The media could not be loaded. 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*

Cons
1) 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!

I love this Bartesian! It is the two well. It was easy to set up and use. I love the way the drinks taste. I have only had it a few days.
The only downside"”it does not come with pods. You have to order those. I did and they are great. Lemon drop is excellent and so it the Amaretto Sour.

I've noticed that if the drink process doesn't start, after you drop in a capsule, make sure the capsule barcode and more importantly that the barcode reader (under the lid handle) are clean. I've wasted a few capsules before I realized the barcode reader was not clean.
BTW the Lemondrop capsules are excellent!

Like how it allowed you to choose the drink strength

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 Julep

Cocktails 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