Perlini Express Instructions

Perlini Express operates identically to Perlini Classic, except for the construction of the shaker itself. The instructions below cover the specific setup and use of Perlini Express.

Setup

Your Perlini Express system comes with the Commercial Pressurizer Basic Model, the latest version of our commercial pressurizer. It consists of a compact regulator preset to the proper carbonation pressure, and a coiled hose that attaches to the filling gun. The regulator has a standard CGA-320 fitting, designed to attach to CO₂ tanks in the U.S.

1. Insert tank seal. Press the white plastic tank seal (provided) into the hex nut until it seats against the face of the regulator stem, which in turn seats against the face of the nozzle on the tank valve.
   
   
2. Attach regulator. This regulator requires an adjustable wrench large enough to fit the 1-1/8" hex nut on the stem. Thread the hex nut onto the main valve of the tank, and tighten the nut firmly.
   
   
3. Test for leaks. To test, briefly open and close the main valve on the tank. Listen for leaks. If there are no leaks, open the valve and continue.
   
   
4. ⚠️

   We recommend shutting off the main valve of the CO₂ tank when not using your Perlini Express. This prevents micro leaks or inadvertent trigger presses from prematurely draining the tank.

Preparation

1. Chill ingredients. For best results, chill all liquids prior to carbonation. Cold liquids absorb CO₂ more efficiently. Ice may be added directly to the bottle before carbonation. Ice ensures that the liquid will be as cold as possible, enabling the greatest possible CO₂ uptake. For best results, we recommend always using fresh ice with each use. The mouth of the bottle is large enough to accommodate common ice cubes from most types of ice makers.
   💡

   TIP:  Ice chills the liquid for optimal carbonation, but it also creates dilution. This can easily be accounted for in recipe design. With room-temperature ingredients, ice will consistently give about 30% dilution. The colder the liquid ingredients are to begin with, the less the dilution will be. See the Resources section at PerliniExpress.com for detailed information on dilution in recipe design.
   
2. Partially Fill bottle. Fill the bottle only to the lower MAX CARBONATION line during carbonation (approximately 60% full—see image below). This fill level ensures sufficient headspace for compressed CO₂, allowing room for the liquid to splash vigorously and fully saturate in a single pressurize/shake cycle. Filling above this line will reduce carbonation efficiency and may require multiple pressurization/shake cycles to achieve equivalent carbonation. (The upper MAX line is for storage only; see Storage & Preservation below.)
   
   
3. ⚠️

   Do not overfill the bottle during carbonation. The bottle needs sufficient headspace for optimal carbonation. Fill only to lower MAX CARBONATION line for carbonating. The upper MAX line shows the maximum fill for storage only—not carbonation.

Carbonation

1. Screw cap on. Secure the cap firmly onto the bottle. Do not overtighten. It need only be tightened enough to create a seal—sufficient torque can be created using only your fingertips. Overtightening may damage the valve and decrease its lifetime. With gentle tightening, the valve will last for many years.
   
   
2. Align tip. Press the black rubber conical tip of the filling gun firmly into the conical depression of the red filling port in the center of the cap. Depress the trigger of the filling handle and pressurize with CO₂. If the tip of the filler is properly aligned, you should not hear gas hissing out during filling. A proper seal takes very little force—no need to press hard.
   
   
3. Fill bottle with CO₂. Keep trigger depressed until gas stops flowing (typically 2–6 seconds, depending on the liquid level in the bottle). When the gas stops flowing, the proper carbonation pressure has been reached, and the regulator will automatically cut the flow of gas—no need to worry about overpressurizing.
   
   
4. Shake vigorously. Shake vigorously for several seconds. Five seconds is generally sufficient. You may repeat this process if desired for greater dissolved carbonation. Simply pressurize and shake again (without loosening the cap and releasing pressure between pressurize/shake cycles, of course). Simply leave the cap closed, and repeat the pressurize/shake cycle. You don't even need to let it rest between cycles—you only need to let the beverage rest before you remove the cap.
   
   
5. Rest. Allow the bottle to rest briefly before venting and opening. Wait until most of the foam generated by shaking has dissipated. Depending on the beverage, this rest period can be as short as one second for pure water, or up to 15 seconds for particularly viscous or sugary liquids.
   
   
6. Open slowly, pour quietly. Open the cap SLOWLY to avoid “shocking” the liquid, thus creating foaming and loss of dissolved CO₂. Pour the beverage slowly and quietly down the side of the glass.
   
   
7. ⛔

   Never point the pressurized vessel at anyone. Always hold the vessel so that the cap is not pointing at anyone.

   ⛔

   Never point the pressurizer gun at anyone and discharge CO₂. Pressurized gas can damage the eyes and ears.

   ⛔

   Always vent pressure from the Perlini shaker slowly and away from your face.

Storage & Preservation

1. Store. You may store left-over carbonated beverage in the Perlini Express shaker. Simply repressurize the bottle and put it in the refrigerator. 
   
   💡

   TIP:  The Perlini Express shaker may be stored upright or on its side when pressurized (the valve requires back pressure to seal reliably).
   
2. Consolidate. You may consolidate carbonated liquids in one bottle for storage. Fill the Perlini Express bottle no higher than the upper MAX line, then repressurize and store in the refrigerator. The carbonation can last for weeks or months. You can top up the bottle with CO₂ periodically if you want to be certain.
   
   💡

   TIP:  The shelf life for refrigerated carbonated beverages in the Perlini Express shaker is essentially indefinite for ingredients not subject to oxidation. Even for oxidizable ingredients, like fresh juices, the shelf life with Perlini is longer. Dissolved CO₂ creates carbonic acid, which acts as a preservative, and will generally lead to longer shelf lives in the pressurized Perlini shaker than for the same ingredients left uncarbonated.
   

Clean Up

1. Discard the ice after each use. The ice will have lost some physical volume due to dilution, so you should be able to invert the bottle, give it a swirl, and easily dump the ice out. If not, a bit of warm water will dissolve the cubes.
   💡

   TIP:  An efficient workflow in a busy bar environment would be to add warm water to the shaker immediately after pouring the customer’s drink, giving the ice a chance to melt further before pouring out.
   
2. Wash the shaker with water and mild detergent. Put a few drops of detergent in, close the cap, and shake vigorously. Rinse with warm water.
   
   
3. Invert the shaker on a drying rack and let dry.

Care & Maintenance

• Handwash the Perlini Express bottle.
  Hand wash only, using warm water and mild detergent. Do not use dishwasher—commercial dishwashers in particular operate at temperatures that can damage the plastic. To hand wash, fill the bottle half full with warm water, add a couple drops of detergent, and shake vigorously. (By "warm water," we mean water no hotter than what is tolerable to bare hands.)
  
  
• The bottle does not have to be washed with detergent every time it is used; a simple rinse with warm water between uses will suffice if the shaker is in frequent use. The end of the day is a good time to handwash and dry the shaker, when no futher use is anticipated.
  
  
• Use a soft-bristled bottle brush periodically to remove any buildup on the walls of the bottle. Avoid abrasive cleaners or scouring pads.
  
  
• Handwash the Perlini Express cap.
  Periodically separate the valve, filling port, and cap body and soak in a food-safe disinfectant solution, or handwash parts with mild detergent.
  
  
• To remove the valve, grasp the snout of the valve with your fingertips and pull it out. A small piece of paper towel between your fingertips and the valve will give you a better grip if the valve is wet.
  

Safety Notices

For detailed background on the principles of carbonation, best practices, troubleshooting, and recipe design with the Perlini family of products, please consult the Resources section at PerliniExress.com.