Best Glass Frosters

If you also enjoy your beer, you know that there are some drinks only taste good when they are served chilled.

However, all too often, glasses are taken straight from the dishwasher where they are rinsed with hot water. And therein lays the problem.

No matter how cold the beer is, it becomes warmer when poured in the glass. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the glasses that are just as chilled as the drink itself?

The only way to overcome this problem is with glass chillers and frosters that can help you serve ice-cold beverages by keeping the glasses chilled. These refrigerator-like machines are built to hold several dozen (or even hundreds of) standard glasses, making them appropriate for home-based breweries and large bars alike.

Now a glass froster takes only a few seconds to chill your glasses before serving, which saves significant time, especially during your restaurant’s busy hours or when you are short on time.

They are space-efficient devices that can be easily set up in your bar and even on the countertop. Moreover, they save energy while providing you the best value on their prices that are relatively more reasonable than refrigerators.

If you are looking for help in deciding on the best glass frosters for your needs, we will help you choose. Read on for our recommendations:

Best Glass Frosters In The Market

1. Editor’s Choice: Innoveco Glass Chiller IN-000

Innoveco’s top-mounted glass froster chills your glass in seconds. It is designed to save space in bars or restaurants and even homes while giving off an attractive appeal with its sleek design and elegant metallic luster.

Hold the glass for 3 to 5 seconds under the dome of the froster and press down to release the gas. You will see the glass frosted as soon as you remove it.

To set it up, you need to stage the CO₂ glass chiller on the countertop and connect it with a CO₂ tank. The tank then sprays liquid CO₂ at a temperature of -45 degrees, frosting all types of glasses instantly.

The aluminum body makes it easy for you to keep the device clean, and since it functions on AA batteries, it’s pretty energy-efficient as well.

Pros

• Suitable for multiple types of glasses and cups
• Easy to clean
• Compact and reliable
• Works on AA batteries
• Portable

Cons

• Not enough guidance on setting it up

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2. Best Instant Glass Froster: BINDEBEER Rapid Fast CO2 Glass Froster

Bindebeer’s Rapid Fast glass froster promises to deliver a beautiful frosted glass in just 6 seconds, which is a lot faster than any refrigerator we’ve heard of. Its economical pricing doesn’t hurt either.

You can trust this device to frost beverage glasses instantly when your restaurant or pub is experiencing busy service hours, and the customers want their drinks quickly. All you need to do is place the glass under the hood and press it to release the gas, which covers the glass in frost.

This device comes in a space-efficient, minimal yet elegant design that you can even set up on your bar counter for aesthetic purposes.

All you need is a liquid CO₂ tank with a siphon tube that can be used to accomplish frosting in the best way. Since it doesn’t require an electrical connection, you can save a significant amount of money and energy from your restaurant’s expenditure, which makes it the most economical option.

A 20 lbs tank of CO₂ can chill about 160-200 different types of glasses meant for beer, wine, whiskey, cocktail, or any other beverage in just 3-6 seconds.

Pros

• Maintains the drinks’ taste
• Economical price
• Compact and portable
• Minimal design
• Instant frosting process
• Chill glasses down to -4 ⁰F

Cons

• Consumes CO² rapidly

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3. Best Prosumer Glass Froster: HomeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler – 3.2 Cubic Feet

HomeLabs’ refrigerator and cooler is a fantastic under-bar addition for bars looking for both large capacity and flexible storage options. Sous Vide Guy really, really liked the combination of slick design with stainless steel and black coupled with functionality. A big plus here is that the internal chrome shelves are removable. This means you’re not limited to its listed capacity of 120 standard beer cans. Rather, you can mix and match to fit in wine bottles, whiskey, soda, or whatever you’d like. The only real limitation is its 3.2 cubic foot capacity. The door hinges are also interchangeable, meaning that you can set it up for opening to the left or to the right with a bit of effort.

The HomeLab chiller also includes touch-controlled temperature settings as well as a handy-light for usage in situations that require a touch of mood-lighting – whether at a bar or at home. Provided nothing is damaged during shipping you can expect and easy 40 degrees Fahrenheit without breaking a sweat, and down to about 38 degrees on the coldest setting. With that said, Sous Vide Guy found that the top-rack in particular doesn’t quite fit the as-billed product description. The fan for the fridge is partially blocked by the interior-facing molding surrounding the fan blades.

Pros

• Slick design with interchangeable hinges and door light.
• 2 cubic foot capacity when the 3 chrome racks are removed – about 120 standard beer cans (not tall cans) otherwise.
• Removable racks mean there’s some flexibility for storing wine bottles and the like, although they need to be on their sides.
• Cools as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit, and comfortably stays at about 40.

Cons

• Some reports in temperature inaccuracies and broken racks.
• The fan partially blocks storage space on the top rack.

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4. Best Glass Froster for Home Use: Vinotemp 1L C02 Glass Chiller

The Vinotemp glass froster is a stylish bar-ready addition to your personal cocktail, wine, or whiskey haven. This froster can be mounted on pretty much any flat surface as long as it has a lip for the clamp to be set on such as countertops of kitchen islands. All Vinotemp’s froster measures 4.25 by 8.5 by 19 inches. This is significantly more compact than commercial units. Most of the extra height comes from the hardware at the rear of the unit for processing the liquid C02 tank.

Vinotemp’s glass froster takes 1L containers of liquid C02. This is slightly different from other units on this list that use compressed gas instead of liquid. The 1L capacity is quite generous considering the size, but your mileage will vary based on how long you frost the glasses for. Again, this is definitely a product for home usage. If you’re looking to frost multiple kegs worth of beer for instance this is not the product for you. One final note, although liquid C02 is preferred it’s also possible to use compressed C02, although you’ll need to hold the tank upside down to enable frosting. One frustrating feature with this unit is that the instructions themselves are rather unclear.  This is compounded by the fact the VinoTemp doesn’t include a C02 tank, so the froster isn’t ready to use out of the box.

Pros

• One of a very small number of home-designed glass frosters.
• Reasonable size at 4.25x 8.5 x 19 inches.
• Slick stainless-steel design, and easy-to-use universal clamp system.
• Can work with both liquid and gas C02 with a little tinkering.

Cons

• Confusing instructions.
• Not suitable for commercial use.
• Doesn’t come with CO2 tank.

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5. Best For Wine Lovers: VoChill Personal Wine Chiller

VoChill’s personal wine chiller is a sleek addition to any wine-lover’s arsenal. Unlike other products on this list the VoChill is designed specifically for casual use at or after dinner. This is in no way a commercial grade product, but it sure is a classy one. The chill cradle simply needs to be store in the freezer between uses and will keep a glass of white or rose cold for up to 1.5 hours depending on the ambient air temperature. In the shad on a hot day this drops to about 45 minutes or so.

The VoChill personal wine chiller works best when you maximize its surface area contact with the cradle. This means that there are specific types of glasses that work best with VoChill’s chilling system. Ideally you want to use Bordeaux, Cabernet, Coupe, or Universal glasses. If you prefer dimensions try to stick to 3.75 inches across the bowl of the glass and a maximum stem height of 4.5 inches. Long stems, flat bottomed glasses, or those with extra large bowls, unfortunately, won’t fit.

Pros

• Good for up to 1.5 hours of chilling inside, or 45 minutes outside in the shade.
• Perfect for Bordeaux, Cabernet, Coupe, or Universal glasses.
• Compact form at 8 x 8 x 6 inches.
• Sleek, light-weight design.

Cons

• Won’t work with long stems, flat bottomed glasses, or extra-large bowls.
• Not designed to chill a room temperature glass.

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6. Best for Casual Home Use: HyperChiller Long Lasting Beverage Chiller

The HyperChiller Long Lasting Beverage Chiller is a fantastic multi-functional addition for drink virtuosos of all stripes. Although billed primarily as a way to cool coffee within 60 seconds the HyperChiller also applies to many other drinks. It’s just as efficient at cooling down alcoholic drinks as well as making ice teas. We also really liked the fact that the container fits beneath most coffee machines, although it won’t quite manage with a Keurig.

HyperChiller’s beverage chiller also uses a nested design without any need for typical coolants. All you need is to fill the interlocking chambers with water and you’re good to go. This also means that all of the components are dishwasher safe. In particular, this is a huge bonus for those who prefer adult, evening-oriented beverages Consumer reports also indicated rapid customer service response times, in some cases faster than getting in touch with sellers like Amazon. The only significant disadvantages to the HyperChiller Long Lasting Beverage Chiller are its somewhat bulky design, and some issues with the threading surrounding the gap. The latter is of particular note as any water that gets into the threads pre-freeze will make the HyperChiller tough to open.

Pros

• Works for alcohol, juice, and coffee.
• Dishwasher safe by using tap or bottled water for cooling rather than a coolant.
• Fast chill times.
• Coffee can be brewed directly into the chamber, and cooled within 60 seconds.
• Excellent customer service.

Cons

• Bulky design.
• Cap-threads can fill with water and lead to freezing.

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Choosing The Best Beverage Refrigeration Equipment

If you are a bar owner or just a beer aficionado who loves to hold parties and serve your home-brewed beer, you need the best refrigeration equipment. But before finding the suitable option, you need to assess the space you need to chill your drinks, your budget, and any special features that you require.

The following are some refrigeration options, keeping your requirements in mind.

Glass Frosters

Glass frosters are designed for chilling glassware before serving a drink. The frosting device is connected to a CO₂ tank that releases the gas to produce a film of frost on the glass. This entire process takes seconds to complete, and in the end, you get a chilled glass that you can immediately serve to your friends, family, or customers.

Commercial grade glass frosters can hold a massive number of glasses at a time while maintaining the temperature. They come in sleek designs so that you can place them in your bar without worrying about their look.

Also, the CO₂ added by the glass froster helps enhance the taste of the drink while maintaining its fizziness, which makes it perfect for your bar. Available in movable and mounted designs, they can be easily set up on your kitchen or bar’s countertop.

Bottle Coolers

Bottle coolers are simple units equipped with vast storage space to chill drinks and glassware. They are either refrigeration based or work with ice in bulk quantities.

Ice-cooled bottle coolers are perfect for outdoor events where the customers can grab their drinks. These coolers are filled with ice and connected to a drain to release the melted ice water.

On the other hand, the refrigeration based bottle coolers are mostly found in restaurants in pubs where they hold a huge number of chilled beverages that are served by your staff or bartenders.

Now, bottle coolers come in various sizes that you can install in your house, any outdoor event, or your pub.

Commercial Beverage Coolers

If your restaurant boasts of providing a unique drinking experience, you need a commercial cooler that maintains the temperature of your beverages. These coolers are available in various designs that you can select based on your restaurant’s ambiance if you are planning to place them in front of your customers.

Also, you need to determine the storage capacity you need or how much space you have to adjust a commercial-grade beverage cooler. Smaller cooler sizes provide the added benefit of setting them up on your countertop space.

Different Types Of Glasses You Need For Your Bar

When buying glasses for your bar, you need to look for designs that match the theme of your bar. Also, you must select high-quality glasses that are made of thick glass as they have fewer chances of breaking easily.

Now, if you are wondering what type of glasses you need to serve different beverages at your house or bar, read on to find out.

Cocktail Glasses

Cocktail or martini glasses are characterized by their conical shapes that come in a variety of glass styles. They possess a long stem that allows the drinker to hold the glass while preventing the transfer of heat energy from the hand that might warm the drink. These glasses hold around 3-6 ounces of the cocktail.

Short Tumblers

These glasses are a must-have for every bar or pub out there. It is an old-fashioned glass style that is mostly used for drinks that are served with ice.

Short tumblers hold around 6-8 ounces of a mixed drink or a neat pour of liquor with ice.

Shot Glasses

The shot glass is perhaps the most popular glass type in a bar. They come in various sizes, shapes, and styles, holding an average shot of about 1 ½ ounce.

These shot glasses are made up of thicker glass to prevent them from getting damaged if handled roughly.

Margarita Glasses

These glasses are used primarily for serving margaritas, but sometimes they can also be used for serving cocktails. Margarita glasses come in various shapes, the most famous being the double-bowl shape that is mainly used for frozen margaritas.

The smaller margarita glasses are meant for drinks that are served with no ice, and the medium ones are used for frozen margaritas. In contrast, the large ones are perfect for frozen drinks served with additional ice.

Champagne Glasses

Champagne glasses are meant for celebrations and toasts. They are available in various shapes and sizes, the most common being the champagne flute. It is a thin, long glass that is designed to contain the champagne bubbles inside the glass for a long time.

Another champagne glass type is the tulip style that possesses a longer stem with flared rims and the flute’s bowl shape.

Wine Glasses

Wine glasses are available in a huge variety of shapes and styles. Many bars and restaurants serve white wine in taller and more open glasses while red wine in rounder glasses that possess smaller bowls.

You can even serve your wine with ice in these glasses.

Beer Pints

Beer has a dedicated style of glassware that is available as beer mugs, pint glasses, and pilsner glasses.

The pint glasses can hold 16 ounces of beer, and it can also be used for mixing beers. The pilsner glass holds 10-14 ounces of beer in a flute shaped glass used for light beers.

On the other hand, the beer mugs are the perfect glassware that can be frosted to serve chilled beer to your customers or friends and family. They hold 10-14 ounces of beer, but if they have a thicker base, they will be able to hold around 10 ounces of beer only.

Brandy Glasses

These glasses are perfect for swirling your brandy, taking its aroma in and sipping it straight from the glass.

They are large glasses that allow you to enjoy brandy or any dark-colored beverage while relishing its colors.

FAQs

What is a glass froster used for?

Glass frosters are generally used to quickly and efficiently cooling down a glass for an ice-cold beverage. They do so via a CO2 tank attached to the unit. Glass frosters are excellent for culinary businesses – especially those that serve cocktails – and are also great for parties or forgetful chefs with money to space. Generally Sous Vide recommends glass frosters solely for commercial use.

How does a glass froster or chiller work?

Glass frosters use compressed gas – typically C02 – to quickly and efficiently frost glasses the moment your bar needs them. To do so simply hold the glass under the levered dome, press down and dispense the gas. This works because the C02 allows for moisture from the air to be attracted to the glass, frosting it in seconds rather than hours. Again, this is perfect for cocktails or bars with a high volume of guests. If your staff are being run off their feet then there really, really isn’t time to frost glasses the natural way. Chilling takes about five seconds.

Is a glass froster safe to use?

Absolutely! Glass frosters work with two of the most common gases in daily life – carbon dioxide and dihydrogen monoxide, otherwise know as oxygen. The interaction between the two allows for rapid chilling without diluting your drinks. In addition both C02 and O2 are inherently flavourless.

Where can I buy a CO2 tank?

The best place to get a C02 is either online through a retailer like Amazon, or from an air product supply shop. It might be strange to say, but if you have a local welding supply shop or industrial gas supplier both will likely have C02 tanks available. However, make sure that the tank you get is compatible with the input mechanism on your glass froster. Not that most if not all frosters use liquid C02. Within this category make sure you’re getting a beverage grade tank, or food grade if necessary.

How should I store a liquid C02 tank?

You should store a liquid C02 tank in much the same way as you do other compressed gases. Store them upright in a cool, clean, well-ventilated area away from foot traffic. The last thing you want is for a tank to become dented or damaged due to servers and chefs needing to pass directly by compressed gas.