While a shaker, some mixing tools and ice can do the job just fine, modern tech has enabled the invention of some impressive gadgets that can spritz up your home bartending game.
From machines that can prepare cocktails in seconds to smart coasters that ensure the perfect pour, here’s a rundown of some devices you should consider adding to your bar.
Bartesian Cocktail Maker – $349
Pressing a button to summon cocktails might sound like the stuff of sci-fi, but they’re already here.
Bartesian’s cocktail maker is one of the more popular robotic bartenders on the market, and can prepare cocktails on demand in about 30 seconds. Fill the machine with your spirit of choice in the designated reservoirs, then insert a cocktail capsule (an eight-pack costs around $20 and makes eight drinks) containing a mix of juices, bitters and extracts.
Use the touchscreen to adjust your preferred strength from mocktail to strong, then press mix.
iGulu – $549
I’ve no doubt beer lovers will agree that there’s no matching the experience of sipping on a beer you’ve made yourself. iGulu’s automated beer brewer takes the drudgery out of the entire process, as it works with pre-packaged ingredient kits that include everything you need: extracts, hops, bitters, dry yeast, and ground grains. Just pour in the contents and add water. Even complete beginners can start brewing right away.
Each kit is designed to brew one gallon, or eight pints. The fermentation takes 7 to 13 days, depending on the recipe. The built-in container keeps your beer cold and fresh for at least 30 days.
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You can also connect the brewer to an app to monitor fermentation time, carbonation levels, and adjust the temperature as needed.
The device is surprisingly versatile, too: Besides beer, the iGulu can also be used to make hard apple cider, kombucha, fruit wine, and non-alcoholic beverages like fermented tea, sparkling water, and even yogurt.
Barsys Smart Coaster – $69
From the folks who created a $1,500 robot bartender, the Barsys Coaster offers a more budget-friendly option for anyone learning how to avoid overpouring when making cocktails.
This smart coaster aims to help you prepare a well-blended beverage by lighting up to indicate when to start and stop pouring each ingredient. Simply connect it to the Barsys app, select a recipe, place a cup on the coaster, and follow the step-by-step guide.
Smokpub Electric Smoker – $55
Want to get fancy and serve smoked cocktails? Even if you don’t, a cocktail and whiskey smoker is a fun gadget to have.
This one from Smokpub allows you to add smoky flavors to your drinks without using open flames. Simply load it with wood chips — available flavors include oak, apple, hickory, cherry, pear, and beech — put it on your glass with the safety cover, press the electric ignition, and let the smoke infuse your drink.
SipVault Smart Liquor Dispenser – $55.95
This may not be the fanciest pick on the list, but an automatic dispenser is a practical choice for pouring drinks with consistency and avoid spills, especially when mixing multiple drinks. Now that the holidays are upon us, this may prove handy if you want to avoid clumsy hands accidentally knocking over expensive bottles at your next holiday party.
