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How to Clean an Ice Machine?

March 7, 2022

Cleaning your ice machine regularly is a simple task that makes a big difference. Sure, it’s important for the hygiene of your restaurant and the safety of your guests, but it’s more than that. Infrequently cleaned ice machines can produce ice with unwanted additives that affect the flavor of everything they touch. Let’s figure out how to clean an ice machine.

How to Clean an Ice Machine?

If you’re going to spend the money on high quality drink machines from SC Beverage, then your restaurant should benefit every day from that investment. Fortunately, keeping your ice machine clean is actually really easy. It just takes a little time.

How Often Should You Clean an Ice Machine?

At the bare minimum, every restaurant, bar, and café should deep clean their ice machine every six months. In reality, you should actually deep clean every three months if you want to limit the build-up of unwelcome elements in your equipment.

If your local water conditions are less than ideal or you use your ice machines more frequently than the typical establishment, then you may consider performing more frequent deep cleanings. Here’s how:

Step 1: Remove the Ice

Power off your machine and scoop out as much ice as possible. If you’re required to perform a deep cleaning during operational hours, then bag as much ice as you can and place it safely in your walk-in. Allow any remaining ice to completely melt, and drain the machine.

Step 2: Start Cleaning

Large commercial ice makers often have an automated wash cycle. If yours has one, then just press the button and add a manufacturer-approved cleaner as the water fills. If your ice machine is a simpler model, then fill a clean bucket with warm water and the manufacturer-approved cleaner.

Step 3: Remove and Clean Internal Components

Carefully remove the internal components according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour a portion of your diluted cleaning solution into a smaller container, or make a separate batch. Allow the internal components to soak in the diluted cleaning solution for a few minutes, then gently scrub them with a soft-bristled brush. Make sure that all mineral deposits are cleared off the internal components, and rinse them in clean water. Place them out to air dry while you clean the interior of the machine.

Step 4: Clean the Interior

If your ice machine doesn’t have an automatic cleaning setting, then you’ll want to carefully scrub out the interior of your ice machine with a clean towel and your diluted cleaning solution. Using a towel will allow you to get a better feel for when mineral deposits have been successfully removed. Once it’s clean, rinse the interior of the machine repeatedly until the water runs clear.

Step 5: Clean the Exterior

People touch your ice machine all day every day, making it the home to countless bacteria. Carefully sanitize and rinse your towel or use a new one to scrub down the outside of your machine using the diluted cleaning solution. As with everything else, you will need to wipe all of these surfaces down with clean water to wash away any remaining solution.

Step 6: Put it Back Together

Once the interior components are fully air dried you’re all set to put your Los Angeles ice machines back together. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions to make sure that everything is placed correctly. Then you can turn your ice machine back on, and you’re back in business with a squeaky clean ice machine and perfectly flavor-free ice.

Getting in the Habit

It may take a little longer at first, but once you get the hang of it you’ll find that a deep clean of your ice machine only takes about 30 minutes. Keep in mind that it will take longer if you have more mineral build-up, so you may want to increase the frequency of your deep cleaning if you’re regularly running into a lot of lime or scale build-up. Once you get into the habit of keeping your equipment in the best shape possible, you won’t ever want to go back.

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The Basics of Opening a Bar

December 7, 2020

Opening a bar is no easy task. But having a knowledge of the basics of opening a bar can help. It’s an expensive endeavor that requires careful planning and dedication, but that should not discourage you if it’s your dream to own your own bar. As long as you break down the process and approach it one step at a time, there is no reason you can’t achieve your goals.

The Basics of Opening a Bar

Here are some basic of opening a bar, simple steps you can take to get started without getting overwhelmed. Once you are ready, you will need the best beer equipment Orange County has.

Set Up a Reliable Filing System

You are about to have a lot of paperwork on your hands. Keeping everything organized from the very beginning will make the process of opening your bar far less stressful later on. So, this is what you do:

Set aside a drawer in a desk or get a small filing cabinet
Purchase a small stack of standard hanging folders. Label them “Business Plan,” “Corporate Filing,” “Trademarks,” “Licenses,” “Rental Agreement,” “Human Resources,” “Payroll,” and “Taxes.”
Purchase a printer with document scanning capabilities.
Create folders on your computer that match the labels given to the hanging folders.
Do the same on a separate USB drive.

It’s very basic, but this lays the groundwork for a double filing system with digital and physical back-ups available. As your business grows, many of those original folders will get broken up into smaller categories.

Write Your Business Plan

Your business plan is a statement of what you want your business to be and how you want to see it develop over the next 3-5 years. It should include:

A strong understanding of your target demographic and your competitors
An indication of how you intend to improve on your competitor’s model to earn a greater portion of the market share
A straight-forward budget that includes paying yourself for your time, giving employees fair wages, and leaves a margin for incidentals

This is the document that you will use when applying for small business loans and some licensing, so you want it to reflect your talent as an entrepreneur.

Establish the Structure of Your Business

As tempting as a sole proprietorship can be in terms of reduced costs and paperwork, this structure is not recommended for a bar. There are too many risk factors, and you need to protect your personal assets. Instead, you should establish an LLC or corporation based on your needs. These structures separate your personal assets from those of the business, preventing someone from targeting you if a legal suit is brought against your bar.

Secure Your Name and Logo

Before you start the trademarking process, you will want to make sure that both the name and URL are available. A quick internet search and a glance through the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s database will let you know if you need to come up with a new name. Once you’ve found a meaningful name that’s available, you should work with a graphic artist to create a unique logo. Both the name and logo with need to be filed with the USPTO.

Secure All Appropriate Licenses

You probably already know you need a liquor license, but local ordinances may require any number of licenses to operate a bar in your area. Make sure you meet all of the local, state, and federal guidelines that are necessary. These may require some changes to your set-up, such as the presence of commercial water filters Los Angeles, so you’ll want to consider those factors when looking at potential locations.

Find the Spot and Decorate

At this point, you’ve finally reached the fun part. You get to pick a great location and decorate your bar. You will certainly have a lot of paperwork ahead of you still, so make sure you set aside space for a small office and a break area for your employees. From there, it’s all about the drinks and the fun, which can be made even easier with the help of SC Beverage.

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The “How to” Guide to Opening a Coffee Shop

August 7, 2020

Opening a small business is equal parts exciting and terrifying. There is just so much to learn, and half the time you don’t even know what questions you should be asking. You have to juggle the legal and economic requirements of legally running a business while offering your customers the experience you always dreamed of, so it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive about your newest endeavor. Here’s our guide to opening a coffee shop.

Fortunately, you have more resources at your fingertips than you realize, and local governments genuinely want to see you succeed. That puts a lot of power at your back, which you can utilize in the early stages of development as long as you’re clever and determined. Let’s talk frankly about what you need to do to get your coffee shop started and how to keep it going.

Figure Out the Legal Requirements First

The first step in our guide to opening a coffee shop isn’t the most glamorous. But, there is no point in putting together a business plan or a shop design until you understand the local statutes that govern small businesses in the area. The required permits will shift slightly from place to place, so your first step is to contact the Small Business Administration to find out what is necessary for your business to operate in your local area. Once you have an idea of the costs of these permits and any required legal fees, you can factor this into your business plan’s budgetary aspect.

Create a Polished Business Plan

Your business plan is an all-purpose document. It serves to summarize your vision and ability to turn it into a reality. It must function as a guide to how your business will succeed. And it is the document that potential lenders will almost certainly ask for. Although you and your lenders understand that the business plan will evolve with the business, you should design it to reach five years into its existence.

A good business plan should include your target demographic, a review of your competitors, a sample budget, financial projections, and established goals. For the most utility, you should have two versions of this document. One version should be a one-page summary that you can easily hand out to potential investors, while the other should be a lengthier document that goes into more detail.

Furthermore, it should look professional. A great concept and a solid budget won’t be enough if investors never get past the first page. To increase the production quality of your business plan, consider hiring a freelance graphic designer to give it some polish before taking it in. This is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your chances of early success if your numbers are solid.

Pay Attention to Aesthetics

To be successful, you will need foot traffic and a façade that invites new customers inside. Come up with a design and unique aesthetic that will draw people in. And enlist the help of a commercial realtor to find the location that best fits your design and demographic needs. Fortunately, whether you’re going for trendy, cozy, or something in between, creating the right aesthetic and offering a high-quality product doesn’t have to sink your budget. When it comes to furnishings and décor, you should always shop around for the best balance to make sure what you pay is going to return on your investment.

Don’t Skimp on Product or Equipment

Your catchy slogan and warm lounge may bring people in. But it is quality coffee that will keep them coming back for more. Look for fair trade beans that consistently brew delicious coffee and make sure that your commercial coffee makers are up to the task. At the end of the day, it will be your ability to find a balance between cost and quality that will truly make your coffee shop a success. SC Beverage is here for all your needs, from water filters to beer fountain machines.

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Opening a Cafe on a Low Budget

August 1, 2019

Dollar sign in coffee mug. Small commercial ice maker for opening a cafe on a budget.

Owning a cafe does not have to be expensive, complicated, or an unattainable dream. People around the world do it daily on low budgets. It is helpful to know some marketing basics to make your cafe a success. Buying cafe equipment like a small commercial ice maker can be costly if you do not know where to look for the best prices. The final step is renting a space. Use these tips to get started on opening a cafe on a low budget.

Ask for Help

Brainstorm all the people you know who can help you launch your new cafe. Do you know anyone who can plan a social media marketing campaign? Someone who is good with numbers? Someone who can tell you more about the neighborhood you want to work in? Get all those people into a meeting and plan together.

Know the Four P’s of Marketing

When planning for a new business of any kind, it is important to consider the four Ps of marketing:

● Place: Where will the cafe be located?

● Product: Will you sell anything besides coffee? Pastries? Lunch?

● Promotion: How will you advertise your business? What promotional offers will you give?

● Price: What is the right price point for your product? From your location, your target customer, and the cost of operation.

★ People: It is common to add a fifth P for People. This refers to your target market as well as your stakeholders. Stakeholders are everyone with an interest in your business.

Create a Target Population

To decide what to sell at your cafe, you must know who you want to attract. Take notes on your existing plans first. What do you envision? Do you have a theme in mind? A particular neighborhood, style, or price point? You may start with an idea for a businessman’s lunch spot, college kid’s hangout, morning coffee hub, or something else. Go with your gut and build from there.

Draw a map on paper of your ideal customer:

–Demographic (age, gender, education, employment, ethnicity, etc.)

–Geographic (zip code, city, state, etc.)

–Psychographic (socioeconomic class or lifestyle preference)
Use this information to write a ‘day in the life’ of your customer. Who is she? What does he like besides coffee? What does she do all day? Does he have pet peeves? See if you can get inside his or her head. Use the information you generate to inform your next steps.

Research Kitchen Equipment

Make sure to only buy commercial-grade beverage equipment. It is not worth risking your customer’s or employee’s health and safety to save a buck. It’s a good idea to buy only new equipment since used machines are prone to bacteria. Look for the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) logo on all your equipment. If you don’t have it, the health department may fine you. When you are working on a low budget, buy only what you need. For example, a small commercial ice maker is essential for iced coffee and blended drinks. Buying things that don’t increase productivity is a waste. Careful planning and research will give the best results.

SC Beverage is the preeminent company serving all your beverage needs. We provide sales and distribution of a wide range of manufacturers. Contact SC Beverage today to learn more about commercial ice machines!

Decide on a Location

There are several low-cost location strategies to consider. The first is opening a cafe inside an existing business. You could buy a coffee cart, which can be set up anywhere. Or you could have a cafe in a museum, bookstore, music venue, or shared workspace.

The next idea is to sell at farmer’s markets. This gives you a chance to see if setting up a coffee business is really what you want to do. It also gives you a controlled environment in which to test your product. You will need a permit, a business plan, and your product.

You could also buy a food truck and use it as a mobile coffee shop. Like a coffee cart, this gives you the opportunity to move from location to location. When one market dries up, you’re on to the next. It is lower cost than renting a building space and you own the truck fully.

Finally, you can take the tried-and-true option and rent a shop. This may cost a bit more than the other options on the list. The good news is you can bring your dream to fruition. A shop is a good longer-term option. So, if you have confidence that your business is going to last, this could be the right move for you.

Small Commercial Ice Maker and Other Beverage Equipment

SC Beverage is the preeminent company in the beverage service industry. Since 1998, we have been an installation and service agency in the Southern California area. We provide service to any beverage equipment needs including sales and distribution of a wide range of manufacturers. Contact SC Beverage to get your new cafe started on the right foot!

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