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The Inebriator is a DIY cocktail machine that dispenses drinks from multiple ingredients using a web interface. Its documented designs combine a controller, motorized movement, and electronically controlled dispensing; they are maker-project references, not evidence of a currently manufactured appliance.
What is The Inebriator?
The project describes The Inebriator as a machine that serves several cocktail recipes selected through a web interface. The later documented implementation uses an ESP8266, two stepper motors, and a servomotor; an earlier build used an Arduino Mega 2560. Project documentation
Make called it an Arduino-powered cocktail machine in 2012, when the creators were not publishing a bill of materials or source code. Make
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The basic idea is to move a glass into position beneath selected ingredients, then actuate the relevant dispensers. The implementation varies between descriptions, so the mechanical details should be treated as design examples rather than a single guaranteed specification.
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- SIMPLE COCKTAIL CREATION. Insert a capsule, place a glass on the bar mat and choose the preferred strength from mocktail to strong. The cocktail maker automatically draws the spirit from the bottle and crafts a perfect cocktail in seconds.
- EASY, INTUITIVE MENU SELECTION. The intuitive rotary dial makes navigation simple. Once the capsule is inserted, the cocktail is identified via barcode and the user-friendly LCD display suggests the proper glassware and provides strength options.
- ELEGANT, MODERN DESIGN WITH LIGHT: From the stylish touchpoints and effortless capsule latch to the LED light that highlights each cocktail as it’s crafted, Bartesian Professional Cocktail Machine makes every drink an event.
- BOTTLE LOCK LIMITS ALCOHOL ACCESS. The solid die-cast metal handle with key helps to secure the glass bottles of this cocktail maker in place, limiting breakage and access to alcohol.
- LESS TIME CLEANING, MORE TIME ENJOYING. The automatic rinse minimizes cleaning and prevents the previous cocktail's ingredients from mixing with the next one. Capsules pop up with spring assistance for quick removal and glass bottles are dishwasher safe.
Positioning and dispensing
The project’s later version runs a web server on an ESP8266. Choosing a cocktail commands two stepper motors and a servomotor; the glass is lifted and rotated over bottles containing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Project documentation
Hackaday’s 2012 account describes a trolley that moves along one axis beneath a row of nine liquor bottles. An actuator arm presses bottle valves. Mixers are stored in a cooler, pressurized with nitrogen, and dispensed through electronically operated valves. A weight sensor checks that a vessel is present before mixing. Hackaday
RoboticsTomorrow’s description of the earlier Arduino Mega 2560 build also mentions a character display, a stepper-driven drinks shelf, pressurized mixer bottles, and individually controlled valves. RoboticsTomorrow
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Rank #2
- CRAFT COCKTAILS ANYWHERE: With the cordless Bartesian Duet, you can bring the bar wherever the fun is happening. It makes up to 500 cocktails on a single charge, so you're covered for even the biggest parties. You can craft cocktails while it's plugged in and charging, or unplug it and take it anywhere people want to hang out.
- INTELLIGENT BARCODE RECOGNITION: The Bartesian cocktail machine reads each capsule instantly and tells you what glass to use and what strength options work best for that cocktail. No more wondering if you're doing it right - it walks you through everything so each cocktail is perfect.
- ZERO BARTENDING SKILLS NEEDED: Get cocktails that taste like they came from your favorite upscale bar, but all you have to do is pop in a cocktail capsule and pick your spirit strength. Whether you want a mocktail or something stronger, every drink comes out perfectly balanced and delicious.
- CONVENIENT SELF-CLEANING SYSTEM: Between each drink, this cordless cocktail maker automatically cleans itself so your margarita doesn't taste like the whiskey sour you just made. Every cocktail comes out tasting exactly like it should.
- TONS OF EXPERT-CRAFTED COCKTAILS: You get access to over 60 different cocktails without having to pick up dozens of bottles and ingredients. Each cocktail capsule (sold separately) has real juice concentrates, bitters, and extracts already mixed by professional bartenders - you just need your 2 favorite spirits.
Can you buy an Inebriator?
The available documentation establishes The Inebriator as a home-built project, not a verified mass-market product. It does not establish current retail availability, production status, or a complete appliance for sale. Likewise, it does not guarantee a particular recipe library, dispensing accuracy, or a tested parts list. Check the project documentation for the design details, but do not assume that a complete, supported machine can be ordered.
What parts would you need to build an Arduino cocktail machine?
The earlier documented version used an Arduino Mega 2560, making that the clearest controller reference if you want to reproduce the Arduino-based architecture. The later project uses an ESP8266 instead, so the two controller choices belong to different implementations and should not be presumed interchangeable without adapting the hardware and software. Project documentation RoboticsTomorrow
At a high level, the design calls for the following functional groups. The sources do not establish exact current models, electrical ratings, or compatibility among individual parts.
Rank #3
- 🍹 PERFECT COCKTAILS IN SECONDS: The Barsys 360 mixes bar-quality cocktails in just 10–30 seconds. From whiskey sours to margaritas, every pour is consistent, delicious, and effortless.
- 🥂 LIMITLESS DRINK OPTIONS: Pair with the Barsys app to explore hundreds of recipes, customize your favorites, or create new cocktails with what’s already in your bar. Personalized recommendations keep your menu fresh and exciting.
- 🥃 EASY TO SET UP & CLEAN: Quick-fill funnel makes adding ingredients simple. Clear windows let you check levels at a glance, and the included cleaning solution keeps your cocktail maker fresh and ready for the next round.
- 📱INSULATED STORAGE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DRINKS: Keep mixers and spirits cold for up to 8 hours. Perfect for juice, soda, or liquor—no pods or capsules required. Enjoy ice-cold cocktails from your own ingredients.
- 🍾 HOST LESS. PARTY MORE: Spend more time with guests and less time mixing drinks. Barsys 360 keeps the cocktails flowing so you can enjoy the party.
- Controller: Arduino Mega 2560 for the earlier design, or ESP8266 for the later web-controlled implementation.
- Movement: stepper motors and suitable drivers for positioning the glass or ingredient array; the later implementation also specifies a servomotor.
- Dispensing: bottle valves or pourer mechanisms, plus electronically actuated beverage valves where used.
- Pressurized mixers: mixer containers, tubing, and pressure regulation for an approach like the one described by Hackaday.
- Glass detection: a weight sensor or other presence-sensing hardware, as in the reported build.
- Control interface: a web interface for recipe selection in the project documentation; the earlier report also describes a character display.
Search terms such as “Arduino Mega 2560,” “stepper motor and driver kit,” “bar pourer optic,” “12 V beverage solenoid valve,” “pressure regulator,” “tubing,” and “load cell” can help locate candidate parts. They are not a verified bill of materials: confirm each part’s electrical, mechanical, and food-contact suitability for your own design before buying or assembling it.
What are the design trade-offs?
The Inebriator’s reported architecture coordinates a fixed set of ingredients with moving hardware and controlled dispensers. Cornell’s engineering report places it among beverage-automation systems with a fixed number of ingredients that are not modularly scalable. Cornell engineering report
When comparing this style of build with another cocktail machine, examine the dimensions that affect both complexity and future changes:
Quick Recap
- Controller platform: whether the design uses an Arduino, an ESP8266, or another controller, and whether its software matches the hardware.
- Ingredient capacity: how many bottles or containers the machine can serve without redesign.
- Dispensing method: whether it presses bottle valves, uses beverage solenoids, or combines approaches.
- Mechanical complexity: how many moving axes, actuators, and alignment points the glass and ingredients require.
- Spill and glass sensing: whether it checks that a vessel is present before dispensing.
- Cooling and pressurization: whether mixers need refrigeration, a pressure source, or both.
- Expandability: whether new ingredients can be added as modules or require replacing or rebuilding major parts.
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