuser Tubes: supports the addition of fresh fruit to enhance flavor
- Ease of Transport: ideal for mobile operations
Ideal Uses
- Catering services
- Events and parties
- Low-volume foodservice operations
- Pop-ups and market vendors
What Are the Top Water Dispenser Brands?
With so many brands in the water dispenser market, how do you decide which one to buy? The best water dispenser for your operation depends on your specific needs. Leading water dispenser brands include Hoshizaki, Scotsman, and Follett. Each brand features an unique approach to water and ice dispensing systems.
Hoshizaki Water Dispensers
- Designed for commercial kitchens, healthcare, and hospitality industries.
- Features advanced stainless steel construction for longevity, corrosion resistance, and easy maintenance.
- Incorporates H-GUARD Plus antimicrobial protection to reduce bacteria buildup and promote hygienic water dispensing.
- Water dispenser style offerings: countertop
Scotsman Water Dispensers
- Specializes in ice and water dispensers, making them a go-to choice for businesses requiring both.
- Compact, space-saving designs ideal for offices, healthcare, and foodservice operations.
- Touch-free design for easy and hygienic water dispensing. According to Biel, all of Scotsman's push-buttons are antimicrobial, which makes them superior to levers.
- Water dispenser style offerings: wall mounted, countertop, and standalone.
Follett Water Dispensers
- Specializes in high-capacity ice and water dispensers, ideal for healthcare, hospitality, and foodservice settings.
- Features Chewblet® nugget ice, a soft, chewable ice type preferred for hydration and beverages.
- Offers touch-free dispensing options and UV LED lighting to promote hygiene and minimize contamination in high-traffic areas.
- Water dispenser style offerings: countertop, standalone, wall mount, and drop in.
Other common brands include Manitowoc ice water dispensers, which allows operators to switch between water and full- or half-cube ice, and Marco Beverage Systems, which is known for its undercounter water dispensers.
Water Dispenser vs. Water Cooler
The primary difference between a water cooler and a water dispenser is its water source. While water dispensers are usually connected to a main water line, water coolers are similar to portable water dispensers. They are standalone units that use a 5-gallon jug. Commonly found in office settings, office water coolers have become synonymous with "water cooler chats," informal conversations between coworkers who gather while filling their cups. Water dispensers do just as well at facilitating these chats. Explore the steps to cleaning a water cooler or dispenser.
Find the Best Water Dispensers at KaTom
No matter what style of water dispenser you're looking for, KaTom has options from top brands to meet your drink station needs. From large standalone units to low-profile undercounter models, KaTom offers water dispensers from brands like Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Follett, and more that withstand consistent use. "Customers expect water dispensers to be durable and able to handle heavy daily use in commercial environments," notes Jim Van Vleet. Browse KaTom's water dispensers today to find one that works for your business.
