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Have you ever wished you could push a button after a hard day, and a delicious cocktail would magically appear before you? If an appliance could deliver a margarita or whiskey sour on command, sort of like a Keurig machine for cocktails. With the best cocktail machines, that dream is now possible.
Truth be told, they’ve only been around for a few years, but the most recent models are new and improved, and naturally, Meggan has gotten in on the trend herself.
“I got the Bev Cocktail Maker Machine by Black+Decker last summer, and I love it because it makes entertaining so easy,” Meggan says. “All of my parties have children in attendance, often young children, and this allows their parents to easily mix cocktails without having to fuss with all the traditional tools. Plus, it makes prepping for the party easier because I don’t have to stock a full bar.”
For this guide on the best cocktail makers, Meggan and I worked together to research the few models out there and narrow the list down. We included her favorites (there’s more than one!), considered practical qualities to look for while shopping for one and read hundreds of reviews to find the best cocktail machines on the market. Below, you’ll find more details on the cocktail makers we love by Bartesian, Black+Decker, and Margaritaville.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks
- What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: Bev Cocktail Maker Machine by Black+Decker – $239 at Amazon
- Best Splurge Cocktail Machine: Bartesian Duet Cocktail Maker – $289 at Amazon
- Best Cocktail Machine for Margaritas: Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker – $279.99 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Cocktail Machines
1. What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: Bev Cocktail Maker Machine by Black+Decker
When Meggan purchased this cocktail maker, it was a game changer for our resident “hostess with the mostest.” “The great thing about this machine is that it allows you to pull liquor directly from store-bought liquor bottles (as opposed to having to transfer alcohol into separate bottles, like the Bartesian unit),” Meggan says. “It uses the Bartesian pods, which is great because they have over 50 flavors of cocktails. In the end, you are saving time without sacrificing quality or taste.”
The Bev holds five 750-milliliter bottles (“fifths”) of liquor, with labeled spots for gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey, but you can also use a 1.5-liter bottle. There’s a 6th placeholder for water in a refillable glass bottle that comes with the machine. All six bottles are easy to install and swap out. Just insert the metal straws, and the machine will feed itself.
The magic is in the bar code reader located inside the capsule holder that scans each pod to know which liquor or combination of liquors and water to dispense. You control the strength of your cocktail with a silver knob that even has a setting for a “mocktail” with no alcohol added. Once you’ve made your selection, just push the “mix” button, and in 30 seconds or less, you’ll have your drink in your hand.
If any of your bottles are empty, a light will start to blink to alert you it’s time for a new bottle. If it happens midway through the drink, don’t worry. Once you replace the bottle and push the button, it will add the water immediately to catch up. It may not be ideal, but at least you won’t have wasted a pod.
It’s worth noting that Black+Decker also makes a cordless model that is also Meggan-approved. The Bev Cordless Cocktail Maker Machine is perfect if you don’t want to be tethered to an outlet. She also recommends grabbing the brand’s storage drawer because it saves space on your bar or counter.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 17.9 by 16 by 15.1 inches
- Weight: 16.3 pounds
- Cocktails: 40+
The Pros:
- Works in 30 seconds
- Easy to set up, clean, and use
- Has a self-cleaning mode
- Guests can self-serve
- Makes mocktails without alcohol
- Makes more than 40 different cocktails
The Cons:
- Takes up a lot of space
What Others are Saying:
The Bev Cocktail Maker Machine by Black+Decker has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon from more than 1,200 reviews. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal found it to be better than the Bartesian after testing them side by side.
Buy the Bev Cocktail Maker Machine by Black+Decker:
2. Best Splurge Cocktail Machine: Bartesian Duet Cocktail Maker
The Bartesian Duet Cocktail Maker is the newest model of the popular Bartesian cocktail machine, with an upgraded design to offer more versatility and functionality. One of the best upgrades is the rotary dial and LCD screen that makes it easy to scroll through the menu items as opposed to the touchscreen on the old model, which was low in resolution and clunky. Use the new one to customize the pour strength of your drink (mocktail, light, regular, or strong), push the button to start, and let the magic happen.
We also love the settings like first use, rinse, or transport, which makes it easy to use and to keep clean. The rinse feature is super helpful if you don’t think you’ll use the machine for a while because it will flush out the lines so you can keep the bottles installed safely for next time. Speaking of bottles, the machine comes with two sleek glass bottles that you pour liquor into. Even though it’s an extra step, it’s a nice feature, so you don’t have to constantly marry liquor bottles.
We like that it has a tiered, two-bottle display and a removable, transparent water tank so you can easily keep an eye on the water level while hosting a party. At first glance, you might think that only having the ability to mix two liquors at a time instead of the original’s ability to mix four is a step back, but you can still make 50+ recipes. It’s just a more straightforward process and is half the size of the old model, so it doesn’t hog up as much counter space.
The company also makes a storage drawers organizer, which holds 36 pods, has a sleek and modern look, and has a small handle to make it easy to open and close.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 9.5 by 12.75 by 12.5 inches
- Weight: 11.44 pounds
- Cocktails: 50+
The Pros:
- Easy to set up, clean, and use
- Small footprint
- Attractive design
- Versatile for many drinks
- Comes with an app
- Removable parts are dishwasher-safe
The Cons:
- Expensive
- Liquor can leak
What Others are Saying:
The Bartesian Duet Cocktail Maker has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon from more than 4,900 reviews. It was also found to be bartender-approved by Mashable.
Buy the Bartesian Duet Cocktail Machine:
3. Best Cocktail Machine for Margaritas: Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker
We would be remiss if we didn’t include a margarita machine in this roundup of the best cocktail makers and machines. In our opinion, the Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker is the closest thing to bringing an island vacation to your backyard!
Unlike other machines that crush ice, the Key West has been described as a snow cone maker attached to a blender because of the large ice hopper that drops ice cubes through ice shaving blades. Compared to other margarita makers that solely crush ice, the results from this machine are notably smoother since you can choose between shaving and blending ice simultaneously or individually. It may take some experimentation with these settings to determine what texture you like best.
All you have to do is add the liquids to the pitcher, turn the knob to select how many drinks you want to make (between 1 to 3 glasses to 2.5 pitchers), and the blender will whip up an icy cold blended cocktail to order. This machine won’t keep your drinks cold, but there is a reservoir to catch water from the ice cubes as they melt, so your drinks won’t get watered down.
Cleanup isn’t the easiest thing to do because there are a lot of pieces to disassemble, so it might not be the best machine for a quiet Tuesday night at home. But if you’re throwing a party, this margarita maker is sure to be the star, and Meggan loves her! Luckily, at the end of the night, you can toss all the parts in a dishwasher and call it a day.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 9 by 14 by 19 inches
- Weight: 16.1 pounds
- Cocktails: Unlimited options
The Pros:
- Makes restaurant-quality cocktails
- Multiple drink textures
- Easy-to-use controls
- Easy-pour job
- Extra large ice hopper
The Cons:
- Bulky
- Difficult to disassemble
What Others are Saying:
The Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from more than 3,500 reviews. Additionally, it was named best overall margarita maker by The Spruce Eats.
Buy the Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker:
Other Cocktail Machines to Consider
Bartesian Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine
When this model first hit the market a few years back, it was met with some skepticism — and for good reason. The basic principle is great, and the Bartesian capsules are delicious, but it is complicated to set up, the touchscreen is clunky, and it takes up the whole counter. Luckily, the Bartesian Duet Cocktail Machine above streamlines the process. The Bartesian Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine is available at Amazon for $318.99.
Barsys 360
We wanted to be impressed by this model. The website is chic and sophisticated, and the device itself looks pretty cool. But it’s hard to cut through the flowery descriptions on the site to learn what this machine does or how it works. It’s also very pricey. The Barsys 360 is available at Barsys for $475.
Why You Can Trust Us
Hi, I’m Belle, an award-winning content creator and an adjunct professor who works in restaurant PR in the Midwest. For more than 20 years, I’ve held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants, including ownership of a Korean-concept hot dog cart (that was named after my dog’s teeth). My writing and on-camera work can be seen on the Better Homes & Gardens website.
Meggan Hill is a classically trained chef and professional writer. Her detailed tutorials and meticulously tested recipes bring success and confidence to home cooks everywhere. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Meggan now lives in sunny Southern California. She has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, Country Living, and more.
To create this guide for the very best cocktail machines, I worked with Meggan to learn about which models she loves. I then researched highly recommended models and read hundreds of online reviews to find some of the greatest options available. From there, we compared them side by side and rated them on performance, ease of use, and overall value to come up with our list of the best cocktail machines.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Cocktail Machine
What to Consider Before Buying a Cocktail Machine
Before purchasing a cocktail machine, consider the following factors:
Capacity: Determine how many drinks you typically serve at gatherings to ensure the machine can accommodate your needs. Does it make sense to make a single cocktail at a time, or do you need a pitcher to satisfy a crowd?
Versatility: Look for machines that offer a variety of cocktail options or allow you to customize recipes. Ones that offer several kinds of pods is a great bonues too!.
Ease of Use: Opt for a machine that is user-friendly and easy to operate, especially if you intend to have guests self-serve.
Cleaning and Maintenance: Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain the machine. There’s nothing worse than a sticky mess to clean up after a party.
Size and Weight: Take into account the size of the machine and ensure it fits well in your space. If you don’t intend to keep it out all the time, make sure it’s not too heavy for you to lift in and out of storage.
How Does the Bartesian Cocktail Maker Work?
If you’ve used Keurig’s pod-based coffee makers, you’ll find these automatic cocktail makers operate pretty much the same way. Instead of buying coffee pods, you purchase pre-measured cocktail capsules (typically sold in 6- or 8-packs for $20 or less) and fill the model with water and your choice of spirits (gin, vodka, rum, whiskey/bourbon, or tequila).
Once it’s loaded, the machine will read the barcode on each pod and ask you to choose from four levels of cocktail strength (mocktail, light, medium, strong). It will then direct you to the correct glassware to serve the drink in. Once you hit the start button, the rest is done for you in about 30 seconds.
Is a Cocktail Maker Machine Worth It?
Meggan says a cocktail machine is worth it if you entertain a lot and your circle likes to drink cocktails. Nobody has time to mix one drink at a time, and the cocktail machine offers a lot more versatility to your guests than just mixing up and offering a single “house cocktail” for an event.
Meggan also thinks the taste of the Bartesian pod cocktails is superior to canned cocktail drinks, although those are another option for entertaining.
How Many Drinks Does One Bartesian Capsule Make?
Each Bartesian capsule makes one drink. It’s worth noting that the capsules are shelf-stable. They will not have an expiration date, but they will have a best-before date, which is about 6 months after they are packaged
What Cocktails Can I Make in a Cocktail Machine?
Cocktail machines like the Bartesian offer a wide range of cocktail options, typically depending on the capsules or ingredients available. Some common cocktails that can be made in a cocktail machine include:
- Margarita: A classic cocktail made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec.
- Old Fashioned: A timeless cocktail featuring bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a twist of orange or lemon peel.
- Cosmopolitan: A popular vodka-based cocktail made with cranberry juice, triple sec, lime juice, and a splash of simple syrup.
- Mojito: A refreshing cocktail originating from Cuba, consisting of white rum, lime juice, mint leaves, sugar, and soda water.
- Whiskey Sour: A whiskey-based cocktail made with bourbon or rye whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Martini: A classic cocktail made with gin or vodka and dry vermouth, typically garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon peel.
- Negroni: A bittersweet cocktail made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, garnished with an orange twist.
- Pina Colada: A tropical cocktail made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, often served blended with ice.
The Best Cocktail Recipes
Cocktails for these machines need to be made from the pods, and the machines are intuitive enough to handle all the details for you. If you’re craving a fresh cocktail while you wait for your machine to arrive, you can check out all of Meggan’s cocktail recipes here.
If you’re looking for the tastiest Bartesian pods, we suggest starting with the Classic Collection Capsules, which is a sampling of a Cosmopolitan, old-fashioned, whiskey sour, margarita, espresso martini, and uptown rocks. We also love the 16-packs of the margarita, old fashioned, and Cosmopolitan capsules from the brand.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
Cocktail Recipes
Cosmopolitan
Cocktail Recipes
Manhattan
Cocktail Recipes
Sidecar Cocktail
Cocktail Recipes
Sea Breeze Cocktail
Cocktail Recipes
Paloma Cocktail
Belle DuChene is an award-winning digital content producer who has a passion for all things lifestyle including food, fashion, and French culture. (And French wine, of course!) Over the course of 20 years, she's held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants and has eaten her way through the side streets of more than 20 countries. Always a student, her kitchen looks like a library of culinary school textbooks and she will sit for the level one sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers this summer. Belle owns an award-winning content creation agency, teaches communications at three colleges and universities, and tutors in French. In addition to Culinary Hill, her writing and on-camera demonstrations have been published on BHG.com.