Brizo Bar Faucet and Beverage Faucet Options

A second sink is only as useful as the faucet on it, and a lot of buyers discover too late that a prep faucet and a beverage faucet are not the same thing. When people shop for a Brizo bar faucet, they are usually choosing between two families: compact hot and cold prep faucets for a bar or island sink, and slim cold-water beverage faucets that dispense filtered or reverse osmosis (RO) water. Brizo makes both, and the specs differ in ways that matter for installation.

The quick answer: for a bar or prep sink where you rinse glasses, fill pots and wash produce, look at the Litze Pull-Down Prep Faucet, which the manufacturer lists with about 7 inches of spout reach, a 14-inch overall height and a 1.8 gpm maximum flow. For drinking water from an under-sink filter, look at the beverage faucets, which are listed with a 5-inch reach, roughly 9.5 inches of height, a 1.5 gpm maximum flow and an integrated air gap for RO systems. Both mount through a single hole and accept decks up to 3 inches thick.

Product lines change, and some older Brizo bar models are now marked discontinued on the maker’s site. Confirm the current model and finish on the manufacturer’s page or spec sheet before you order.

Brizo Bar Faucet Specs Compared

The figures here come from Brizo product pages and spec sheets. Dimensions are listed by the maker as reference values, and the company notes that specifications may change.

Every model in the table installs through one hole and accommodates up to a 3-inch deck. The Litze collection also includes a bar faucet with a square spout, but its full specs were not available on the pages checked, so pull the spec sheet before buying it.

Prep Faucet or Beverage Faucet: Which Do You Need?

The choice comes down to what the sink does day to day.

Choose a prep or bar faucet if

• The sink gets hot and cold water and you will wash hands, glasses or produce there
• You want a pull-down spray to rinse the bowl
• The sink sits in an island, butler’s pantry, wet bar or basement bar
• You want a smaller version of a main kitchen faucet that matches it

Choose a beverage faucet if

• You are adding an under-sink filter or RO system and want a dedicated drinking-water tap
• You already have a main faucet and need a second, smaller spout on the same sink
• You plan to connect a water chiller
• You want a cold-water-only tap at a coffee station or bar

Many kitchens end up with both: a prep faucet on the island sink and a beverage faucet beside the main kitchen faucet. Matching collection and finish keeps the look consistent.

RO and Filter Compatibility Explained

Brizo lists its current beverage faucets as compatible with its Pristive tankless reverse osmosis system, with other filtered water systems, with chillers, or for use as a plain cold-water tap. The key detail is the integrated air gap. According to the product pages, these faucets include a 1/4-inch tube for the RO supply and a 3/8-inch tube for the drain line.

An air gap prevents wastewater from siphoning back into the RO system. Many local plumbing codes require one on RO installs, and building it into the faucet means you do not need a separate air gap fitting drilled into the countertop. If your filter is a simple carbon cartridge with no drain line, the drain tube is simply not used, but check the filter’s installation guide.

An under sink water filter with a dedicated tap is one of the easiest ways to improve drinking water at a bar or coffee station. Confirm that the filter’s supply tubing size matches the faucet connection, and leave room in the cabinet for cartridge changes.

Measuring and Planning the Install

Before you order a Brizo bar faucet, measure these points:

1. Hole size. The Litze prep spec sheet calls for a 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inch mounting hole. Stone countertops may need a new hole drilled by the fabricator.
2. Deck thickness. All the models listed accept up to 3 inches. Thick stone with a support plate underneath can get close to that limit.
3. Backsplash clearance. The Litze prep spec sheet lists a minimum 2-1/2 inch clearance to the backsplash so the handle can swing fully.
4. Bowl size and reach. A 7-inch reach suits most bar bowls of 12 to 15 inches. The 5-inch beverage spout is sized for filling glasses, so position it over the bowl, not the deck.
5. Upper cabinet clearance. At about 14 inches tall, a prep faucet needs room under any shelving or upper cabinets above an island or bar.
6. Cabinet space. RO systems take up significant space under the sink, and a SmartTouch faucet adds a battery box. Map it out before installing a disposal or trash pullout.

Tools and Materials for Installation

• Adjustable wrenches and a basin wrench
• Bucket and towels
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Plumber’s tape for threaded connections where the instructions call for it
• Braided supply lines of the correct length, if not included
• Tubing cutter for RO or filter tubing
• The faucet’s installation instructions

Installation Steps (General)

1. Shut off the water. Close both supply stops under the sink and open the old faucet to relieve pressure.
2. Remove the old faucet. Disconnect supply lines and loosen the mounting nut with a basin wrench.
3. Clean the deck. Scrape off old putty or sealant so the new base sits flat.
4. Set the new faucet. Feed the shank and lines through the hole, add the gasket and mounting hardware under the counter, and tighten while a helper keeps the spout aligned.
5. Connect the supplies. For a prep faucet, attach hot and cold lines and the pull-down hose and weight. For a beverage faucet, connect the 1/4-inch RO tube to the filter output and the 3/8-inch drain tube to the drain saddle as the filter instructions describe.
6. Flush and test. Remove the aerator, run water to flush debris, reinstall the aerator, and check every connection for drips with a dry paper towel.
7. Install batteries if applicable. SmartTouch models need batteries for the touch feature, and the manual covers placement.

If your shutoff valves are old, corroded or will not close fully, replace them first or call a plumber. Follow local plumbing code for any new supply or drain connections.

Finish Options for Bar and Beverage Faucets

Finish availability varies by model. On the current Litze beverage and prep pages, the listed choices are Polished Chrome, Brilliance Polished Nickel, Brilliance Stainless, Brilliance Luxe Gold, and a two-tone Matte Black with Brilliance Luxe Gold. The Solna Beverage Faucet (61365LF-C) adds Matte Black, Brilliance Polished Gold and Brilliance Luxe Steel, for seven choices. Brizo’s Brilliance finishes are its premium coated finishes, and the warranty covers finishes for residential owners, except uncoated living finishes that are designed to change over time.

For a matched look, choose the beverage faucet in the same finish as your main kitchen faucet, and the same collection when one is offered. A microfiber cloth and mild soap is all the routine care a coated finish needs.

Warranty and Cost Ranges

According to Brizo’s spec sheets, parts and finish carry a lifetime limited warranty for the original residential purchaser, with shorter terms for commercial buyers. Electronic parts on models like SmartTouch are covered for 5 years, and batteries are not covered. Labor is not included.

Brizo sits at the luxury end of the market. Beverage faucets generally cost several hundred dollars, and prep pull-downs run higher, with touch models at the top of the range. Gold and two-tone finishes often cost more than chrome. Add the cost of a filter or RO system, and professional installation if you hire it out.

Troubleshooting

Low flow from a beverage faucet. RO systems produce water slowly and store it in a tank or rely on the system’s flow rate. Check filter cartridges, the RO membrane and any kinked tubing before blaming the faucet.

Gurgling at the air gap. Usually a partly blocked drain tube or an incorrectly placed drain saddle. Clear the tube and confirm it slopes downward without loops.

Pull-down wand will not retract. Check that the hose weight is attached at the right point and that nothing under the sink snags the hose.

Touch feature stops working. Replace the batteries first. The LED indicator on SmartTouch models signals low battery.

When to Call a Licensed Plumber

Swapping a faucet on an existing supply is a reasonable DIY job. Call a licensed plumber when you need new supply lines run to an island, a new drain for a bar sink, a hole drilled in stone, or when the RO system requires a drain connection you are not comfortable making. Plumbing work in some areas requires a permit, and a pro will know local code for air gaps and backflow prevention.