One of the most important aspects of great customer service is the speed at which customers are served. Customers don’t want to wait for drinks and restaurants and bars need experienced Bartenders who can keep up with the demand while consistently delivering great service.
If you’re a Bartender looking to improve your speed and efficiency — read on. We give out tips on how to bartend faster and become more efficient behind the bar.
After all, learning how to bartend faster not only helps improve the guest experience but also allows you to handle more orders. As a result, you’re likely to earn more money in tips from customers who appreciate your speedy and efficient service.
6 Tips on How To Be a Faster Bartender
Below are some tips to help you improve your bartending speed and efficiency while maintaining excellent service.
1. Organize and Set Up Your Station
Before a shift even begins, setting up your workstation is crucial for staying efficient during busy shifts. Take the image below, for instance:
Setting up your bar properly can save you precious time during busy periods. Here’s how to do it:
- Keep napkins and glassware nearby: Ensure that all your napkins, shot glasses and other bartending essentials are within arm’s reach. There’s nothing worse than running out of these during a rush, so always keep them stocked and close.
- Be mindful of where you place alcohol bottles:: Place your most used bottles of spirits closest to where your workstation is. If cocktails like a margarita or an old fashioned, for example, are your top-selling cocktails, keep the bottles of tequila, whisky and Angostura bitters close to you.
- Group ingredients: Group similar ingredients together or based on the cocktails they’re used for. Let’s use margaritas and old fashioned (again) as examples. To make these as fast as possible, you’ll want to have sugar cubes, salt, slices of lemon, orange and cocktail cherry in one place.
- Stock your fridges smartly: Your fridges should be fully stocked and arranged logically. Beers, wines and chilled mixers should be placed in easy-to-reach spots, with top-selling drinks in the front. When replenishing fridge inventory, make sure to push the already cold bottles to the front and then place new ones at the back. That way, you’ll be serving the cold beverage first, giving time for the freshly added bottles to cool.
2. Master Basic Bartending Tricks
Speed bartending doesn’t just come down to setup — it’s also about skill and technique. The more skilled you are, the faster you can mix and serve drinks.
Here are a few basic bartending tricks that can go a long way in improving speed and efficiency:
- Memorizing classic cocktails: Every professional Bartender should know the classic cocktails by heart. Whether it’s a mojito, martini or Manhattan, memorizing drinks ensures you don’t waste time checking a cocktail list or hesitating at the bar top.
- Speed pouring: Speed pouring is the technique of pouring multiple liquors at the same time in one fluid motion. This technique can be a real timesaver during a busy shift, especially if you’re dealing with a crowd that demands plenty of mixed drinks. Practicing speed pouring with both hands will save you minutes when mixing drinks.
- Pre-chilling glasses for cold cocktails: If you’re mixing a drink that needs to stay cold, always pre-chill your glassware. This prevents you from having to put too much ice, giving the drink a better flavor and saving time as you don’t have to compensate for warm glassware.
- Batching cocktails: For drinks that don’t involve perishable ingredients like fruits, dairy or eggs, batching cocktails can be a game changer. If your clientele frequently orders certain cocktails, you can pre-mix large batches and store them in bottles. That way, when someone orders a cocktail like a Negroni or daiquiri, you’ll be able to serve it in seconds without sacrificing quality.
Note: While cocktail batching can significantly improve efficiency and speed for table orders, it’s not recommended if you’re serving customers directly at the bar. Customers at the bar often prefer if you prepare and pour drinks on the spot. Here, you can also take advantage of flair bartending to add another level of professionalism and presentation.
Moreover, going back to the subject of speed pouring, below is a video that showcases speed pouring techniques and how to practice them:
3. Work Together with Other Bartenders
The Bartending job isn’t always a solo act. On busy nights, working with other Bartenders and Barbacks effectively is essential for keeping things moving at the right pace. Here’s how to maximize teamwork:
- Assign workstations: Assigning different stations to each Bartender and Barback can streamline service. One person could focus on crafting cocktails, another on restocking the fridges and preparing garnishes, while another handles high-volume drink orders like beer and simple spirits.
- Communicate clearly: Whether it’s signaling to a fellow Bartender that you need more ice or coordinating who’s grabbing the next order, staying in sync with each other prevents confusion and helps keep the flow smooth.
- Stay flexible: While everyone might have a specific task during the shift, flexibility is crucial. Be ready to switch stations or cover a colleague if things get particularly hectic.
When you work well as a team, service runs smoother. As a result, you can serve more customers without falling behind, resulting in better service and ultimately, more tips.
See also: How To Split Tips by Hours: Tip Pool Formula Explained
4. Become Proficient With POS and Inventory Management Systems
Knowing how to use your bar’s point-of-sale (POS) system efficiently is critical. The faster you can input drink orders and charge customers, the quicker you can move on to the next task.
Here’s a list of popular POS systems used across restaurants and bars in the United States:
Additionally, being familiar with inventory software or apps will help you easily monitor and manage stock levels without interrupting the flow of your shift.
Below are some of the best inventory software for managing inventory you can try to learn to make sure your bar is always stocked and ready for optimum operation:
5. Make the Most Out of Slow Periods
Bartending isn’t just about handling rushes. It’s also about knowing what to do during slower periods.
During off-peak hours, you can restock the bar with everything it needs, prep garnishes, cool and clean glasses or organize and clean your station.
This not only keeps your bar looking great but also ensures you’re ready for the next rush. Downtime is also a great time to review and try new drink recipes (if you’re working at your own bar or if the owner allows it).
6. Understand the Role of Barbacks
Barbacks are essential for a fast and efficient bar operation. Their role in restocking supplies, cleaning surfaces and ensuring Bartenders have everything they need can’t be overstated.
That said, a good Bartender should communicate well with their Barback and delegate tasks to them to ensure things run smoothly. Some of the things Barbacks should prioritize include:
- Keeping ice, napkins and glassware fully stocked
- Assisting with cleaning the bar top and keeping it clear of used glasses and shakers
- Replenishing spirits and mixers so Bartenders don’t need to leave their station
In short: If your Barback is good at their job, you as the Bartender will be able to serve more drinks without worrying about running out of supplies or having an untidy workstation.
Key Takeaways
To bartend faster, focus on keeping your bar organized. Mastering essential bartending techniques like speed pouring and batching cocktails can also cut down the time needed to prepare and serve drinks.
Working efficiently with your fellow Bartenders is also important. Make the most of slow periods to prep and stock up for the next rush and get familiar with the ins and outs of your bar’s POS and inventory systems.
A great Barback can be of great help — teamwork will help you keep the bar running smoothly.
Speed and service go hand in hand, and with these tips, you’ll be serving drinks faster and boosting those tips (pardon the pun) in no time!
How To Bartend Faster: FAQs
Before their shift, a Lead Bartender should always make sure the bar is properly stocked, organized and ready for service. After the shift, they should review sales, ensure all inventory is accounted for and make sure the bar is ready for the next day.
Barbacks should focus on keeping the bar fully stocked, clearing glassware from the bar top, and maintaining a clean, organized workspace for the Bartenders. Their support allows Bartenders to serve more drinks quickly and efficiently.
You can also check out this career guide for more advice (including how to become an efficient Barback).
If it takes more than two to three minutes to prepare a standard drink or cocktail, that could be considered slow.
Not always. Speed bartending simply means serving drinks quickly and handling orders at a fast pace, while efficiency in bartending means keeping up with demand without compromising quality.
In short: All efficient Bartenders know how to and can bartend fast, but a speedy Bartender may not always be an efficient one.
According to the World Record Academy, the fastest Bartender in the world is Chris Raph. Chris managed to make 662 cocktails in one hour!
Written by Mitko Terziev
With over eight years of experience in the field, Mitko is a seasoned content specialist who has penned thousands of articles covering a wide array of topics. Before writing, he spent a few months working as a Bartender in one of the best bars in his hometown. In his free time, Mitko enjoys immersing himself in the worlds of gaming and nature.
Reviewed by Marcy Miniano
Marcy is an editor and writer with a background in public relations and brand marketing. Throughout her nearly decade-long career, she has honed her skills in crafting content and helping build brands across various industries — including restaurant and hospitality, travel, tech, fashion and entertainment.
