Bartesian Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine

10 reviews for Bartesian Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   YolaYola – December 28, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Perfect! Just Perfect!

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   I ordered this and kept it in the box for a while to make sure I was not impulse buying. Eventually decided to unbox and it is everything I hoped it would be and more. I have gotten to the point where my friends and family want to tell me to shut up as I will not stop talking about it (even though they are now ordering it). I love a good cocktail, but my level of experience is a good gin and tonic, opening wine, or a beer. This takes it to that level akin to a GPS – the world is your oyster, and you can go anywhere you want (within capsule availability). I put in the liquor types for brands of my choice, filled with water, and magic happened. I was in absolute stunned silence when I tasted the first drink. On par if not better than ordering at a bar, depending on where you are.To start – follow the easy instructions – wash the parts, fill the bottles with the identified liquors, pop into the holders, pop in a capsule, read the instructions on the screen (e.g. put glass with ice, drink strength level) and select mix. Fast, easy, and fun. Not to mention bragging rights….oh I meant, to let your friends have their choice of cocktail when they come over.I now order the capsules from both Amazon and the Bartesian site for the mainstream and when I want to try something interesting. This is an amazing invention, and I am impressed with the ease of use, quality of the moving parts, ease of cleaning, and ease of functionality. This was tested and developed the RIGHT way, and I am a believer. Well done!

   36 people found this helpful

   

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Richard Kimble – December 28, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Best invention ever !

   Bought this as a Christmas gift for my wife and I and it is amazing, we have at least 6 different boxes of assorted drink mixes in a drawer, with 5 kids and both working coming home and relaxing with the wife and having a cocktail is simple and relaxing.
3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   xaeinsteinxaeinstein – December 28, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   I really like this

   I really like this machine.I enjoy entertaining and cooking and mixing drinks. With this it’s like having help. I show people how to use it and they help themselves. They even make me drinks.I also like it when it’s just the two of us at home. Or just me.For me it means no more stocking mix bottles, or pre-making mixes, no time-consuming making drinks and best of all NO MESS! And I no longer throw away a bunch of expired mixers.These expire too. You can refrigerate to double their life. But it’s all more manageable.Does it makes sense for you financially? You need to figure that out. But it’s like having a bartender at home.The mixes are *not* overly sweet and they are tasty and in varying degrees of flavors.Calories (without liquor Of course) range from 10 (old fashioned) to margarita (60) . Listings in their website.I load my Bartesian with my favorite liquor brands. To start with you have to pick which 5 liquor brands to use: Vodka, Rum, Gin, Whiskey and Tequila. The jars are a decent size. WARNING: test the “duck” valves when you are rinsing and prepping before loading the liquor. It’s in the manual people.Thirsty? Choose a drink.Pop in a cartridge. Get a glass(Keep a metal one handy as 1-2 of the drinks (Cosmo) suggest you shake it. All others so far just a glass w ice.Select strength from Virgin, Light, Regular and Strong. Liquor dispensed varies from cocktail to cocktail. Strong could be from 2 oz to 3.4 oz — maybe even more.Varies according to recipe.Tastes varies from people to people so no sense in me going into too many details.Cocktails I HAVE NOT tried to date:- Paper Plane- Mint JulepCocktails I’ve tried more or less in like order:- Old Fashioned- Whiskey Sour (non whipped variety)- Uptown Rocks (I add a sprig of cilantro)- Rum Breeze- Sex on the Beach ( I use tall glasses lots of ice)- Margarita- Gimlet-Sazerac (tastes like it has a hint of oregano?)- Cosmos- Long Island Tea- Negroni (a gin cocktail)- Spiced Coffee- Martini (Note: like dirty vodka martinis myself but the cartridge here so far is Gin Martini). Yes, you could swap the gin reservoir with the vodka one. I will need to experiment but not my favorite so far. Too busy trying the others.I really really like many of the Bartesian cocktails. They have done their homework. i tried Spiced Coffee once and I wasn’t thrilled but I’m thinking of adding a splash of cream or even Irish cream. Next time.I keep ice handy for drinks.I’ve also added to the top shelf of my fridge door little jars of olives, little onions, maraschino cherries, etc Anything I thought of as garnish and in the vegetable bin I keep handy mint, cilantro, limes and lemons. It’s my way to tweak it. Depends on my mood or occasion. By throwing in a couple of garnishes I feel like I’m kicking it up a notch.Tips:- I also pour cold water into the machine. Sometimes even drop some ice on the reservoir. But it’s not needed.- I remove the spent cartridge right after I make the drink. My Bartesian machine is next to a cappuccino machine and I chuck them in the tap container for the used coffee.- I leave the cover open after I make drinks-I tap on “sleep” when I think of it (otherwise it’ll shut off eventually I think)- Occasionally I remove the bar mat and rinse it.- In a month or three I’m planning on flushing it out (there’s a both a first time cycle and a flush cycle).- I’ve taken off the cartridge cup holder once to rinse it.This “maintenance” to me is all small stuff. Less than what I do with the coffee machines. I want to make it easy on my Robotic bartender so he can stick around for a long time to come.Reception? To date, I haven’t found anyone yet that has NOT liked it. Some admit candidly “I didn’t think I was going to like it this much”.Durability?The most activity to date was a 32 drink gathering. Let’s see when the summer entertaining season comes.Yes, it’s plastic but I’m guessing if it was metal it’ll cost a lot more. Someone will make a different model once.My wishes / REQUESTS:- MORE cocktails please! One can never have enough choices!!! – How about dirty vodka martinis!?- And of course: LOWER the price of the cartridges!!! Guessing/hoping that will happen sooner or later. Yes Bartesian is starting “subscriptions” but I rather you gave me bulk discounts.How about it Bartesian!?Shop around for the machine. Sometimes I see discounts. I bought mine right here in Amazon and most if the drinks in Bartesian website. The machines are in a growing number of places. Like Bed Bath and Beyond for example had it at a great price if you are a Beyond member. Hope this doesn’t ban me from Amazon reviews v

   219 people found this helpful

   

4. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Mark – December 28, 2025

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   Pods are good, but machine has some issues at this price point.

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   UPDATE – Added one star – see the end for the update.Real review from real owner. I’ve had this for six months and use it a lot.Background/Overview:I purchased this because their competitor (Drinkworks) went out of business. The Drinkworks pods were not very tasty but the machine looked like a $350 machine should look.When I received my Bart, I was disappointed because this looks like the abused brother of the Drinkworks. It’s just doesn’t feel as “quality” as the Drinkworks did. Bart’s pods are tasty for the most part, but the machine has issues as I’ll share below. They have partnered with B&D for a new machine, so you might want to wait a month or two until that comes out and check its reviews.Pros:1) The pods are the main pro here (well, next to the accessories as I’ll share in a second.)2) Pod subscription can really save you $$$.3) If you have a pod subscription, then other items (glasses, rimmers, etc.) are 50% off.4) You get to choose your own alcohol. Don’t have to have cheap nasty liquor unless you want it!5) They specialize in their extras. Glassworks, menu, rimmers, etc. are all top notch. GREAT pro.6) Packaging for shipping of Pods is heavy duty*7) Customer service*Cons1) The whiskey leaks on many machines. Check FB on this, many, many, many people (including myself) have had to clean up whiskey because of it leaking while sitting in the machine. I’ve read lots of reports of this, but haven’t witnessed Bartesian staff address this issue, ever.2) Some pods (hurricane for instance) leak leak leak all over the place about 50% of the time. It’s like flipping a coin if there will be a mess or not. Sometimes when I put them in the machine, the drink begins spraying on my counter, other times is works as it should. Again, reported on their official FB page, but I haven’t seen any response from Bartesian staff about this.3) Feels cheap to me. Where you push down to puncture the pod, the machine just feels cheap, like I might break it. If you push down too softly, more pods leaks. I just feel like it is going to break one day. Drinkworks had this part 100% perfect.4) Packaging for Pods – I noted above in the “Pros” area that the pod packages are heavy duty, and they are – but they still arrive broken open sometimes. I have heard from the FB group that if a certain number are broken open, customer service will refund, but I don’t know the magic number of broken pods needed to qualify.5) Customer Service – I noted it above in “Pros” area about customer service. Well, it’s really hit and miss. I mentioned something on FB about my original shipment getting squashed and they refunded me my entire order – that’s an A+. They did the work on it. They found my Bartesian account through my FB account and contacted me via messenger. That’s how customer support should be for an item at this price point. However, just the other day an almost invisible washer disappeared from my water bin. No idea how it came out, and it shouldn’t on this new of a product. But it did and my Bart because useless without it. So I contacted “Customer Support” and was sent a generic link from their website. I guess I was supposed to figure out what I needed myself and then buy it? I didn’t see any washers there, just the option to purchase an entire brand new water bin. Seriously? For a silicon washer that shouldn’t have fallen out in the first place? I paid $350 for this item, $1,200 in pods through their website and then just sent a link to figure out I needed to spend $20 because of a silicon washer? A good company with good support would have simply grabbed one of the 2 cent washers, dropped it in an envelope, then sent me an email saying it was on its way. Terrible customer service – sometimes. Luckily, someone on the FB group gave me a suggestion for fixing it – since we can’t use the whiskey port anyway (because of leaks), take the washer from there!So, overall, it’s a great product in theory. I’ve wasted pods from them spraying all over – without any indication Bart is fixing that. I’ve had to clean “pod juice” off of other pods because they arrive broken. I’ve had to go hunting throughout my house looking for a small silicon washer because one fell off which shouldn’t.We love the drinks, but not the machine and (sometimes) not the company so much.But what they do with their accessories, especially their glasswork! Those are all beautiful and packed so so so well! Why isn’t that person in charge of their customer service is beyond me! Top notched accessories, but mediocre service and engineering.I’ve attached a video so you can see how easy it is to use and, luckily, it didn’t shoot out all over the place this time!Bart is easy to use and we do love it, don’t get me wrong.Update: I was contacted by Bartesian because of my review. I had told them I just wanted the silicon washer, and they said they would send one, but they sent the entire water container. I’ll be honest, it actually bothered me that they did. I almost felt like they did it just to get me off their case. But, if I was to give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they did it to just give good customer service. I’m not sure, but I added a star back because they finally did do something. I wish they could have sent the washer (not the whole container) when I first contacted them.They stated in the email and they state on their FB page that they are a small company. I get that and respect that. I just wish they would sink a little more expertise into customer service and I’m pretty sure they would see a payback.Still keeping one star off for the engineering issues this machine has which have never been addressed by Bartesian in any form which I’ve read. Again, goes to customer service. But hey, that’s their choice!I hope this helps!

   402 people found this helpful
5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Cassandra – December 28, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   I have tried most pods

   I have spent a small fortune, but I was determined to find the best of the best. Here is a breakdown of my favorite drinks pods (for reference my favorite non-Bartesian drinks are: Long Island, Whiskey Sour, Rum Punch, Margarita).FYI – Some of these drinks are not yet available on Amazon, but can be purchased on Bartesians’s website (Price is the same as Amazon, but shipping is not as fast as Amazon Prime – takes between 5- 7 days).UPDATE November 2021 – Holiday Collection 2021Bartesian hit it out of the park with this one (much better than last year). From best to least…Mistletoe Margarita – this is Christmas in a cup. It tastes like cranberry with hints of spice – nutmeg and cinnamon. It tastes more like a delicious spiced wine than a marg, but I’m not mad about that. This is what the rhubarb spiced shrub SHOULD taste like. Needs to be a year-round drink. Made on strong..always.Yuletide Hurricane – Also needs to be a year round drink. It tastes like topical Hawaiian punch (for adults). Lots of orange flavor – if you don’t like orange or citrus then this is not the drink for you. It has edible glitter which makes this drink visually beautiful. VERY SWEET – made on strong always to balance the sweet. Love!Espresso martini – I’m surprised I like this as much as I do, even more than the spiced coffee. It tastes like the best coffee you’ve ever had – with hints of vanilla. This is made with vodka, rather than tequila like the spiced coffee. It’s absolutely delicious. I would not order this on the reg, but it’s a perfect seasonal drink (like egg nog).Spiced Old Fashioned – this was in last years collection – disappointed it was included. It’s not bad, but you really have to like drinks that are basically just whiskey. Like last year, I add a good bit of apple cider, which makes it taste similar to the apple pie, so I don’t waste the pods. Wouldn’t want it again, but it’s in the collection again..whomp whomp.UPDATE October 2021: Blackberry Margarita: Delicious! This margarita tastes like you muddled fresh blackberries for the drink. It’s not overly sweet (not as sweet as the passion fruit), but fruity and refreshing. I like this one on regular. I tried on strong and it wasn’t sweet enough.Apple Pie: I love that Bartesian made this a year round drink instead of seasonal. This drink is incredibly balanced and not overly sweet like most apple-cider type cocktails. It’s perfectly sweet, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and touch of lemon. I use Wordford Reserve Whiskey which compliments the drink nicely with hints of orange. Delish!UPDATE August 2021:Passion Fruit Margarita: Another great drink from Bart – very similar to the Mango, but I actually like the Passion Fruit even more. The Passion Fruit has a more complex flavor – sweet, tart and tangy, while the Mango is mostly sweet notes, but has more hints of a classic lime margarita. I prefer this one on strong (way too sweet on regular). Already reordered the 32 pod count – it goes fast!UPDATE: May 2021 Releases:Rum Runner: The vodka seems unnecessary in this drink – even on the light it’s too overpowering. I make it on ‘mocktail’ and then add coconut rum myself to make it edible. Defeats the purpose of the machine, but it’s the only way this drink doesn’t take like medicine. This drink was a hug disappointment for me, and I will not be purchasing again.Mango Margarita – the mango is a bit overpowering, so I like this one on strong and wow is it good. You still get hints of a classic margarita taste from the lime, but be prepared to give Bartesian all of your money because this is delicious! Medium drink output and I’ve already put in an order for 32 pods because this one goes fast!UPDATE: February 2021 Releases:Amaretto Sour – Sweet, and delicious but emphasis on the SWEET (and where’s the sour??). If you love Disaronno (or amaretto), then you will love this drink, but the level of sweetness is not for everyone. I wish it was a bit more balanced like the Whiskey Sour. I use Woodford reserve whiskey instead of vodka and add a big squeeze of fresh lime juice and its still insanely sweet. I would likely not order again.Screwdriver – Very sour. I wish this one was a bit more balanced as well, and had a tad but more sweetness. Go grab some OJ and make this yourself, but it is nice to have on hand for guests. I would not buy again.UPDATE: Holiday 2020 Collection. I was looking forward to new flavors (the Apple Pie is incredible), but disappointed to see the rest of the collection is basically recycled drinks that I don’t really care for.Apple Pie – This a showstopper and Bartesian needs to sell this pod individually and all year round. This drink is incredibly balanced and not overly sweet like most apple-cider type cocktails. It’s perfectly sweet, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and touch of lemon. I use Wordford Reserve Whiskey which compliments the drink nicely with hints of orange. Delish!Spiced Old Fashioned – I like the spices in this beverage, but I find Old Fashions to be too strong. I added apple cider and lots of ice, and it actually made this taste similar to the Apple Pie cocktail. Winning!!Clausmopolitain – A regular cosmo with glitter. Yawn…. (but the color is stunning!)Spiced Coffee – Disappointed this was in the collection instead of bringing something new to table. I do not like the Spiced Coffee, so I saved them for a friend that likes this drink with a splash of Bailey’sUPDATE Oct 2020: Witch’s Heart – Great for Halloween, but I will be drinking all year round. Such a delicious and complex tasting drink. You get sweetness from the white grape and berries, and a bit of tart from the apple and lemon. I’ve never had edible glitter before, but it makes this drink magical. You’re friends will be impressed. Only negative there is an odd ‘cough-syrupy’ after taste. It doesn’t bother me, but this drink is not for everyone. It makes a small drink output.UPDATE: July 2020 New Releases1. Mai Thai – “Bermuda, Jamaica, Ooooo I wanna take ya…”. Tropical, pineapp-ly, coconut and almond goodness. This tastes exactly like a drink you would get at the beach. Delicious and my absolute favorite of the new releases but the drink output is absolutely pitiful – a few sips and it’s gone. You would need to make 2-3 pods for a full drink.2. Ginger Peach Iced Tea – Summery and refreshing. I do find the ginger to be a bit overpowering, so I add a dash of Peach Schnapps to provide more of that peach flavor I’m looking for. This is a substantial drink! It fills my 16 ounce glass on regular. This drink sneaks up on you since you can’t taste the alcohol.3. Lemon Drop – Taste exactly like the first legal drink you had on your 21st birthday. Super sweet and tart, so I prefer to make this as a shot. The strong setting makes 4-5 shots. A real crowd pleaser – ‘Who wants a lemon drop?’…and the crowd goes wild!3. Aviation – Tastes like pomegranate and maraschino cherries. The drink is a gorgeous purple color – you would think that doesn’t matter but the color is mesmerizing. I switch bottles and use vodka because I am not a fan of gin. Produces a small – medium drink output.4. Northside – A surprising favorite. Lemon and lime flavored drink without being overly sweet. Super refreshing summer vodka drink. Produces a small – medium drink output.5. Rhubarb Spice Shrub – Overpowering vinegary taste. At first, this drink reminded me of a delicious spiced wine I have during the holidays with such a great depth of flavor. The aftertaste is straight vinegar…why?! This drink was definitely designed by a hipster. $14 in the trash for what could have been an amazing cocktail.UPDATE: After a few family gatherings, the unanimous favorites are Rum Breeze, Sex on the Beach, Margarita, Long Island, and Whiskey Sour.1.) Rum Breeze – My absolute favorite!! Fruity, refreshing, but dangerous. It doesn’t taste ‘strong’ (even on the strong setting), but this sure does sneak up on you!). This drink has a strong coconut flavor, with hints of strawberry. I go through these pods like water. YUM!! This pod makes a substantial drink.2.) Sex on the Beach- Another fruity but dangerous favorite. I primarily taste cranberry, peach and pineapple in this one. This pod makes a substantial drink.3.) Whiskey Sour – Delicious but strong. Perfect on the regular setting. Hints of sours and vanilla. Tiny drink output – a few sips and it’s gone (may be for the best since this is a strong drink).4.) Long Island – My favorite bar drink, but not my favorite Bartesian drink (I think because it doesn’t have enough ‘cola’ flavor for me), but it’s still delicious. Regular setting is PLENTY strong with this one. Makes a small-medium drink – need 2 pods for a full glass.5.) Margarita – This drink is perfect. Not overly sweet or generic tasting like alot of the grocery store mixers. Decent drink output.6.) Cosmopolotan – Lime and Cranberry flavors. A bit tart for me, but pretty good. Decent drink output.7.) Paper plane – It reminds me of a whiskey sour I had at a restaurant. Tastes of citrus, sour, herbal and bitter. Unusual but pretty good. It’s like a sour patch kid for adults. This drink is not for everyone. All of my guest have said it tastes like medicine, but I like it (but the herbal notes can be a bit overpowering). Decent drink output.8.) Uptown Rocks – Strong Peach taste – good, but I wish there were other prominent flavors. I actually prefer this with vodka than gin (I just switch the bottles). Makes a decent sized drink.9.) Old Fashioned – All I can taste is whiskey, but a hint of citrus does make it smoother. Not my favorite, but I’m not a fan of this drink anyway. Makes a tiny drink, but sounds about right for this one.10.) Spiced Coffee- Pretty good. Hints of spice – cinnamon and nutmeg. I would have to be in the mood for this one because I’m not a fan of spiked coffee. I would not buy again. Although a friend of mine loves it with a splash of Bailey’s. Makes a decent size drink.11.) Sazerac – This drink is slightly sweet and has subtle hints of licorice. All I could taste is whiskey when I made this drink using a regular strength. The flavor comes thorough much better on light, but I’m just not a fan of this one. Small drink output.12.) Mint Julip – Tastes like toothpaste. If you’re a fan of mint, or Mojito-like drinks then this one is for you. Decent drink output, but threw it away.13.) Negroni – And finally, my least favorite pod, and one I will definitely never buy again, the Negroni! This drink has a strong herbal flavor. I don’t know how it’s possible, but it tastes like eating a pine tree. Also very bitter. Definitely not for me. Small drink output, but it’s for the best – nasty!

   4,358 people found this helpful
6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Monica – December 28, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Fun and Tasty

   My neighbor had this, and my fiancé loved it, so I bought it as his Christmas gift. Easy to use, and the drinks taste authentic. the pods aren’t all that expensive either if you breakdown the cost per drink
7. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Smedsters – December 28, 2025

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   Second Time’s A Charm! Updated Review From An Unhappy Camper.

   UPDATE: 1/08/2020It seems my second round with the Bartesian has been a home run. My replacement unit, unlike the first, did not come scratched or buffed even though it was packaged in the exact same box as the original. Quality control with Sunbeam, the Bartesian manufacturer listed on the outer shipping box, might be an issue as I have read other reviews and viewed photos of similar scratches and buff marks on the plastic of their machine. For the money spent, this should not be an issue.PROS:1. The Bartesian provides a stupidly simple way to enhance your adult beverage drinking enjoyment with an assortment of capsules for drinks you might not otherwise have the patience, desire or knowledge on how to make.2. Capsules are easy to insert and use… just make sure to have a glass already beneath the dispenser since some of the capsule liquid will most likely spill out a bit before the machine begins to make your beverage.3. Great customization options of alcohol dispensed ranging from a virgin “mocktail” to 2 ounces of alcohol “strong”.4. Machine reads the capsule barcode quickly, like instantly quick… MOST of the time. See CONS for an explanation.5. The glass containers are simple to fill with alcohol of your choice and insert into the machine. Just be sure to insert the lid on correctly otherwise you’ll have the same lack of dispensing experience I did with my first machine… part user error, part lack of clear instructions provided by Bartesian.6. Easy to remove and clean rubber spill tray.7. Small footprint and doesn’t require a lot of space.8. Metal handle to open and close the lid… although welcome, it seems a bit out of place with all of the plastic the machine is made out of. I would love to see all metal “Pro” units become available with future generations.9. Easy to use touchscreen with responsive interface.10. Drink capsules, although none included with the machine, come nicely packaged and protected in a box. See my CONS with the packaging below.CONS:1. Although capsule barcodes are mostly all scanned without error, there is on occasion a capsule that does not scan when the lid is closed. What typically occurs is that you insert the capsule and close the lid. Some liquid then drips since the capsule is now punctured. The machine does nothing since it doesn’t detect/scan the capsule. You open the lid and then close it again expecting it to scan. Nope… more liquid lost and no capsule detected. This can occur several times until the foil containing the barcode on the top of the capsule is flattened with your fingers and the machine is able to scan it. As a result, I’ve learned to run my finger over the barcode to make sure it’s flat and scannable by the machine. Since I’ve started doing this, I’ve averted any additional issues.2. Seemingly inexpensive, painted plastic that all too easily can scratch and buff given the high retail price.3. Some drinks require the rum glass canister to be installed versus the gin canister. Swapping these ALWAYS results in some spillage of liquid as you remove one canister from the base and insert another. If you take care while making the swap, you can easily minimize the mess.4. Unless you previously made a capsule or have some knowledge of what glassware should be used with each beverage, the machine will not tell you what to use until AFTER you have inserted a capsule and closed the lid. If you have not already placed a glass under the dispenser, you’ll have some of the capsule spill into the rubber spill tray once the lid is closed and capsule punctured. To be honest, it’s a waste of the capsule if you don’t have glassware already placed and just one more thing to have to clean as a build-up of spilled alcohol and capsule liquid will dry and become sticky on the rubber spill try.5. The touchscreen graphics are basic… I mean VERY basic. The graphics could have been programmed by a 6 year old on an iPad. Ok, the graphics would have looked better if they were programmed by a 6 year old on an iPad! I suppose Bartesian didn’t really need to make fancy graphics for their inaugural machine but for the cost of it and the day and age of technology I would have expected far more… maybe something like an animated pictured of the beverage being made along with it’s progress or a video even of the beverage. Instead, we have a simple progress bar that if you look hard enough, you can count the pixels used to create the graphic on the low cost screen!6. The machine is not smart enough on its own, without human interaction, to know if you have inserted the correct alcohol container into the correct position. The 4 slots on the base are as follows: Rum/Gin, Vodka, Tequila and Whisky. Depending on capsule inserted, the machine will pump liquid from the correct container. When a Rum or Gin based capsule is inserted, the machine prompts you to confirm if you have either the required Rum or Gin. This is a perfect opportunity for the lids to potentially house RFID sensors or some other tech for the machine to auto detect the proper container.7. The water container is integrated into the machine and not one of the glass containers. It’s a bit awkward that the water is filled in a gray painted plastic container and not a clear one, making it easier to view the water level. In future generations, I would like to see Bartesian replace the painted plastic for either a glass container or clear plastic one and potentially include a filter.8. Not a bartender and would like to know what alcohol will be mixed with each capsule? Don’t expect to find it on the packaging… anywhere! It would be a great addition to mention which of the 5 alcohols each capsule makes for those times you haven’t memorized each drink and have decided you’re in more of a vodka mood than a gin one. While we’re at it, go ahead and add the glassware type i.e. lowball, highball, etc. to the packaging since the machine is not going to tell you until it’s too late.I know I’m being picky here with these cons but hey… Bartesian has a great first generation machine and can do so much more to refine it! Once you learn the machine though, it’s a pleasure to use and a ton of fun especially given the growing variety of capsules becoming available.ORIGINAL REVIEW: 11/30/2019I was excited to receive the Bartesian to enjoy with my family during the holiday. I received the Bartesian well packaged and double boxed, perfectly protected from any potential damage. Since the Bartesian doesn’t include a sample pack of capsules, I ordered a couple of the variety packs from Amazon to test the machine out. I unpacked the machine and everything was simple to assemble. To my surprise, the machine is made of all plastic, a disappointment for the price. It definitely looks to be made of a heavier material in the photos. The front of my machine also had a buff mark on the plastic not caused by packaging but probably due to manufacturing prior to being shipped. I would love to see future options become available to order the Bartesian in cast metal which would look much better in a residential bar setting and not a large hunk of gray plastic.Upon first testing the machine, I was disappointed with its performance, I won’t spend a lot of time blaming Bartesian for this since I finally determined I had assembled the glass liquor lids on backwards which was causing the liquor to not dispense when inserted into the machine. Sadly, the instruction manual does not very clearly depict the proper direction for inserting the glass bottle caps to ensure they dispense liquid. It took me so long to figure this out that I had actually already decided that I was going to return it due to being defective. Once I figured this out, the machine worked as it was designed and the drinks tasted fine.Speaking of the drinks, I ordered the Bartesian variety pack not once, twice or three times BUT four times from Amazon and never received the correct package of capsules. I’ve since given up on trying to order these as it seems Amazon is having a problem with correctly labeling the Bartesian capsules. If I could be guaranteed to receive the variety pack, I’d gladly update my review since I’d love to try the additional drinks offered.Swapping the glass bottles of liquor can prove to be a bit messy since some liquid WILL fall from the lids… this is especially true when exchanging the gin for the vodka depending on the type of drink you’re making. On the flip side, being able to select the brand of liquor you prefer in your drinks is a great advantage of this machine. You are in complete control of your liquor selection.All in all, this machine will be great for those that love the convenience and style of a K-cup coffee maker to dispense adult beverages, either for a party of one or a party of many more. I’d love to see the availability of drink cartridges expand as the pallet will likely grow tired of the many juice and sugar-ladened mixes.

   245 people found this helpful
8. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   NixBoox – December 28, 2025

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   A great gift idea for the adults in your life!

   I bought this for Christmas last year for the family and it was great. The only part I didn’t like about it was that there isn’t a spot for Gin. There’s a spot for Whiskey, Tequila, Rum and Vodka, but if you want anything with Gin, you have to swap out the Rum. That just seems odd to me.And the reason there’s not a five star rating for this machine is because, for whatever reason, the people at Bartesian didn’t give you the option to have the machine dispense shots. That should have been a very natural thing for them to include. You can make the drinks stronger or into mocktails, but if you want to add an extra shot? Nope.I am a big fan of the Amaretto Sours. I always add an extra shot of Disaronno when I make it because I don’t think the ones in the pod are quite Amaretto enough. And the same with the Aviation cocktail, I always throw in an extra splash of Creme de Violette to boost the flavor. It is nice that the Bartesian does all the hard work for mixing the cocktail, but I just feel like you need a little extra “something” to make the cocktails really good.
9. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   quasarquasar – December 28, 2025

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Bartesian, After 11 Months, Still Works Great, Cleaning, Ice Machine

   I purposely wait until we had used the machine for at least 11 months before writing a review. So far the machine has performed marvelously. We have had no issues with the controls or operations of the machine. We have enjoyed a wide variety of cocktails during the year and they have been wonderfully made. We have really enjoyed trying many of the new cocktails from Bartesian.We use filtered water that comes from our water purification system in our Bartesian. This reduces mineral build up and eliminates the chemicals taste that comes from many municipal water treatment systems. Clean water ensures that the taste of your cocktail is consistent each time you use the machine. We have been doing this for our Keurig machines as well.I have performed two cleaning cycles since we have own the machine. It is very easy since the machine has a clean cycle in the menu. I would suggest that you consider using a “very mild” coffee cleaning compound for the water well in the machine. Since we have several Keurig machines, we had the cleaning solution handy. Using a cleaning solution will remove any bacterial build up and will ensure adequate flow is occurring from the water well. Like make coffee machines, the water in the Bartesian sits stagnant, so over time you will need to clean the water well from any bacteria build up. Follow the time schedule recommendations in the manual for cleaning your Bartesian machine.Very Important:Do not use any cleaning solution in the glass alcohol wells. These wells have rubber gaskets and spring pressure valves that may not react well to the solution. Use just water for cleaning the glass alcohol wells.When performing general everyday maintenance, clean the puncher cup in which the pods are placed in as well as the rubber mat before or after each usage. This ensures that your cocktail taste is consistent and this prevent bacteria build up on these parts.We use a countertop ice machine with our Bartesian. I read that having fresh ice for your cocktail ensures a good tasting cocktail every time. Using ice from a refrigerator ice machine is adequate but if the ice sits for any time in the icebox of the refrigerator, the taste of the ice can change. This will affect your cocktail. Each time we want a cocktail, we add water to the countertop ice machine to make fresh ice. When it is not used, we drain the water and follow maintenance for countertop ice machine. This may seem “overkill” but if you ever had a cocktail in a a good bar, they always use freshly made ice. You might want to do the same in your home.Tip 1:We use 8oz cocktail glasses in our Bartesian but we found that the height of the dispenser from the glass created splatters on some occasions. We solved this by getting a “cocktail glass riser”. There is one that is made for Keurig machines and it worked well in reducing splatters from the dispenser.Tip 2:The “Long Island Iced Tea” cocktail pod uses 3 alcohols to mix the drink. When including ice will make this cocktail right at 10 ounces. We use tall 11oz cocktail glasses for this drink to prevent run over. This also applies to any cocktail in which you choose “As a Double” or “Strong”. The Bartesian can make ‘singles’ and ‘doubles’ of every cocktail and some cocktails when made ‘double’ will exceed 8 ounces so you will need a tall cocktail glass.Summary:We have really enjoyed the machine and the cocktails it has made. I hope you find this review helpful.

   757 people found this helpful

   

10. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    SouthernfloridagirlSouthernfloridagirl – December 28, 2025

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Game changer!!!!!

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    Absolutely love this machine. I purchased it for myself as a Christmas gift. I’m an occasional drinker. But when I do have a drink, it has to be good in taste. As well as being balanced in the different mixers and alcohols. This does all of that. This is the professional grade. It is very well-made. I got this on Black Friday for 299 which usually runs 499 for the professional grade. The difference between the professional grade and the basic Bartesian is that the professional grade allows you to use four different liquors. Gin/rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey. So for a few bucks more you can make almost any drink you wanna make. FYI, don’t try to make coffee or anything in this machine other than what it calls for it will shut down. As far as performance, durability functionality, etc. it’s just a beautiful very easy Machine that anyone can use. It’s all digital. So when you put your pod in it, it will ask you the strength of the drink. If you want it strong regular, etc.. It’s very customizable to the buyer. So for me, I bought the sex on the beach pods And just to give it a little kick. I add the “summer edition” Red Bull after I make the drink through the bartesian. I add the summer edition Red Bull to the sex on the beach and it is awesome. But whether you add anything to it or tweak it after you have made it or before you make it it. It’s good regardless of whether you add anything in it. But again everything is labeled as to what goes and what. You wanna follow the instructions so if you want to add anything into your drink to tweak it whether it’s before and or after you make the drink, you wanna put it in the cup and not the machine.Anyway, I never do reviews, but I loved this so much I wanted to share. If you’re hesitant because of the price tag, trust and believe that I am a very stingy person and I am very particular about where my money goes and this is gonna last me for a long time and it’s going to be great on holidays and hosting, etc.. I literally don’t have to do anything. The drinks make themselves this thing pays for itself over and over again.

    95 people found this helpful