Can a Kegerator Be Used for More Than Beer?

If you’re looking for a way to keep your party guests entertained this summer, then you need to invest in a kegerator. This is a great way to dispense not only fresh beer but a host of other drinks including soft drinks, kombucha, cider, coffee, and more! If you want to use your kegerator to dispense all of these beverages, then you need to know how it works. The best place to start is with beer.

Using the Kegerator to Dispense Beer

The main differences when it comes to dispensing beer versus other beverages from the kegerator are the temperature and pressure. In order to dispense beer from the kegerator, the CO2 pressure should be set to around 12 PSI. This is going to accommodate most keg beers with a few exceptions. The CO2 pressure will vary with the brand, style, and altitude at which the beer is served.

Once the pressure is set, be sure to tighten the lock to prevent the setting from shifting. Be sure to give the keg time to cool down to a temperature of around 38 degrees F. This is ideal for dispensing beer. Check the unit regularly while dispensing beer to ensure there aren’t any major changes in the temperature of the unit. The EdgeStar Craft Brew Kegerator is a  for dispensing fresh beer.

Score Points with Non-Beer Drinkers by Dispensing Soda

While many guests at your gathering are going to ask for beer, not everyone in the room will be a beer-lover or be old enough to drink beer. In this case, you can score points with them by providing an occasional soft drink from the keg! Before dispensing soda, be sure to cleanse the o-rings and beer lines thoroughly. It might be a good idea for you to keep some extra o-rings on hand to ensure the soda doesn’t taste like beer and vice versa.

If you want to dispense soda, you will have to dispense this at a much higher PSI. Usually, it is around 30 PSI. This is going to disguise the tremendous amount of sugar in soft drinks. If you have had a flat soda, you know what it tastes like when the pressure starts to fade. Kegerator cleaning kits can help you cleanse the lines before you dispense soda from your kegerator. There are even specialized beer cleaning kits that can be used to help you clean the kegerator thoroughly before swapping out the drinks.

Dispensing Hard Cider from the Kegerator

If you want to switch up the alcohol coming from the kegerator, you can also try dispensing hard cider. The good news is that this is not going to require much modification from the beer settings. Some people like to carbonate cider a bit more to disguise the sweetness of this drink; however, try not to go much higher than 12 PSI. Going over 15 PSI could lead to foaming problems, which could be a major party foul! Also remember to clean the beer lines to prevent the yeast taste of beer from contaminating the cider. The 24-inch Wide Single Tap Kegerator from Summit comes with digital controls, making it easy for you to switch your kegerator between settings to serve various beverages.

Serving Coffee from the Kegerator

In order to serve draft coffee from the kegerator, you are going to have to make a few modifications; however, this can be a great beverage at multiple times of day! First, you’ll need to clean out the gas and beverage lines to prevent the coffee from getting contaminated. It’s a good idea to swap out the o-rings as well. Then, you will need to swap out the faucet and use a stout faucet, to provide the best pour for the coffee.

After this, you will need to connect the proper gas and liquid lines. You can tailor the gas to meet your individual coffee tastes. For example, nitro coffee uses a different type of gas than other types of coffee. Finally, the pressure at which you serve coffee will vary from 35 to 45 PSI. Nitro coffee is usually served at higher pressures.

Invest in a Kegerator

If you’re looking for a way to inject more life into your gatherings, then put a kegerator to use. While a kegerator can be used to dispense delicious beer, it can also be used to serve a variety of other beverages as well. These include soda, coffee, cider, and more. Take a look at everything your kegerator can do and it’s sure to be the life of the party!