soda fountain Archives

How to Clean a Soda Fountain

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025

A soda fountain is not typically the centerpiece of a restaurant’s image, however, just like any other part of a functioning business, there will come a time when you will have to clean your soda fountain to maintain the level of quality you need to in the products, as well as to meet the hygienic standards of your local health board.

This task can be daunting if you have not given it a go in the past. Fortunately, we have whipped up this guide that can inform you of how to clean your soda fountain efficiently and thoroughly.

Why Do You Need to Clean a Soda Fountain?

The reasons to clean a soda fountain are fairly similar to the reasons one would engage in routine cleanings of any other element of a restaurant’s equipment. Without regular cleanings, the quality of the product you dispense and the functionality of the equipment become threatened. Even engaging in occasional cleanings can yield great results, and engaging in regular cleanings will ensure that you minimize the potential for adverse effects on your soda.

Soda is one of the most popular items on most menus, and ensuring that the quality of your product is consistent is one of the best steps you can take to deliver a strong product experience with your customers on a consistent basis. On the contrary, delivering soda products that fail to impress can make a negative impression on new and existing customers.

In addition, cleaning your fountain on a regular basis will extend the amount of time before you need to replace your equipment. This can save you time and money in the long run and allow you to allocate funds towards other causes.

How to Clean a Soda Fountain

There are a number of steps that an individual can take to ensure that their soda fountains remain clean and the product they are serving to customers remains at the highest level. Some steps you can take include the ones listed below. While there is bound to be some variability in terms of how your machine operates, many soda fountains are mass-produced to specific standards, which allows for the easy replacement of parts.

Clean the Nozzles Every Day

One simple step that you can take to ensure that your soda fountain remains clean is to clean the nozzles on your soda fountain on a daily basis. Using a sanitizing solution on the nozzles can rid them of the debris that can accumulate over time. Avoid using bleach for this purpose, as this can be toxic and degrade the plastic nozzles at a more rapid rate than usual.

Clean the Syrup Connectors Once a Week

The syrup connectors are a tool that connects the bag-in-box soda units to the rest of the soda fountain. These connectors are prone to becoming dirty at a slightly higher rate than many of the other parts of a soda fountain and benefit from weekly cleanings. The easiest way to achieve this is through soaking the connectors in a sanitizing solution for several minutes and then letting them dry.

Clean the Fountain Dispenser Ice Bin Once a Month

This is a task you can complete on a more infrequent basis. During an ice bin cleaning, you will unplug the ice maker and remove any ice that remains in the bucket. Then, you should use a sanitizing solution and nylon brush to brush down the ice chute. After this, you can reinstall the ice maker so that the unit can begin producing ice again.

Clean the Condenser Fans Once a Month

The condenser fans are another part of your soda fountain that you should clean approximately once a month. Using a soft-bristled brush and cleaning any air filters that are present can help your machine run more smoothly.

Clean the Water Filtration System Once a Month

The water filtration system of your soda fountain is one of the most essential elements when it comes to maintaining the long-term quality of your product. Inspecting to see if the filtration system needs to be replaced every six months can help inform you whether the systems that keep your soda fountain running are in tip-top shape.

The Best in Beverage

SC Beverage prides itself on offering customers in Southern California and beyond the best service and products available for their commercial beverage equipment needs. If you would like to discuss your beverage systems with professionals, contact us today.

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How to Make Soda Popsicles

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025

When the temperature rises, and you find yourself craving something cold and sweet to feel refreshed, soda popsicles can be the perfect solution. Not only are they easy to make, but they also let your creativity and imagination flow with the different flavor combinations and add-ins. Whether you are making them for your family, indulging your inner child, or setting up a stand in your neighborhood, beverage systems can be a great partner for preparing a batch of soda popsicles everyone will surely love.

How to Make Soda Popsicles

Soda popsicles combine the fizzy fun of soda with the icy satisfaction of a popsicle into one delicious treat. If you are looking for a way to cool down on a hot day or want a dessert that can be customized to suit any taste, soda popsicles are an excellent answer. Aside from the fact that they are easy to prepare, they also need very few ingredients or tools to make. If you own a high-quality beverage system, it can ensure that your soda is fresh, perfectly carbonated, and bursting with flavor.

We explain how to make this sweet treat below.

What You Need to Make Soda Popsicles:

Ingredients:

– Your favorite soda freshly made from your soda fountain

– Any flavored soda will be fine, but popular choices are lemon, lime, root beer, or cola.

– Fresh fruit slices or herbs for added flavor and decoration

Tools:

– Popsicle molds or small reusable plastic cups

– Popsicle sticks or small spoons

– Aluminum foil (optional, refer to step 3)

Procedure:

1. Prepare Your Popsicle Molds

Set up your popsicle molds or reusable cups on a flat surface like your kitchen counter. If you want to add some flavor to your popsicles or make them more visually appealing, place a few small pieces of fruits, herbs, candies, or even vanilla ice cream into the molds.

Suggested Add-ons:

– Lemon-lime soda works well with fresh mint leaves and lime slices.

– Orange soda with mandarin wedges

– Cola with cherries or gummy bears

– Root beer with vanilla ice cream

2. Pour the Soda

Pour the soda carefully from your soda fountain into the molds. Fill each mold about three-quarters full. Be careful not to fill the mold to the brim. You need to leave enough space for the liquid to expand. Pour slowly to ensure there is minimal foam. Remember that carbonation can create air bubbles

3. Insert the Sticks

Place your popsicle sticks into the center of each mold. If your molds do not have built-in stick holders, cover the base of the molds with aluminum foil and poke the foil through the center with the sticks. This should help keep your sticks in place.

4. Freeze the Molds

Place the molds in the freezer and keep them there for at least 4-6 hours or until your soda is completely solid.

5. Unmold Your Popsicles

For easy removal of the popsicles from their molds, run them under warm water for a few seconds. Gently wiggle the sticks to help the popsicles slide out more easily.

6. Serve Your Popsicles

Immediately serve or enjoy your popsicles. Wrap the leftovers in plastic wrap and put them back in the freezer for later.

Tips for Making Perfect Soda Popsicle

– Use fresh soda: A beverage system will ensure that your soda is fresh and perfectly carbonated. Fresh soda will give your popsicles the best possible flavor.

– Mix it up: Give your popsicles a unique and refreshing flavor by mixing unlikely combinations like soda and fruit juice.

– Layer them up: Pour one flavor of soda halfway into the mold. Partially freeze it before pouring another flavor. This will give your popsicle a colorful, layered effect and result in an interesting flavor.

Discover the Fun in Having a Soda Fountain

Making soda popsicles is a fun and sweet way to beat the heat. A soda fountain allows you to create fresh soda flavors that are customizable to your preferences. When you customize your popsicles, you will not only create the best possible flavor but also reduce waste by using just the right amount for your recipe. Using a soda fountain makes experimenting with new and delicious flavors easier and much more fun. Check out our soda fountain today so you can join the fun.

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How Often Should You Clean a Soda Fountain?

July 31, 2024

Soda is a popular beverage choice for those visiting a restaurant or food stand. In fact, the average American consumes over 42 gallons of soda each year, and nearly half of Americans drink soda on a daily basis. One of the more popular types of soda is from a fountain. A critical, though overlooked, aspect of operating a soda fountain is cleaning it. Proper cleaning is necessary to ensure the soda tastes great and is edible. Below, you will find how often you should clean a soda fountain.

How Often Should You Clean a Soda Fountain?

Cleaning a soda machine is critical to ensure that patrons are safe from contaminated drinks and that the soda is as fresh as possible. A soda machine has many parts, and each part must be cleaned at different intervals, including daily, weekly, and monthly. Consider the following recommendations on how to properly clean a soda fountain.

Daily Cleaning

Several parts of the soda machine should be cleaned daily. These include the nozzles, drip trays, and dispensing valves. Each of these parts accumulates buildup fairly quickly, and cleaning them daily can reduce the risk of unwanted grime.

Weekly Cleaning

Busy restaurants should prioritize deep cleaning the soda fountain on a weekly basis. Regular cleaning, which involves cleaning and flushing the entire system, is highly beneficial and an investment in the business. It is also important to deep clean the removable parts of the machine to ensure they are free from buildup and debris. Depending on how often the machine is used, it is also advisable to check the filters. Assess how often they need to be replaced and add it to the calendar.

Monthly Cleaning

Once a month, it can be helpful to fully disassemble the soda fountain equipment to get a deep clean. This includes cleaning the internal and removable components and looking at all of the parts to see if anything needs to be replaced. Soda fountains should last a long time, but regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the machine’s longevity. Be sure to replace any worn-down parts, as this will dramatically improve the longevity of your machine.

Tips for Busy Restaurants

Busy restaurants with many patrons who order soda should clean the machine regularly. In fact, you may need to deep clean more often. Some restaurants clean the machine daily, while others may not need to. Busy restaurants should consider professional soda fountain cleaning. This may be beneficial on an annual or even quarterly basis. Consult with a professional to get their opinion on when and how often your specific soda fountain should be cleaned.

When you clean your soda fountain, have a designated employee in charge of it. Train one to two employees on the procedure and have them do it regularly. Having the same employees clean the machine can reduce errors, as those cleaning will always have been trained. Additionally, having the same people do it regularly ensures that issues are being monitored regularly. Create a cleaning checklist and have them sign off on it each time they clean the machine.

Soda Fountain Supplier in Los Angeles

If you need to replace your soda fountain machine, contact the top soda fountain supplier in Los Angeles. The team at SC Beverage has been servicing the area for years. They offer both installation and services to ensure your soda fountain is running perfectly. Contact their team today for more information!

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Do Soda Fountains Use Tap Water?

November 29, 2022

Soft drinks come in a variety of tasty flavors and brands, and people can usually find them available through soda fountains at restaurants and bars. While these machines can typically be relied upon to provide specific types of soda per the customer’s request, everyone has likely had the unfortunate experience where their drink comes out of the machine and it’s flat. Or, only bubbly soda water comes out of the machine but there is no syrup to provide the flavor. This leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth – both literally and figuratively. This also begs the question…Do soda fountains use tap water?

Do Soda Fountains Use Tap Water?

Soda fountains require quite a bit of carbonated water in order to function properly, and that water can be difficult and expensive to source. Today, experts from your trusted beverage company in Southern California will talk about whether or not soda fountains typically use tap water to carbonate their drinks, and why.

Fountains Function with Fresh Cold Water

In order to understand why the vast majority of soda fountains use tap water instead of bottled or filtered water for their machines, it is first necessary to learn how these machines work. In order to produce the nice, cold, bubbly soda that we so often enjoy with our meals, the fountain needs access to a steady stream of cold water. The machine comes with an interior pump that can be hooked up to many different sources of water.

For many bar and restaurant owners, the easiest and cheapest way to get the machines to work is to hook up the internal pump to the city’s tap water system. That way, the machine can work like a sink, providing instant cold water at the user’s request. The process of carbonating the water also requires that it be cold, which is why tap water is usually the best solution all around.

Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Depending on where you live, it is likely the case that your tap water is filtered using a standardized filtration method in your city. You can contact your local government officials to learn more about the safety of your nearby tap water if you are unsure of its source. For the most part, the tap water that enters soda machines is safe enough for folks to consume, especially since the carbonization process filters the water even further.

Most people don’t realize just how much tap water they end up consuming every day. Carbonated water and soda beverages are consumed by millions of gallons in the U.S. alone on a daily basis, and soda fountains are almost universally hooked up to tap water systems. It can be difficult to predict how many people are going to want to use the soda fountain every day, and how many times per day they will return. That is why the best way to keep these machines operational is to keep them hooked up to a tap water system for a steady stream of water at all times.

Keep Your Customers Happy with On-Demand Soda

Your soda fountain is one of the most important staples of your restaurant or bar business. It’s important that it is in continuous operation throughout your store’s opening hours, providing customers with the cool and bubbly drinks they know and love. Learn more about operating soda machinery and invest in top-notch Los Angeles soda fountain equipment when you get in touch with SC Beverage today for an equipment consultation. We can help you with custom or wholesale beverage equipment needs so you can start your food services business off on the right foot. Contact us today to get started!

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