Is a Bartesian^® Worth It? An Honest Owner's Verdict

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no cost to you when you purchase through these links.

Whether a Bartesian is worth it is a personal question. Everyone deciding to buy one has to answer it for themselves. Here is how I answered it, after nearly three years and two machines.

▶ Watch the Short

Why did I buy a Bartesian?

We have a place down south by the beach, and we get a lot of guests. I enjoy entertaining, and I thought a Bartesian would be a fun, funky thing to add to the experience. I liked the idea of making cocktails on demand, like a Keurig is for coffee, and giving my guests a variety to pick from.

My first machine was a Bartesian Classic (formerly the Premium). I bought it with a Black Friday deal in November 2023.

What do I like about it?

I like that Bartesian offers so many different cocktails. I enjoy offering that variety to my guests, and I enjoy trying drinks I would never order at a bar.

I was never a cocktail drinker. In my younger days I was a beer drinker, and I was very big into craft beer in the 1990s and 2000s, when craft brewing took off in this country. I used to collect beer growlers from breweries, and I have a collection of a couple hundred beer glasses as well.

Later, during the pandemic, I became a whiskey and tequila drinker, always neat. The Bartesian opened my eyes to cocktails. Now I can try a different cocktail with the push of a button.

It has changed how I order when I go out. The Whiskey Sour is now one of my favorites, and I order it at bars. Before the Bartesian, I would never have thought to order one, because I had never tasted one. The Aviation was the same way.

I also enjoy learning where each cocktail came from, and every one of my pod reviews includes a little history. When I learned that sailors on long voyages mixed citrus into their spirit ration to fight scurvy, I found that amazing.

What bugs me about the Bartesian?

A couple of things. I always felt the construction of the original machine, the Classic, was a little flimsy. When you lock a capsule in and push the top down, it works best if you grab it like a hamburger, because the lever does not come down well otherwise. I also wonder how long the touchscreen will last before it fails.

The other thing that bugs me is that it took me a while to learn the little tips that make the drinks taste better. Shake the capsule before you put it in the machine. Make the drink into a shaker, then shake it. Because I did not know them, I think I missed out on really enjoying the machine from the start.

I wish Bartesian did a better job explaining those steps. That is part of why I started TheCocktailAce.com. I wrote a guide on how to make better Bartesian cocktails, if you want every step I use.

Is a Bartesian worth the money?

Here is what it costs, from Bartesian's own site on November 3, 2026. Prices change, so check the current price before you buy.

The machine

• Duet: $299.99 (two spirits)
• Classic (formerly the Premium): $349.99, marked down from $399.99
• Premier: $399.99
• Professional: $399.99

Through December 31, Bartesian takes $100 off any cocktail maker when the order is $350 or more. The $100 comes off at checkout. My Black Friday guide shows how each machine qualifies.

The capsules

Capsules run about $2.22 to $3.33 each, depending on the box size and the drink. Most 8-packs are $24.96, or $3.12 a capsule. Some classics, like the Margarita and the Old Fashioned, are $19.60, or $2.45 a capsule. On a subscription, an 8-pack is $19.99, or $2.50 a capsule. Shipping is free on orders over $50.

My guide on where to buy Bartesian pods compares the subscription with stores and Amazon.

The spirit

You also buy your own liquor, which goes in the Spirit Bottles. Bartesian does not list how much spirit each drink uses, so I have not added it to the math. Each drink costs the capsule plus whatever your bottle costs per pour.

So, is a Bartesian worth it?

For me, it definitely is. The number one reason is entertaining. When guests come to my house, I can offer them a menu of 10, 15 or 20 different drinks, and they enjoy picking without being at a bar. The second reason is convenience.

If you enjoy cocktails or like having people over, I think a Bartesian is worth it for you.

Who should skip a Bartesian?

First and foremost, anyone who does not drink alcohol or does not enjoy cocktails should not buy one.

It also takes a little work to keep up. You have to keep it clean, especially the capsule holder. You should not let it sit. If it sits with spirit in the bottles and you do not use it, the lines can get gunked up. Expect some upkeep, the same as any appliance.

How often do I use it?

For someone who runs a site called TheCocktailAce, I do not drink that much. I limit my drinking to the weekends, and over a weekend I may have anywhere from two to five drinks. When I'm on vacation and relaxing, I'll enjoy a couple of drinks every day.

Would I buy one again?

Yes, 100 percent. I enjoy trying the different drinks. This year the Halloween collection was especially good. I love the Caramel Appletini, and it was my number one when I first tasted it. Now Sour Spell has become my favorite of the Halloween drinks, so go figure. Now I'm super excited to taste and enjoy the new holiday drinks.

I already own two machines, one at each place, so there is no room for another. I only have two places to live.

Why did I return the Professional?

When I was ready to purchase a second machine, the Classic showed out of stock on Bartesian's site, so my choices were the Duet and the Professional. I did not want a two-bottle machine, so I bought the Professional.

About one or two weeks after it arrived, Bartesian came out with the Premier. The two machines share almost the same design, and the big difference for me was the bottle lock: the Professional has one and the Premier does not.

I had planned to keep the Professional, even though I did not need the bottle lock. My problem was that I kept forgetting the lock was on, and I would try to pull the bottles out with it locked. I knew I would end up breaking the machine. My other machine has no bottle lock, so going back and forth between the two could drive you a little crazy.

I was still inside the return period, so I returned the Professional and ordered the Premier. Sorry, Bartesian. I have not looked back. The Premier works better for me, and I love its construction compared to the Classic. Its bottles are designed better than the Classic's, and they feel better going into their slots.

The Classic has since come back. In November 2026, Bartesian's site listed it at $349.99, marked down from $399.99, for the holidays. My assumption is that the Classic will be gone once Bartesian sells out of them.

Which Bartesian would I buy today?

The Premier. If you want help choosing, my Bartesian machine comparison walks through all four, and my Premier review covers the one I use.

If you buy one, I built a free cocktail menu maker so your guests can pick from a printed menu, the way my guests do.

▶ Watch the Full Review

Prefer to watch instead of read? Here is my full answer in video form.