We tried the 'Keurig for Cocktails' — and the robot bartender was surprisingly good

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Kickstarter / Screengrab

Cocktail culture is huge right now.

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But cocktails — with their bitters, syrups, and fancy sugars — are complex. 

Enter Bartesian, the 'Keurig for Cocktails' that's now raising funds on Kickstarter.

Founded by Canadian entrepreneurs Bryan Fedorak and Jason Neevel, the $299 device will make you a margarita in a matter of seconds.

Bryan came by the Business Insider office last week to show us how it works. Here's what we found.

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Bryan stopped by our office while he was in New York last week.

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Drake Baer / Business Insider

He brought the sole working prototype of the Bartesian. The idea came when a friend suggested — "Hey, you guys should make a Keurig for cocktails."

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Drake Baer / Business Insider
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The ingredients are pretty nice.

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Bryan Fedorak / Bartesian
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You — the owner — supply the booze.

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Drake Baer / Business Insider

Which, should be noted, is the most expensive part of cocktailing.

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Bryan Fedorak / Bartesian
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Bryan and Jason went through several phases to get to the Kickstarter-ready prototype, starting back in November 2014.

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Bryan Fedorak / Bartesian

When making a drink, the device tells you what kind of glass to use.

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Drake Baer / Business Insider
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In their user testing, Bryan and Jason found that people really liked to use the shaker, so he poured this gin drink — called an Uptown Rocks — into one. The Bartesian made the drink with Jetsons-like efficiency. Notice the bartender spill mat it sits on — a nice design touch.

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Drake Baer / Business Insider

He poured out two tall drinks.

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Drake Baer / Business Insider
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And we clinked glasses. The Uptown Rocks was a touch sweet for me, but I could see how others might dig it.

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Drake Baer / Business Insider

But the margarita — which he had to make a mix of after US customs confiscated his other capsules — tasted like the sort of thing you'd get at a fancy tequila bar.

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Drake Baer / Business Insider
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The Bartesian has already made its Kickstarter funding goal. On Kickstarter it costs $299; after the funding it will be $399. If you like to entertain with the aid of a robot, it might just be worth the expense.

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Kickstarter / Screengrab

The cocktails look great in their fully glory.

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Bryan Fedorak / Bartesian
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