9 Types of food and beverage service equipment


Food and beverage service equipment include all pieces of equipment for the furniture. Cutlery, crockery, glassware, and Linen are used by the guests and the staff in the service area.

 
A wide range of food and service equipment is available in the market to suit the requirements of various styles of foodservice operations.
F&B service equipment
Food and beverage service equipment play an important role to elevate the guest experience to complement the outlet theme and to build the mood of the guests.
 
Here is a list of food and beverage service equipment

 

food and beverage service equipment list

In this guide, we will discuss the 9 Types of food and beverage service equipment list.

 
Restaurant set up with equipment
 Restaurant set up with F&B equipment
 

1. Furniture 

Dining room furniture is available in many shapes, sizes, materials, colors, textures, and designs. All of these f&b service equipment must be taken into account while selecting them. so that the furniture blends with the decor of the food service area. Furniture occupies most of the service area, so these should be arranged carefully for maximum space utilization. 

Types of F&B furniture

  1. Table
  2. Chair
  3. Sideboard

1. Table

Restaurant tables are generally divided into two section

A) Tabletops: They come in an assortment of sizes and shapes, of different materials such as wood, mica, glass, and stone. Woodentops are used in upscale restaurants as they look elegant and rich.

B) Tablebases: They are holding posts of the tables and come in a variety of designs that are selected to best match the theme and design of the dining area. Round table bases give a roomier feel underneath.

2. Chair

Types of chairs used in F&B service:

 
wood frame chair
Wood frame chair
 
A) wood frame chairs: offers a distinct style and brings out a sense of tradition and class to the establishment. Wooden chairs are a favourite among steak houses, family-style, and fine dining restaurants. The natural colours and grain in the wood add a classy and elegant accent to the theme.
 
B) Metal chairs: will typically project a more modern and sleek look than wooden chairs. Metal restaurant chair are painted and come in a wide variety of seat cover and backrest cover option

C) High chair and booster seats: High chair and booster seats are a necessity in most food service establishments and restaurants for children. High chairs are available in wood and plastic and come in a variety of finishes and colours.

D) Banquet chair: The chairs chosen should be stackable, comfortable, strong and sturdy as they will be transported frequently from place to place.

The standard size of chairs

  • Height of the chair (from floor to the seat) 18
  • From floor to the top of the chair 39
  • Depth of the chair 18
 

3. Sideboard (Dummy waiter)

Foodservice personnel will not be able to extend quick service and work efficiently without a sideboard. It holds all the necessary cutlery crockery, holloware, menu card, checks pad, accompanying sauce, that are required during service.

Sideboard (Dummy waiter)
Sideboard (Dummy waiter)

The following items are kept on the sideboard 
  • Soup spoons
  • Fish knives and forks
  • Dessert spoons and forks
  • Large knives and forks
  • Service spoon and forks
  • Tea and coffee spoons
  • Underliner
  • Glassware
  • Napkins
  • Sugar bowls with tongs
  • Cups and saucers
  • Cruets
  • Ashtrays
  • Paper napkins
  • candle stand
  • trays

 

2. Linen

The linen in the foodservice area covers tablecloths, napkins, tray cloths. slip cloths, buffet cloths, waiter’s cloth, tea cloths

 

Different types of linen used in food and beverage service/restaurant

  • Tablecloth
  • Napkins
  • RoseSlip cloth
  • Tray cloth
  • Buffet cloth
  • Satin cloth
  • Tea cloth
Tablecloth: All tables with wooden tops are covered with tablecloths to enhance the dining area. Plain tables can quickly be transformed into formal dining seating with the use of tablecloths. Tablecloths are generally used in fine dining restaurants. The colour of the tablecloth must go well with the colour scheme of the interior.

 

 

Napkins: These are for guest use normally kept folded at each cover and unfolded and spread on laps of guests by the service staff or by the guest themselves. Napkins are available in many attractive colours. Each restaurant use napkins of a different colour for proper control.
 

The standard size of napkins

18 × 18 For lunch
20 × 20 For dinner

Different types of Napkin folding used in restaurant

  • Bishop’s mitre
  • Cock’s comb
  • Cinderella shoe
  • Cone
  • Candle
  • Fan
  • Sail
  • Pocket
 
RoseSlip cloth: It is used to cover the soiled tablecloths during operations. The size of the cloth should be adequate enough to cover the surface of the table with a fall of a few inches. This cloth is thin as compared to the material of the tablecloth and can be washed frequently.

 

Waiter,s cloth: It is used by waiters extensively during service. The edges of dishes are wiped with this cloth, when necessary. While carrying dishes to the table, this cloth is folded and kept under the dish.

 

Tray cloth: All trays and salvers should be lined with tray cloths for better presentation and good grip for items being carried

 

Buffet cloth: Foodservice operations use buffet cloths of various sizes to cover the buffet tables

 

Satin cloth: This cloth is draped around the front side of the buffet table, primarily to cover the leg and to make the buffet counter attractive

 

Tea cloth: This is used exclusively for wiping cutlery and crockery. The cloth should be lint-free and changed frequently.
 

3. Crockery

Crockery includes all items of earthenware or chinaware such as plates, cups and saucers, pots, vases. The following are the different types of chinaware available in the market

 

Different types of crockery in food and beverage service

  • Earthenware
  • bone china
  • Porcelain
  • Stoneware
 

Earthenware 

It is made of 25 per cent ball clay, 25 per cent kaolin or clay, 15 per cent china stone, and 35 per cent flint. The advantage of earthenware is that it is cheaper, but it is easily chipped or cracked and much heavier than

bone china.

Bone china It is made of 25 per cent china clay, 25 per cent china stone, and 50 per cent calcium phosphate. It is strong and translucent. It looks beautiful and is very expensive. Nowadays, manufacturers have introduced crockery which has qualities of bone china but is less expensive, Such crockery e Available under a variety of trade names such as Vitrex, Vitrock, Steelite, and so on. They are stronger than earthenware and less expensive compared to bone china.

Porcelain 

It is made of 50 per cent china clay, 25 per cent quartz, and 25 per cent feldspar (aluminosilicate mineral). It is vitreous and translucent, with a grey or blue tinge. It is used in oven-to-tableware dishes.

Stoneware

It is hard, tough, and vitreous crockery, fired at a high temperature. It is heavy and available in bright colours, suitable for restaurants where bright colour crockery is required.

 
 

Different types of crockery and their size and use

S.no Name Size. Uses
1. Quarter plate 6’’ D Bread, cheese, underliner for bowls
2. Half plate/fish plate/dessert plate 8’’D Hord d’ oeuvre, fish, pasta, and savoury, sweet, and dessert
3. Full plate/Dinner plate/joint plate 10’’ D Main course
4. Soup plate 8’’ D For thick soup and breakfast cereals
5. Soup cup 250ml For thin soups, also known as consommé cup
6. Soup bowls 250ml For thick and thin soups, breakfast cereals
7. Breakfast cup 250-300ml For all tea and coffee served during breakfast
8. Teacup 200ml For tea and coffee served during the day
9. Demitasse 100ml For coffee served after lunch and dinner
10. Saucer 4’’ D Used as an underliner

 

 
For more Crockery
 

4. Glassware

Food and beverage service outlets use a variety of glasses for different types of drinks which call a huge investment in delicate and fragile equipment. 

 
The style, quality, and sparkle of glass selected portray the profile of the restaurant. Glasses are named by the drinks served in Though there are many glasses for different drinks, it is better to go for limited types of glasses the may be suitable for all kinds of drinks.

Classification of glassware according to their parts

  • Stemware
  • footed ware
  • Tumbler
Stemware: It is basically a bowl without a stem or foot. Its sides may be straight, widened, or curved. Examples: Rock glass, old-fashioned, highball, Collins, juice glass, and so on

 

footed ware: In this type, the bowl sits directly on a base or foot without the stem. Bowl and base may come in a variety of shapes. Examples: brandy balloon, beer goblet.
Stemware: It refers to glasses that have all three parts-bowl, base, and stem. In this type, the stem connects the bowl with the base or foot. Examples: red wine glass, white wine glass, Champagne saucer, Champagne flute, Cocktail glass, and so on.

Types of glassware used in F&B service

F&B service outlets use different types of glassware for various types of drinks. 

5. Tableware

The term tableware refers to all pieces of flatware, cutlery, and hollowware.

food and beverage service equipment-tableware

 

Flatware: Flatware in catering parlance means all forms of spoons and forks. However, cutlery is the common term used frequently in the hotel industry to refer to spoons, forks, and knives used for eating.
 
Cutlery: Cutlery denotes all types of knives and other cutting equipment used in the dining area. Cutlery is available in various designs in silver, and stainless steel material.

Holloware: This refers to all tableware other than cutlery. It includes pots, jugs, platters, a buffet dish, finger bowls, wine chiller, straw holder.
 

Silverware: The silverware is made of Electro Plated Nickel Silver (EPNS). These are made from an alloy of brass, zinc, stainless steel or nickel with silver plating of 10 to 15 microns. Silverware includes spoons, forks, knives, hollowware, drinkware, tongs, an ice bucket, and a salver.

 

Different types of cutlery and their uses

 
S.no Cutlery Uses
1. Soup spoon For thick soups
2. Dessert spoon For thin soups, breakfast cereals
3. Service spoon and fork Transferring of dishes from the container onto the guest’s plate
4. Teaspoon Tea, coffee, juice served with accompaniments, fruit cocktails, sweets served in coupes or glass bowls
5. Coffee spoon For coffee served in demitasse after lunch or dinner
6. Egg spoon Used with boiled eggs (smaller than a teaspoon and bigger than a coffee spoon, teaspoon maybe used in place of egg spoon)
7. Side knife Placed on the side plate for bread, toast, rolls, cheese
8. Fish knife and fish fork For all fish dishes, hors d’oeuvre varies
9. Small knife and fork Vegetable, savoury, and meat dishes if not served as the main course
10. Steak knife For steaks (serrated edge)
11. Dessert spoon and fork For all pasta and rice except for spaghetti, for sweets
12. Fruit knife and fork For dessert (small knife and fork may be used in place of fruit knife and fork)
13. Large knife and fork For the main course
14. Dessert spoon and table fork Spaghetti, the spoon is placed to the left and the fork to the right
15. Sundae spoon Ice cream or any shakes with ice cream served in a tall glass
16. Ice cream spoon For ice cream served in coupes, most hotels use a teaspoon in place of ice cream soon
 

6. Miscellaneous 

Some examples of miscellaneous are:
Trays, salvers, water jag, bread basket, butter dish, cruets, bud vase, menu stand,
 
food and beverage service equipment- bud vase

 
 

7. Disposables

Disposables are extensively used in all types of catering operations, though the degree of usage is varied. 
Types of F&B outlets use disposable:
  • Flight catering 
  • Industrial catering
  • Fast food outlets 
  • Off-premises catering 
  • Coffee shops
  • Takeaway counters
 
use more disposables to reduce labour and laundry costs, initial investment, and breakages.
A wide range of disposables is available in different colours, sizes, qualities, and prices to suit the needs of catering operators.
                         food and beverage service equipment - disposable

Disposable placemats – banquet table rolls coasters replace tablecloths. Disposable cups plates, knives, spoons, and forks substitute chinaware and cutlery. Paper napkins replace cloth napkins. Cling film is used to wrap up portioned food. Aluminium foil is used to wrap food to retain heat in takeaways.

 
 

8. Trolley

Trollies are used in the F&B service department for serving as well as storing. Many hotels refer to a mobile service. It is also used in elite food and beverage outlets for serving the guests, from which a dish may be dressed, prepared, carved, and flambéed in the presence of guests near their table.
 
It has a number of shelves and sections and burners. Trolleys are the most important thing in Guéridon service
 

Let us have a look at some trollies used in the gueridon service    

  • Hors d’ oeuvre varies trolley
  • Salad trolley
  • Food preparation trolley
  • Carving trolley
  • Flambe trolley
  • Sweet trolley
  • Cheese trolley
  • Liqueur trolley

For more Please visit:  Gueridon service in restaurants

 
 

9. Chafing Dishes (Chafers)

Chafing dishes are an essential addition to any F&b service establishment, they also come under food and beverage service equipment to keep food hot and ensure food safety. Chafing dishes are mostly used in the banquet department.
 
Now look at some types of chafing dishes used in F&B service outlets:

Types of chafing dishes

  • Marmite Chafers
  • Coffee Chafer Urns
  • Standard Chafing Dishes
  • Disposable Chafing Dishes
  • Drop-In Chafers: 
  • Chafer Griddles

For more about chafing dishes visit: Guide to Chafing Dishes

Food and beverage service equipment PDF

Download the pdf file below
 
 

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