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Guide
Cold beer, a workable bar and less foam
Cool the keg itself or chill beer on its way to the faucet. Your peak service rate and the heat matter.
Updated October 11, 2026
At a glance
- For a permanent bar, start with refrigerated keg storage and a short, cold line.
- For an event, a jockey box needs ice and enough capacity for consecutive pours.
- In Cabo heat, an inline chiller does not replace proper keg storage.
Two ways to cool
Kegerators, keezers and cold rooms refrigerate the keg. Jockey boxes and flash chillers cool beer in a heat exchanger before the faucet. Incoming temperature and continuous flow determine whether a chiller can keep up.
Refrigerated keg
Kegerator / Keezer
Beer chilled inline
Jockey box / Flash
Four options
| System | Cools | Consumes | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kegerator | Keg | Electricity | Permanent bar |
| Keezer | Keg | Electricity | DIY conversion |
| Jockey box | Inline | Ice | Event |
| Flash | Inline | Electricity | Model-specific capacity |
A keezer is an adapted chest freezer with temperature control. Plan for condensation and keg access; do not drill into walls without knowing the refrigerant route. A kegerator package may exclude the coupler, regulator or filled CO₂ cylinder.
Hot weather and maintenance
Micro Matic recommends protecting the keg from sun and keeping it cool; summer operation may require an ice bath. Coil jockey boxes use ice and water; cold plates generally use ice with meltwater draining away. Follow the model instructions.
For a typical direct-draw system, Micro Matic recommends 38 °F, about 3.3 °C, and line cleaning every two weeks. Pressure depends on carbonation, temperature, altitude and line resistance. Raising pressure alone does not fix foam.
Compare installed cost
Get a Mexico quote including equipment, compatible coupler, regulator, cylinder, CO₂ refills, installation, cleaning, electricity or ice, warranty and local repair. Foreign-shop prices may cover different packages; compare the complete installed cost in Mexico.
Test consecutive pours at your hottest operating conditions. Measure glass temperature and foam, and assign cleaning responsibility. For a permanent bar, include daily checks and cleaning in every option.
See menu costs and inventory and portion control.
Frequently asked questions
Does a jockey-box coil contain refrigerant?
Beer flows inside the coil; an ice-water bath cools it. An electric chiller has a separate refrigeration circuit.
Can the keg stay warm?
Do not assume so. Follow brewery storage guidance and the chiller capacity limits; in hot weather the keg may need cooling too.
Sources
Sources reviewed October 11, 2026. Numerical examples are illustrative unless attributed to a source. Check current supplier terms when comparing equipment or fees.
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