Introduction: The Two Workhorses of Beverage Service
Whether you're running a high-volume sports bar, a fast-casual restaurant, or a concession stand, getting beverages to customers fast and consistently is critical. Two systems dominate the commercial beverage world: the soda gun and the soda fountain. At Foxx Equipment Company, we've been supplying and servicing both since 1956—and we carry everything you need to set up, upgrade, or repair either system.
Let's break down how each works, where each excels, and how to choose the right one for your operation.
What Is a Soda Gun?
A soda gun—also called a bar gun or post-mix bar gun—is a handheld dispensing device that connects to a post-mix system. It delivers carbonated water and flavored syrup simultaneously, mixing them at the nozzle to produce a finished beverage on demand. With a single gun, a bartender can dispense multiple flavors (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, tonic water, soda water, orange juice, and more) just by pressing the corresponding button.
How a Post-Mix Soda Gun System Works
- Syrup source – Bag-in-box (BIB) syrup containers connect to the system via bag-in-box pump lines.
- CO₂ carbonation – A CO₂ tank pressurizes plain water through a carbonator motor, creating carbonated water.
- Mixing at the nozzle – When the bartender presses a button, the gun mixes the correct ratio of carbonated water and syrup (calibrated using a post-mix brix cup) and delivers the finished drink.
- Cold delivery – The lines run through a cold plate or ice bin to keep beverages chilled right up to the gun.
Foxx Soda Gun Products
Foxx Equipment carries a comprehensive line of Wunderbar post-mix bar guns—one of the most trusted names in the industry. Our bar gun lineup includes:
- Wunderbar Post-Mix Bar Guns – Available in multiple button configurations to handle anywhere from 6 to 10+ flavors per gun. Interchangeable button modules let you customize flavor selectors as your menu changes.
- Pre-Mix Bar Guns – For operations using pre-mixed, pre-carbonated product rather than BIB syrups.
- Energy Bar Guns – Designed for dispensing energy drink concentrates alongside standard sodas.
- Juice Bar Guns – Extend your gun to dispense juices and non-carbonated mixers from the same station.
- Mustang Dispensers – Compact dispensing options ideal for tighter bar setups.
We also stock all the supporting components: single-stage check valves to prevent backflow, bag-in-box cleaning adapters for sanitation, carbonator motors to keep your carbonation consistent, cold plates for in-ice chilling, and post-mix brix cups for dialing in syrup-to-water ratios.
When a Soda Gun Makes Sense
- High-volume bars and cocktail stations – Bartenders can pour any mixer one-handed without leaving the well.
- Space-constrained setups – A gun holster takes up inches, not feet, of counter space.
- Multi-mixer operations – One gun replaces multiple bottles of tonic, soda water, cola, and juice.
- Cost efficiency – Post-mix BIB syrups cost significantly less per ounce than bottled or canned beverages.
What Is a Soda Fountain?
A soda fountain (also called a fountain dispenser or post-mix tower) is a countertop or tower-mounted dispensing unit that delivers finished beverages directly into a cup. Unlike a soda gun, a soda fountain is customer-facing or counter-positioned, allowing self-service or easy crew operation at a designated beverage station.
How a Soda Fountain System Works
The mechanics are similar to a post-mix bar gun—BIB syrups, carbonated water, and CO₂ all feed the fountain. The difference is in the interface: a fountain has dedicated faucets or nozzles for each beverage, mounted on a tower or countertop unit. Customers or staff select a drink and fill directly under the nozzle.
Foxx Soda Fountain Products
Foxx Equipment carries the IBIS Soda/Water Fountain Tower line—chrome-plated, commercial-grade fountain dispensers available in 1-faucet, 2-faucet, and 3-faucet configurations. Key features include:
- Chrome-plated brass body for durability and a polished appearance
- Stainless steel water contact surfaces for sanitation and corrosion resistance
- Adjustable flow control on each faucet for accurate pour rates and proper brix ratios
- Multiple tower configurations to match your counter layout and volume needs
We also carry Cornelius post-mix valves and Lancer post-mix valves—two of the most widely used valve brands in the fountain industry—as well as pre-mix squeeze valves for pre-carbonated fountain applications and carbonating stones for fine-bubble carbonation systems.
When a Soda Fountain Makes Sense
- Self-service drink stations – QSRs, fast casual restaurants, and cafeterias where customers fill their own cups.
- High-throughput crew service – Dedicated beverage crew members filling drinks for a drive-through or service line.
- Venue concessions – Stadiums, arenas, and event venues where speed and simplicity are paramount.
- Convenience stores and gas stations – Fountain drinks are a major revenue driver; a multi-faucet tower maximizes SKU variety in a compact footprint.
Soda Gun vs. Soda Fountain: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Soda Gun (Bar Gun) | Soda Fountain (Tower) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary user | Bartender / server | Customer or crew |
| Footprint | Holster at bar well | Countertop or floor tower |
| Flavors per unit | Up to 10+ (button-select) | 1–3+ faucets per tower (expandable) |
| Ideal for | Bars, cocktail stations, back bar | QSR, self-serve, concessions |
| System type | Post-mix or pre-mix | Post-mix or pre-mix |
| Chilling method | Cold plate / ice bath in trunk line | Cold plate / remote cooler |
| Key components | Bar gun, CO₂, carbonator, BIB, cold plate | Tower/faucets, CO₂, carbonator, BIB, cold plate |
Building Your Complete Soda Dispensing System
Whether you're going with a bar gun or a fountain tower, a complete post-mix soda system requires several components working together. At Foxx Equipment, we carry every piece:
- CO₂ systems & regulators – Proper carbonation starts with the right gas pressure.
- Carbonator motors – Motorized carbonators keep your carbonated water supply consistent under high demand.
- Cold plates – Foxx manufactures cold plates in-house at our Kansas City facility, ensuring quality control and fast availability.
- Remote conduit trunk lines – Also manufactured in-house, our remote conduit runs chilled product lines from a remote cooler to your dispensing point.
- Post-mix valves (Cornelius & Lancer) – Industry-standard valves for fountain applications.
- Brix cups – For calibrating syrup-to-water ratios at startup and after maintenance.
- Bag-in-box cleaning adapters – Keep your lines sanitary and compliant.
- Drip pans & drip trays – Foxx manufactures drip trays in-house in a variety of sizes to fit any bar or fountain station.
- Ice/drink dispensers & self-contained ice makers – Round out your beverage station with integrated ice.
Why Choose Foxx Equipment for Your Soda Systems?
Foxx Equipment Company has been the go-to source for commercial beverage dispensing equipment since 1956. Here's what sets us apart:
- Massive inventory – We stock thousands of parts and systems, from complete soda guns and fountain towers down to individual check valves, fittings, and o-rings.
- In-house manufacturing – Cold plates, drip trays, and remote conduit trunk lines are built right here at our Kansas City headquarters—no waiting on outside suppliers.
- Same-day shipping and pickup – Need a replacement carbonator motor or a new Wunderbar gun today? We offer same-day shipping and local pickup from Kansas City, MO and our Denver, CO branch.
- Serving the whole industry – From independent restaurants and bars to regional soda bottlers, fountain service companies, breweries, beer distributors, and appliance repair techs—Foxx supplies them all.
- Expert support – Decades of experience means our team can help you spec the right system, troubleshoot existing equipment, and source hard-to-find parts.
Ready to Upgrade Your Beverage Station?
Browse our full selection of soda guns, bar guns, soda fountain towers, post-mix valves, carbonators, cold plates, and all the supporting hardware at foxxequipment.com. Can't find what you're looking for? Call or email our team—if anyone has it in stock, we do.
Foxx Equipment Company — Kansas City, MO | Denver, CO | In business since 1956.
