The fresh orange juice recipe
for your table
Juice the oranges and stir the juice in the pitcher or glass for a moment. Fresh juice separates within a few minutes into a cloudy bottom layer and a clear top layer, so stirring is part of the process before pouring.
Choose the glass size. Fifteen centiliters is the size you get at hotels for breakfast and is quickly finished; 25 cl is a full glass for brunch. Larger than 25 cl doesn’t work, because the juice sits too long and becomes lukewarm.
Set the temperature. Ice-cold is refreshing and takes the sharp edge off the flavor; at room temperature, the flavor of the orange comes through best. Cooler works better at breakfast, but not too cold for a wine tasting or breakfast with cheese.
Pour to about two centimeters below the rim, hang a slice of orange on the glass and place a glass of water next to it. Pour just before serving, not in advance on the buffet.
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The story
In the Netherlands, fresh orange juice has become so commonplace that hardly anyone remembers it comes from the French jus d'orange. On a Dutch menu, jus means juice from fresh oranges, while juice from a carton is simply called orange juice. That distinction is half the selling point of a hotel breakfast: the pitcher on the buffet versus the glass squeezed at the table. What you see in the hospitality industry is therefore mainly a matter of serving: a small size, a chilled glass, and pouring at the last moment. You can do those exact three things just as well at home.
The right glass
Serve fresh orange juice in a glass of 15 to 25 cl; the size is a matter of choice: small means the glass is empty before the juice becomes lukewarm, while large means you do not have to refill it. A glass on a short stem looks neat on a set table and keeps the rim away from the table linen. If you want stackable and virtually indestructible, take a look at the stackable glasses.
Schott Zwiesel Banquet Water Glass 25.3 cl (6 pieces)
Bormioli Rocco Bodega Tumbler 22 cl (12 pieces)
Both sets together € 52,65.
The right tools
For fresh orange juice, use a long bar spoon alongside the glass to stir the juice in the pitcher, and a few glass straws for tall glasses. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Stirs the juice in the pitcher all the way to the bottom
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 57,60.
What will you serve with it?
Fresh orange juice is alcohol-free. At brunch, there is often a bottle of prosecco next to it, because prosecco with orange juice is a mimosa, and with champagne you serve the same combination with an extra touch of luxury. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it works well in, and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Half orange and half pink grapefruit makes a more bitter glass that pairs better with a savory breakfast. A few mint leaves on the juice make it fresh without changing the flavor, and a pinch of grated orange zest over the glass intensifies the aroma. At brunch, you can place two pitchers next to each other, one with orange juice and one with grapefruit juice, and let people mix their own. More inspiration? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
A pitcher works if you serve it within half an hour: chill it, stir just before serving, and do not top it up with fresh juice. If it stands on a buffet for more than an hour, squeezing per glass is better, because the juice will already have separated and the flavor will be flatter. Glass pitchers can be found with the water pitchers and pitchers.
Good to know
Which glass size do you choose?
Fifteen to 25 cl. The small size is the hotel size at breakfast: quickly finished, so always cold. The large size of around 25 cl is a full glass for brunch and does not need a refill. Above 25 cl, the juice sits in the glass too long and becomes lukewarm.
Ice-cold or at room temperature?
Serving the juice chilled makes it refreshing and takes the sharp edge off the acidity. At room temperature, the orange flavor comes through most clearly. Chilled works better with a breakfast of bread and sweet toppings, while slightly less chilled is more pleasant with savory food or cheese.
When does a jug work and when doesn't it?
A jug works for a group that will be seated at the table within half an hour: chill it, stir it and pour. A jug does not work on a buffet where it sits for an hour or longer, because the juice separates into a clear and cloudy layer and the flavor becomes flatter. Do not top up a half-full jug with fresh juice either; empty it first.
Juice at breakfast or brunch?
At breakfast, juice is the first glass brought to the table, in a small serving size, alongside coffee and water. At brunch, it stays on the table longer, so a larger serving size makes more sense, with a jug or a second round. A bottle of sparkling wine is also more often served alongside it at brunch.
What do you serve alongside it?
A glass of water, so people do not drink the juice simply to quench their thirst. Also a small dish with extra orange slices, a straw for tall glasses, and a coaster or small saucer if the glass has a stem.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is fresh orange juice?
Juice from freshly squeezed oranges, as listed on café and hotel menus. The name comes from the French jus d'orange; juice from a carton is simply called orange juice on a Dutch menu.
What glass do you serve fresh orange juice in?
In a 15 to 25 cl glass. Fifteen centiliters is the hotel serving size at breakfast, while 25 cl is a full glass for brunch. A larger glass will become lukewarm before it is empty.
Can you put fresh orange juice in a jug on the table?
Yes, if the jug will be empty within half an hour. Keep it chilled and stir just before serving. If it sits for an hour or longer, the juice separates and tastes flatter, so squeezing it per glass is better.
Do you serve fresh orange juice ice-cold or at room temperature?
Cold is refreshing and softens the acidity, while the orange flavor comes through best at room temperature. Serve it cold with a sweet breakfast and slightly less cold with savory food.
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