Bartender tools: what you need to set up your bar
To run a cocktail bar you need nine groups of tools: shakers, jiggers, strainers, a bar spoon and mixing glass, fruit tools, pourers and squeeze bottles, dash bottles for bitters, ice tools, and a few specialist items for more elaborate serves. Most of them cost little; what matters is having everything in place before the business opens.
Below you will find each group separately, with the points worth checking and the price range at e-costos.gr. Most of the tools on the list are by THE BARSTARDS, our own brand of bar tools. You can see them all on the bartender tools page.
Before you buy
Start with your drinks menu, because it determines the equipment. A bar that mainly serves spirits with mixers needs far less than a cocktail bar. Cocktails that are shaken also require strainers, while drinks made with lime and mint, such as the mojito, require a muddler.
The second factor is how many people will work behind the bar at the same time. Each bartender needs their own set, so that nobody has to wait for a colleague’s tools at peak times.
As for materials, choose stainless steel tools (inox): they do not rust, are easy to clean and withstand the intensive daily use of a bar.
The bar checklist
Cocktail shaker
The shaker is the container in which the drink is shaken with ice. There are two main types:
- Boston. Two stainless steel tins, one large and one small, that fit inside each other. It opens and closes quickly and holds more servings, which is why most professional bars prefer it; it does, however, require a separate strainer.
- Cobbler. Three pieces: the tin, a lid with a built-in strainer and a small cap. Because it needs no separate strainer, it is easier to use for beginners and for home bars.
At e-costos.gr shakers range from €3.24 to €29.99 + VAT. The basic THE BARSTARDS Boston costs €5.99 + VAT. The more expensive models are made of 18/10 stainless steel, which has a brighter finish and stands up better to frequent washing, or have a black or copper coating.
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Boston & Cobbler shakers
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Jiggers
A jigger gives every cocktail the same measure, whichever bartender makes it. It also lets you control alcohol use precisely, and therefore the cost of each drink.
Most jiggers have two sides with different capacities, for example 30 and 50 ml, or 25 and 50 ml. Choose the one that matches the measure your business serves. Graduated jiggers also show smaller quantities, useful for syrups and juices, while Japanese jiggers are taller and narrower, so the level is easier to read accurately.
Prices range from €1.40 to €10.99 + VAT.
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Bar jiggers
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Strainers
A strainer holds the ice and pieces of fruit back in the shaker, so that only the liquid reaches the glass. Bars use three types:
- Hawthorne strainer. It sits on the mouth of the shaker and its spring holds back the ice. This is the type used most often.
- Fine strainer. A conical fine-mesh strainer held over the glass for a second straining, so that no small ice chips or leaves end up in the drink.
- Julep strainer. It looks like a perforated spoon and is used with the mixing glass.
Prices range from €1.26 to €6.38 + VAT.
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Strainers
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Bar spoon and mixing glass
Some cocktails are not shaken but stirred with ice, so that they stay clear. For these you need a mixing glass and a long bar spoon. The spoon has a twisted handle so that it turns easily between the fingers, and enough length to reach the bottom of the glass. At e-costos.gr you will find spoons from 31 to 41 cm; the longer ones are more practical in tall glasses.
Bar spoons cost from €1.99 to €7.99 + VAT and mixing glasses from €6.99 to €17.34 + VAT. Both glass and stainless steel versions are available: stainless steel does not break, but you cannot see the drink while you stir it.
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Bar spoons & mixing glasses
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Muddler, squeezer and fruit tools
With a muddler you press lime, pieces of fruit and mint leaves in the glass, as in a mojito. A stainless steel muddler lasts longer and is easier to clean, while a plastic one is the more economical option. A hand squeezer gives fresh lemon or lime juice at the moment the drink is made.
For garnishes you need a small knife and a peeler, which you use to cut thin strips of orange and lemon peel. The tools in this section start from €1.29 + VAT.
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Muddlers, peelers & knives
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Pourers and squeeze bottles
A pourer fits into the neck of the bottle and controls the flow, so that the drink pours steadily and without splashing. You need one for every bottle that is open on the bar. Pourers are among the cheapest tools, from €0.17 + VAT.
Plastic squeeze bottles are used for syrups, juices and fruit purées. They are squeezed with one hand and dispense exactly the amount you need. They come in many sizes and cost from €0.57 to €1.49 + VAT.
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Pourers & squeeze bottles
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Dash bottles for bitters
Dash bottles are small glass bottles for bitters, aromatic extracts and syrups that go into a cocktail in very small amounts. The special top lets out only a little liquid with each tilt (a “dash”), so the dose is the same in every drink, whoever makes it. Those with a spray top mist the aroma over the drink or inside the glass.
You need one for each bitter or aroma you use. They cost from €6.17 to €7.19 + VAT.
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Dash bottles
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Ice: scoops, tongs and crusher
Ice should never be picked up by hand or with the glass itself. Hands carry germs into the drink. And if a glass breaks inside the ice bin, all the ice has to be discarded, because the shards cannot be seen. That is why you need an ice scoop. A perforated one lets the meltwater drain before the ice goes into the glass.
Tongs are used for large ice cubes and garnishes, while an ice crusher breaks large blocks down to the size you need. To keep ice close to your workstation, see also our champagne buckets and ice tongs.
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Ice scoops, tongs & crushers
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For specialist cocktails: torch, filter bag, rimmer
These are not essential from day one, but they allow more refined presentation, which sets your bar apart:
- Hand torch. For flaming orange peel or cinnamon and caramelising sugar on top of a drink.
- Filter bag. A very fine filter for clear juices and syrups, or for spirits you infuse yourself.
- Rimmer. A container with compartments for salt and sugar, used to garnish the rim of the glass quickly, as for a margarita.
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For specialist cocktails
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What does a basic bartender kit cost?
A basic bartender kit costs €53.80 + VAT (€66.72 incl. VAT) at e-costos.gr. It includes the tools needed for most cocktails. Prices are the current e-shop prices of the most popular product in each category. Untick anything you already have, adjust the quantities and add the whole kit to your cart with one click.
| Include in the kit | Tool | Pieces | Total + VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
 Boston shaker 550/900 ml€5.99 + VAT | €5.99 | ||
 Jigger 30/50 ml€1.49 + VAT | €1.49 | ||
 Hawthorne strainer€3.78 + VAT | €3.78 | ||
 Fine strainer€1.26 + VAT | €1.26 | ||
 Bar spoon 31 cm€2.79 + VAT | €2.79 | ||
 Mixing glass 650 ml€6.99 + VAT | €6.99 | ||
 Muddler€1.30 + VAT | €1.30 | ||
 Lemon squeezer€5.37 + VAT | €5.37 | ||
 Pourer€0.87 + VAT | €5.22 | ||
 Dash bottle 120 ml€6.17 + VAT | €12.34 | ||
 Ice scoop€4.49 + VAT | €4.49 | ||
 Squeeze bottle 490 ml€1.39 + VAT | €2.78 | ||
| Total | €53.80 | ||
How many pieces do you need?
Quantities depend on the size of the bar, in other words on three factors:
- How many bartenders work at the same time. Each bartender needs their own shaker, jigger, strainers and spoon.
- How many drinks you serve at peak times. The higher the volume, the more shakers you need, so that service is not interrupted for washing.
- How many bottles are open on the bar. You need that many pourers, plus a few spares for while the others are being washed.
If you are not sure, the Costos equipment advisor can work out what your bar needs.
Frequently asked questions
What tools does a bartender need?
A shaker, a jigger, a Hawthorne strainer and a fine strainer, a bar spoon (plus a mixing glass if you serve stirred cocktails), a muddler and squeezer, pourers, squeeze bottles, dash bottles for bitters and an ice scoop. With these you can make most cocktails.
What is a dash bottle?
A small glass bottle for bitters, aromatic extracts and syrups that are added in very small amounts. Its special top lets out only a little liquid with each tilt (a “dash”), so the dose is the same in every drink. Dash bottles with a spray top mist the aroma over the drink or the glass.
Boston or Cobbler shaker?
The Boston consists of two stainless steel tins, opens quickly and holds more servings, which is why most professional bars prefer it, but it requires a separate strainer. The Cobbler has a strainer built into the lid and is easier to use for beginners and at home.
Which jigger should I choose?
The one that matches the measure you serve. Most have two sides, for example 30/50 ml or 25/50 ml. If you make cocktails with many ingredients, choose a graduated one so you can measure small quantities accurately.
What is a Hawthorne strainer?
It is the strainer with a spring. It sits on the mouth of the shaker and holds back the ice and pieces of fruit, while the drink passes into the glass.
Inox 18/0 or 18/10?
Both are stainless steel. 18/10 also contains nickel, so it has a brighter finish and stands up better to frequent washing, while 18/0 is more economical and is enough for basic tools.
Where can I see the tools in person in Thessaloniki?
At the Costos store, 9th km Thessaloniki–Moudania. In the 4,500 m² showroom you can see shakers, jiggers, glasses and all our bar equipment up close.
See all the tools on one page: bartender tools at e-costos.gr. For glassware, see the cocktail glasses category. If you are also setting up a kitchen, read our guide to restaurant kitchen equipment.
Free equipment advice at Costos
If you are opening a bar or renewing your equipment, the Costos equipment advisor can help you draw up the list free of charge; based on your drinks menu and the size of your bar, they will recommend exactly what you need.
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