Barsys Makes Case for Adding Style to the Bartender Robot Stage with Barsys 360
Home cocktail making equipment has gone through many stages since we first wrote about it in 2016. We’ve seen everything from pod-based systems from Bartesian and Drinkworks to DIY methods like those from MrBar.io to cocktail robots with names reminiscent of 80s hip-hop artists.
And, if we’re being honest, most don’t look that interesting, either presenting as some sort of after-dark Keurig or a smaller version of a restaurant bar dispensing system.
In other words, cocktail bots are always focused on helping more than designing.
But does it have to be? I mean, shouldn’t household appliances, especially those focused on entertainment and relaxation, actually look good? Barsys, a company that has been making bartending equipment for the home for the last five or so years, is trying to do just that with its latest product, the Barsys 360. With a sleek design that shares a ring that allows the cocktail glass to stay inside as various ingredients are dispensed from the top, the Barsys 360 stands out from any cocktail stand in the parking lot.
In fact, at first glance, it looks a bit difficult to construct, as I wasn’t sure where the machine’s fluid chambers were or how the fluid was put inside. According to the specs, it has six, and the company assured me that they all sit inside the 360 ring itself. Winds and mixers are added to the 360 through three holes at the top, using a small adapter called the “wind funnel” seen in the rendering below. According to the company, each of the six containers can hold 900 ml in each canister (about 4 cups).
The new Barsys360 looks very different from the previous Barsys 2+, which looks like a 3D printer with a bottle extractor on top. The 360 also comes with a very low price tag (although I hesitate to call the 360 cheap) at $475 for pre-orders.
As 360 succeed? It’s hard to say, mostly because without Bartesian, the bartender bot market has proven to be a difficult market to capitalize on. Part of the problem is most consumers have a few favorite cocktails, and, for the most part, know how to make them. For these people, introducing an expensive machine to automate the process may seem like an unnecessary step.
However, with a focus on design and something that would look great in the kitchen or the entertainment room, Barsys hopes to appeal to craft cocktail connoisseurs who want to add some powerful technical flair to their cocktail making plans. And, unlike pod-based devices, it removes any need to rely on proprietary components from the start (another big red flag for this category in the mind of consumers).
If you like the 360, Barsys is launching pre-orders this week. If you buy one, be sure to let us know how it goes.
You can watch the hero reel video provided by the company below:
