Beatrix Montes
The Bottoms Up beer dispenser is a novel draft beer pouring technology that fills cups from the bottom up. The machine can pour up to 44 pints per minute with just one person operating it and can reach up to 56 pints per minute with multiple users, making it significantly faster than traditional taps. So, how does it work?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor | Josh Springer |
| Inventor's profession | Owner, Adventure's Restaurant |
| Inventor's motivation | "I always saw my service being slowed down by the need to pour beer and thought: What if the beers filled themselves?" |
| Inventor's opinion | "I’ve never seen a product in this industry that has provided the type of return on investment that Bottoms Up has. It’s turned me from a skeptic to a lifelong customer." |
| Speed | Up to 44 pints per minute with one operator; up to 56 pints per minute with multiple operators |
| Mechanism | Magnets |
| Cup material | Plastic |
| Cup type | Disposable |
| Magnet type | Floppy, circular, fridge-style |
| Magnet placement | On the cup, covering the hole at the bottom |
| Magnet movement | When the cup is placed on the dispenser, the magnet is pushed up, breaking the seal, and allowing beer to flow into the cup |
| Magnet advertising opportunity | Customizable with branding, promotions, or logos |
| Comparison to traditional taps | Faster, more hygienic, more convenient, and efficient |
| Drawbacks | Higher upfront costs, more waste, and repeat costs due to single-use magnets |
What You'll Learn
Bottoms Up Beer Dispenser System: 44 pints/minute, 56 at top speed
The Bottoms Up Beer Dispenser System is a game-changer in the bartending and hospitality industry, with an impressive pouring speed of 44 pints per minute and a maximum speed of 56 pints per minute. This innovative system was invented by Josh Springer, who revolutionised the way beer is dispensed by filling cups from the bottom up.
The system's speed and efficiency are made possible by its unique design. The plastic glasses used in the Bottoms Up system have a circular floppy fridge magnet inside, which covers a hole at the bottom of the cup. When the cup is placed on the dispenser, the magnet is pushed up, breaking the seal and allowing beer to flow into the cup. The beer dispensing time is set to a timer, ensuring a perfect pour every time.
Once the beer has finished dispensing, the cup is removed straight up, and the magnet reseals the hole, creating a secure seal. This prevents any leaks or spills and ensures that the beer stays in the cup. The Bottoms Up system is not only fast but also versatile, as it can hook up to any keg, and its speed and efficiency can be further enhanced by having multiple people operating the dispensers.
While the Bottoms Up Beer Dispenser System offers unprecedented speed and convenience, there is a trade-off in terms of waste. The plastic cups with the built-in magnets are designed to be disposable, which may not be environmentally friendly. However, the magnets on these cups provide a unique advertising opportunity, as they can be customised with logos or promotions, potentially becoming souvenirs that patrons take home.
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The cups: plastic, disposable, with a floppy fridge magnet inside
The Bottoms Up beer dispenser is a machine that fills cups from the bottom up, pouring up to 44 pints per minute with just one person operating it. This innovative system not only speeds up service but also eliminates beer waste, making it ideal for busy restaurants and bars.
The cups used in this system are made of plastic and designed to be disposable. Each cup has a hole at the bottom, which may seem counterintuitive for a beverage container, but it is this unique feature that enables the bottom-filling mechanism. The key to sealing this hole lies in the use of magnets.
Inside each plastic cup is a floppy fridge magnet, a circular disc that serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it seals the hole by sticking to a corresponding donut-shaped strip around the filling hole. Secondly, it provides an advertising opportunity. These magnets can be customised with logos, promotions, slogans, pictures, or discount offers, transforming them into collectible souvenirs for patrons.
When the cup is placed on the Bottoms Up "kegerator", a refrigerated keg, the magnet is lifted, allowing beer to flow upward and fill the cup. Once the cup is filled to the preprogrammed amount, the magnet falls back into place, sealing the liquid inside. This entire process takes only about six seconds for a typical pint, showcasing the efficiency of the system.
While the disposable nature of these cups may be seen as a drawback, the magnets within them offer a unique marketing angle. Patrons can remove the magnets, take them home, and place them on their fridges, providing ongoing exposure for the venue's branding or promotions.
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The machine: fast, hooks up to any keg, no beer wasted via foam
The Bottoms Up beer dispenser is a machine that fills beer cups from the bottom, and it has several advantages over traditional taps. Firstly, it is incredibly fast, pouring up to 44 pints per minute with just one person operating it. This rate can increase to 56 pints per minute with multiple people helping, which is not far off one pint per second. This makes it ideal for busy bars or events where speed is essential.
The machine is also versatile, as it can hook up to any keg, and it significantly reduces waste. The unique filling method ensures that beer is not wasted via foam, provided the rest of the equipment is clean and properly adjusted. This results in a higher yield from each keg, which can lead to substantial cost savings for businesses. In fact, the company claims that its customers see an average increase in revenue of 30% after adopting the Bottoms Up taps.
The Bottoms Up system utilises custom cups with a hole at the bottom. This hole is sealed by a magnet, and when the cup is placed on the dispenser, the nozzle lifts the magnet, allowing the cup to fill to a pre-programmed amount. The magnet then drops back into place, sealing the hole and preventing leaks. While there have been some reports of leaks, many users have also praised the system for its accuracy and lack of mess.
Overall, the Bottoms Up beer dispenser offers a fast, efficient, and waste-reducing alternative to traditional taps, making it a valuable asset for any business serving draught beer.
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The problem: waste of glasses. Designed to be disposable
The Bottoms Up beer dispenser is a fantastic innovation in the world of bartending, capable of pouring up to 44 pints per minute with a single operator, and even more with additional staff. This speed and efficiency are impressive, but the system also has a unique way of pouring: from the bottom of the cup. While this may seem like magic, the answer lies in magnets. The plastic cups have a floppy fridge-style magnet inside, which seals the hole at the bottom. When placed on the dispenser, the magnet is pushed up, breaking the seal, and beer flows into the cup.
However, there is a notable downside to this system: the waste of glasses. Unlike traditional glass glasses, these cups are designed to be disposable. While this may be convenient for venues, it contributes to a significant increase in waste compared to reusable glassware. The magnets themselves are also single-use, adding to the overall waste generated by each pour. This is a crucial consideration, especially as environmental concerns and sustainability efforts continue to grow.
The disposable nature of the cups and magnets also presents an opportunity for advertising and marketing. The magnets can be customised with branding, promotional offers, or logos, turning them into portable advertisements that customers can take home. This unique advertising space can potentially spark conversations and act as a reminder for customers to return to the venue. However, the effectiveness of this strategy depends on whether customers choose to keep and display these magnets.
While the Bottoms Up system offers undeniable benefits in terms of speed and efficiency, the increase in waste is a significant drawback. Venues must carefully consider the trade-off between the convenience and performance of the system and the environmental impact of the disposable cups and magnets. Ultimately, the decision to adopt this technology depends on various factors, including the venue's busyness and the potential for a quick return on investment.
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The opportunity: magnets as advertising space
The Bottoms Up beer dispenser fills cups from the bottom using magnets to reseal the hole. The plastic cups have a floppy fridge magnet inside, which sticks to a corresponding donut-shaped strip around the filling hole. These magnets can be customised with advertising.
The magnets used to reseal the Bottoms Up cups can be customised with advertising. This is a unique advertising opportunity, as the magnets can be taken home and placed on fridges, becoming a long-lasting souvenir from a venue. Fridge magnets are a proven advertising strategy, with a magnet on the fridge of an American household getting 20 impressions per day per person.
Magnets are a versatile and effective advertising tool. They can be used as car magnets, providing a mobile advertising opportunity. Car magnets are a great way to get your business noticed, acting as a travelling business card. They can be easily seen by other drivers and pedestrians, and can be used to display important information such as a phone number, website, and logo. Car magnets are durable, weather-resistant, and easy to attach and remove.
Magnets can also be used as promotional items at events and functions, or as business card magnets. They can be customised with a range of colours, shapes, and sizes to suit your brand. With their strong magnetic backing, they will stay on your clients' refrigerators for years, providing long-term exposure for your business.
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Frequently asked questions
Bottom-fill beer cups, also known as Bottoms Up, are placed on a dispensing platform. The cups have a hole in the bottom with a floppy fridge-magnet inside. When the cup is placed on the dispenser, the magnet is pushed up, breaking the seal, and beer is allowed to flow into the cup. Once the beer has finished dispensing, the cup is removed and the magnet covers the hole, creating a seal.
Bottom-fill beer cups can be poured at a rate of up to 44 pints per minute with a single operator. With multiple operators, this rate can increase to 56 pints per minute.
Bottom-fill beer cups offer several benefits over traditional pouring methods. They are faster, allowing venues to serve more customers and reduce wait times. They also offer hands-free hygiene, as the beer is dispensed directly into the cup without the need for a nozzle or tap. Additionally, the cups provide a unique advertising opportunity, as the magnets can be customised with branding and promotions.
One drawback of bottom-fill beer cups is the cost. The dispensers are more expensive than traditional keg dispensers, and the system requires specially made cups with single-use magnets, which generates more waste. Additionally, the cups are designed to be disposable, which may not be environmentally friendly.
