Beverages are a significant part of our lives and the most consumed beverage across the globe is nothing but water. However, a diverse range of beverages is available apart from water, and each offers nutrients, energy, and various other benefits. Different types of beverages form a significant part of the F&B industry and the drinks of our choice are easily available, thanks to a range of beverage service equipment and a robust supply chain.

Types of beverages
From tea and coffee to sports drinks, we consume different beverages daily. Let’s understand different soft beverage types.

A soft beverage is any drink that comes with a sweet-carbonated taste and feel. These are the common categories of soft beverages.

• Stimulating beverage
  Tea and coffee are common examples of this category. These are some of the most popular drinks that several people consume daily. Tea is prepared from steeping tea leaves, while coffee is produced from coffee beans. Both these beverages have different styles of preparations and techniques of serving.
• Refreshing beverage
  Juices, aerated water, mineral water, etc. are some examples of refreshing beverages. When it comes to juices, they are not only limited to fruit juices, vegetable juices are also considered refreshing sometimes. Moreover, aerated water is a part of the functional and flavored category since air and different flavors are added to this water for taste.
• Nourishing beverage
  Fresh fruit and vegetable juices and milk fall under the category of nourishing beverages. Juices and smoothies are excellent options for those wanting to include a healthy drink in their meal plans.
• Sports beverages
  Sports drinks are those beverages that contain water and electrolytes. Since this drink is meant to replenish water and nutrients lost during physical exercise, a strict beverage recipe is maintained to achieve maximum purity. While athletes categorically consume sports drinks, the market for this beverage is expanding with several people opting for these beverages.

Understanding beverage service and its equipment
When you visit a café or juice shop for refreshments, they have specific settings and equipment to serve the customers efficiently. The right beverage service equipment ensures a seamless guest experience and puts forward a positive image of the place. If you want to learn more about beverages or are planning to enter the F&B industry, you should take a look at the essential service equipment.

Different types of equipment are used for beverage serving depending on the type of facility, the drinks being served, and the number of customers. Below is a list of some commonly used beverage serving equipment:

• Beverage dispenser
  This equipment is used to dispense iced tea, soda, and lemonade. It is one of the most significant beverage service equipment in the industry.
• Ice machine
  Ice cubes are created with an ice maker and then used to cool beverages.
• Coffee machine
  This machine brews coffee, a favorite drink at many cafés and restaurants.
• Blender
  Smoothies, mojitos, and shakes can all be blended using a blender.
• Bottle opener
  Many drinks are still packed in glass bottles. The caps of these bottles are different from the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. A bottle opener helps remove the bottle cap for safety and is an easy-to-use option.
• Refrigerator
  Aerated water and soda are among the beverages that can be kept in a refrigerator at the required temperature.
• Kegs and taps
  These beverage equipment are used to offer soda on tap.
• A water filtration system
  This system purifies and filters the water used to manufacture beverages like soda, coffee, and tea.
• Dishwasher
  Glasses, serving ware, and other beverage-related equipment are cleaned in a dishwasher.

Apart from having essential beverage service and maintenance equipment, you will need a robust POS system. It is used to keep track of beverage sales, record them, and control inventory and pricing.

Understanding beverage packaging
When you decide to enter the beverage industry, you must know about packaging apart from the production. Glass is a traditional material used to pack any beverage. However, PET bottles are in excessive demand for their lightweight and unbreakable nature. Moreover, metal cans are on the rise to pack and deliver any beverage conveniently.

The beverage packaging supplies can be determined when you decide the type of beverage you want to ship – soft or any other beverage type. Bottles and jars have captured the largest market in the beverage packaging industry. Soft beverages are preferred in cartons, tetra packs, and PET bottles, while other drinks are mostly packed in glass bottles.

Beverage companies ensure that when customers buy a drink, it is properly packed and sealed and the inside content still retains its quality and flavor. All in all, if you want to embark on the beverage service or production industry, you must ensure the consumer can have the right product.