Our Honest Review of the Bartesian Cocktail Makers

Tested by T.K. Brady and Sharon Franke

There’s nothing like a well-mixed cocktail to end the day or get a party going. However, pulling out all the ingredients and measuring them can seem like a chore, especially after doing a day’s work or getting the house spruced up for company. And that’s not to mention that if you don’t follow a formula carefully, you can wind up with a drink that’s doesn’t quite hit the spot.

Bartesian’s line of electric cocktail makers are designed to take the guesswork and time out of mixing up a cocktail at home. They function similarly to single-serve coffeemakers with pre-mixed pods of cocktail flavorings that are then mixed up with the liquor of your choice to form a convenient drink. The Bartesian line of electric cocktail machines includes two different-sized machines and a number of pods for mixing various cocktails. We put both machines to the test to determine their overall value and who should purchase them. Read on for our review.

What Is a Bartesian Cocktail Maker?

A Bartesian is a large countertop appliance for making cocktails with capsules the way a Keurig machine brews coffee with pods. Bartesian machines come in two models: The Bartesian Cocktail Maker and the Duet Cocktail Maker. (The Bartesian Professional machine has been discontinued.) The Bartesian machines are designed with glass bottles that you fill with liquor and then add to the machine. You fill a reservoir or bottle with water and then open the head of the machine and insert a capsule that contains a concentrated mix of all the elements, like juices, bitters, and extracts, that when combined with the water and a spirit make a cocktail. After you select the strength of your beverage on the control panel and push the mix button, the machine automatically concocts your drink and dispenses it into a glass within seconds.

What's the Story With the Capsules?

You can buy the capsules from Bartesian or major retailers. They come in over 40 different varieties from classics like a gin martini and an old-fashioned to more trendy ones like a jalapeno lime shrub and a mango margarita. Some drinks, like the cosmopolitan, are available in low-cal versions and you can also buy variety packs or sign up for a monthly subscription. On the company website, prices for the capsules range from $14.99 for 5 to $19.99 for 8 or about $2.50 per capsule. You can also buy larger quantities and reduce the cost of each by about 25 cents. The capsules are recyclable.

How We Tested

We tested the Bartesian Duet Cocktail Maker and The Bartesian Cocktail Maker. We tested the Bartesian Duet Cocktail Maker using vodka and gin to brew cocktails and The Bartesian Cocktail Maker with both brown and clear liquor including vodka, whiskey and tequila to brew cocktails. We considered the setup process for each machine out of a box and cleaned everything according to package instructions before first use. Then, we mixed up our cocktails. We tested a Cosmopolitan, Margarita and Whiskey Sour. After mixing and tasting the cocktails, we cleaned the machines according to manufacturer’s instructions.

What We Liked About the Bartesian Cocktail Makers

The cocktails taste pretty good.

We thought the cocktails tasted quite good. A whiskey sour had the right blend of sugar and lemon. Neither a traditional or a blackberry margarita tasted cloyingly sweet. The Cosmo was the right combination of sweet and tart. There are no artificial colors, fructose, or corn syrups in the capsules but there are some preservatives.

The machines are so easy to use.

If you’ve ever used a Keurig machine, these machines are that easy to set up and start using. There’s really minimal setup: Simply add the liquor to the glass bottles, screw them in and insert your pod. We also liked being able to choose our strength for the cocktails. We found the standard strength to be our preference for most drinks.

They're perfect for a party.

For anyone who’s an avid entertainer and doesn’t want to pay for bartending service, the Bartesian cocktail machines are great conversation pieces in addition to being a fun activity for guests during a party.

What the Bartesian Cocktail Makers Could Do Better

They’re bulky.

These machines need some room, so unless your home has a bar or you love to make cocktails regularly, finding space for this could be cumbersome. For anyone who plans to use this sparingly or in a small apartment, the Duet Cocktail Maker is a better option.

They’re pricey.

The Bartesian machines range from $250 to $350, making them significantly more expensive than a Keurig machine. If you plan to use this all the time or host parties regularly, the investment may be worth it. If not, taking the time to mix your own cocktails might be the way to go.

How to Clean the Bartesian Cocktail Makers

On the machines there are few crevices, so it’s easy to wipe the surfaces clean. Both the water reservoir and the rubber bar mat that your glass rests on as it’s being filled are easy to remove and wash at the sink. The capsule holder and the glass bottles and lids can be put in the dishwasher. You do have to remove the capsule seal and the valve in the lid and wash them carefully by hand periodically. To clean inside the machine, you merely have to press a setting. There’s a First Use setting to rinse it when it’s brand new, a Switch setting to purge the machine when you change out rum and gin, a Rinse/Clean setting to use if the machine hasn’t been used in a while, and a Transport one to empty the machine completely if you’re carrying it someplace or stashing it away.

Who Should Buy a Bartesian?

If you love, love, love cocktails and drink them at home often, you’ll find the Bartesian is a game changer for its ease of use and consistency. You’ll think it’s worth the investment, won’t mind keeping a supply of capsules on hand rather than stocking up on juices and other ingredients, and won’t miss all that measuring, stirring, and shaking. However, if you find that part of the fun of having drinks at home is crafting your own beverages to your own specifications, with juice from freshly squeezed fruits and your preferred brands of liquors and bitters, you’re not the ideal candidate for this machine.

With the footprint of a toaster oven and the height of a stand mixer, these machines aren’t small. You need to have room to spare on the countertop in your kitchen or home bar area as well as space in a nearby drawer or cabinet to stash the capsules.