Serving trays

How you carry it depends on its shape. Hold a round tray on your flat hand, with your thumb on the rim and the weight directly above your forearm. This works well up to about 40 cm. Any larger, and the leverage becomes too much. The round trays in 27, 35 and 40 cm are available in black and stainless steel. Carry oval and rectangular trays with two hands or against your hip. You hold them lengthwise, so they’re easier to get through a narrow passage. The 68 cm oval tray is for full rounds of beer. The 38x50 cm rectangular tray is handy for carrying plates and glasses together. Behind the bar, the 27 cm tray is enough for small rounds. If you want something that also looks good on the table, choose the 38 cm copper tray. For larger quantities, also take a look at the glass crates.

Place the heaviest glasses in the center and the lightest at the edge. Not the other way around. That keeps the center of gravity above your hand, so the tray is less likely to tip if someone bumps into you. Never place stemmed glasses next to each other. Glasses that clink together will break at the first bump. Leave a finger's width between them. If you're serving an Aperol Spritz in tall glasses with lots of ice, watch out for condensation. A wet base can slide even on a non-slip tray. With an Espresso Martini the problem is the opposite. A full coupe glass sloshes over with every step. Top it up at the table or fill it a little less. Set the tray on the stand between trips, not on a chair.

The non-slip layer is a slightly rough coating, and dirt gets trapped in that texture. Wipe the board after each service with soapy water and a soft cloth, then let it dry upright. Do not use a scouring pad. Once the coating has been sanded smooth, the grip is gone and will not come back. The stainless-steel boards can go in the dishwasher. Wash the black-coated boards by hand, because repeated exposure to heat causes the coating to peel. Keep the copper and wooden stand dry and polish them with a cloth. Copper tarnishes. Some people like that; others polish it away.

Do you often work outdoors or at a venue? Then take a look at the serving carts and mobile bars. With those, you often don't even need the tray. To prevent water rings on the table, there are coasters. You can find the glasses most often served on a tray under beer glasses. All the tools for behind the bar are listed on the bar toolspage. If you're looking for a tray that's mainly going to stay on the table, the 38 cm copper model is the most obvious choice.