Measuring Spoons
A set of graduated spoons for the small volumes a jigger cannot pour. They cover the range between a dash and a quarter ounce, which is where syrups, liqueurs and modifiers live in most balanced drinks.
Alternatives
Budget Alternative
Standard stainless steel kitchen measuring spoons (£2–4) can be used if they are metal and accurately sized, though they are often bulkier and less precise than bar-specific sets.
Premium Option
Japanese-style stainless steel measuring spoon sets (£12–15) offer slimmer profiles, better balance, and more consistent accuracy for professional cocktail work.
Care & Maintenance
Care Instructions
- Rinse immediately after use, especially after syrups or saline.
- Wash by hand with mild detergent.
- Dry thoroughly to prevent spotting.
- Store together to avoid losing individual sizes.
Expected Lifespan
- •Premium stainless steel: 15+ years, effectively permanent in both professional and home use
- •Standard stainless steel: 5–10 years before engraved markings fade or edges wear
- •Budget or plastic: 1–2 years before warping, cracking, or loss of measurement accuracy
Usage
Measuring 2.5, 5 and 15ml of syrup, absinthe, maraschino, crème de violette and anything else a recipe gives in teaspoons or barspoons. Also for salt, sugar and spices going into rims, syrups and batches.
The Gap They Fill
A jigger handles 15ml and up, comfortably. Below that it becomes guesswork: a shallow film in the bottom of a cone that is very hard to judge.
Recipes ask for those small volumes constantly. Maraschino at 5ml, absinthe at 2.5ml, crème de violette at 7.5ml, sugar syrup by the barspoon. In drinks like the Last Word or the Aviation, those small measures are structural rather than decorative, and being 50% out on 5ml of violette changes the drink completely.
Measuring spoons cost very little and remove the whole problem.
The Barspoon Question
Confusing, because "a barspoon" means two different things.
As a tool, a bar spoon is the long twisted stirrer. As a measure, "one barspoon" in a recipe means the volume its bowl holds, which is not standardised and varies from about 2.5 to 5ml depending on the spoon.
Most British and American recipes intend around 5ml, the same as a teaspoon. Japanese bar spoons are smaller, closer to 2.5ml, and Japanese-authored recipes usually mean that.
If a recipe does not say, assume 5ml and taste. A measuring spoon set removes the ambiguity entirely, which is the argument for using one rather than the stirrer.
Dashes and Small Volumes
A dash from a dasher bottle is roughly 0.6 to 0.9ml, smaller than any spoon in a standard set, which usually stops at 1.25ml.
That means dashes and spoon measures do not convert cleanly, and a recipe calling for six dashes of bitters is not asking for a teaspoon. Six dashes is around 4.5ml; a teaspoon is 5ml. Close, but the shape of the pour matters, and bitters distributed as dashes disperse differently from a slug.
For anything smaller than a dash, such as a drop of saline or a spray of absinthe, no spoon works, and an atomiser or a dropper is the right tool.
Choosing a Set
Stainless steel with the volumes stamped rather than printed. Printed markings wear off in a dishwasher within months, leaving an unlabelled set of spoons.
Look for narrow bowls that fit into bottle necks and a set that includes 2.5ml, since most kitchen sets start at 1.25ml and jump to 5ml, missing the measure most often wanted behind a bar.
Level dry ingredients with the back of a knife. A heaped teaspoon of sugar is close to double a level one, which matters in a syrup or a rim. Rinse liquid spoons immediately; sugar dries sticky and picks up whatever it touches next.
Pro Tip
If a recipe calls for “a bar spoon” of syrup, measure it once, then decide if guessing is ever worth the risk.
What to Look For
- Slim metal construction rather than plastic or silicone.
- Clearly defined spoon sizes with engraved markings that won’t wear off.
- Shallow bowls that allow accurate leveling.
- Handles long enough to reach into narrow bottles and containers.
- Ring connector - Keep set together but removable for use
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Substituting teaspoons from cutlery sets, which vary widely in size.
- Using baking-style measuring spoons with thick handles and deep bowls.
- Guessing small quantities instead of measuring consistently.
- Allowing sticky syrups to dry on spoons, affecting accuracy.
Professional Tips
- Level the spoon for dry ingredients. Heaped is double.
- Fill liquid to the brim, not near it.
- Metal, not plastic. Plastic warps and holds smell.
- Buy a set with a 2.5ml. That is the barspoon measure.
Specifications
Material
Stainless steel
Capacity
Common sizes: ¼ teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon
Details
Slim-handled spoons with small, shallow bowls designed for accuracy rather than volume.
History & Context
As cocktail recipes became more precise in the late 20th century, bartenders began adopting measuring spoons from culinary practice to control small but powerful ingredients. Their use reflects a shift toward repeatability and balance, where even a quarter teaspoon can define the final profile of a drink.
Common Questions
Why use measuring spoons for cocktails?
Because a jigger cannot pour small volumes accurately. Below 15ml you are judging a shallow film in a cone. Recipes ask for 2.5 and 5ml constantly, and being half out on 5ml of crème de violette changes an Aviation completely.
How much is a barspoon in ml?
It varies, which is the problem. British and American recipes usually mean around 5ml, the same as a teaspoon; Japanese bar spoons are smaller, nearer 2.5ml, and Japanese-authored recipes mean that. If unstated, assume 5ml and taste.
How much is a dash?
Roughly 0.6 to 0.9ml from a dasher bottle, which is smaller than any spoon in a standard set. Six dashes comes to about 4.5ml against a 5ml teaspoon, so they are close but not interchangeable, and dashes disperse differently from a slug.
Metal or plastic measuring spoons?
Metal, with the volumes stamped rather than printed. Plastic warps in hot water and holds the smell of anything strong. Printed markings wear off in a dishwasher within months and leave you with an unlabelled set.