Frequently asked questions
How is Somabar different from home consumer cocktail appliances?
Can Somabar serve mixed drinks that do not contain alcohol?
How do I set up the Somabar machine?
For a professional commercial appliance, you will be stunned at Somabar’s simplicity. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. (1) Plug in Somabar, (2) Connect your iOS device to the Somabar machine through the iOS Somabar Mobile App, and (3) Fill your SomaPods with your desired mixed drink ingredients along with your fresh water tank and you are ready for cocktail service. More details can be found in our Quick Start Guide.
Do I use my own ingredients in the Somabar machine?
Yes! That’s the best part. Somabar does not sell any flavor-pods (yuck!), liquors or ingredients, and you are free to purchase and use any ingredients you already have, find at any store, or buy from your distributor. By using your own ingredients, you can make amazing professional cocktails for less than $1 per drink! It is an eye opening experience. Just remember to never use ingredients with pulp or are very thick, as such will ruin Somabar’s inner-workings.
Can I customize the size and strength of my drinks?
Absolutely. You can easily modify any professional drink recipe to your exact specification, and you can also make your own cocktails in your custom drink library.
Can I create my own drinks with Somabar?
Yes, you can add and create unlimited drink recipes to your custom drink library, as well as add custom ingredients for any drink and create full custom menus as well.
Does Somabar chill drinks?
Although Somabar does not refrigerate any of its ingredients, pouring a cold drink is as simple as dispensing your cocktails over ice, or storing your SomaPods (Somabar’s ingredient canisters) in the refrigerator before use.
Does Somabar require a smart device to operate?
What size glass should I use?
Where’s the best place to put my Somabar machine?
At 19" deep x 12" wide x 16" tall and weighing about 15 lbs (without SomaPods), Somabar only requires +/- 2 square feet of counter space and a standard wall outlet to operate. Somabar is fully self-contained and no external plumbing is required.
What is the best way to clean the Somabar machine?
Will the Somabar machine work if my internet is down?
How long will it take for the machine to arrive after I place my order?
What is Somabar’s return policy for the Somabar machine?
How does Somabar know what ingredients I loaded?
Somabar's brilliant technology extends to its reusable SomaPod ingredient containers, each of which is built with a re-writable identification chip. The first time you seat a SomaPod on Somabar, you will identify the ingredient contained in the SomaPod. We call this "tagging." Somabar will remember your SomaPod's tagged ingredient until you retag the SomaPod as containing a different ingredient.
How does Somabar know what drinks can be made?
The Somabar App on your connected iOS Device will display all the drinks and cocktails that can be made from the SomaPods you load on Somabar, based upon the recipes in your professional and custom drink libraries. And changing your drink service is as quick and easy as swapping one SomaPod for another with a different ingredient. Somabar's menu will immediately update and change based upon the recipes that can be made with the new loaded ingredient(s), no mixology knowledge required.
What ingredients should I load for the largest drink selection?
With Somabar's Magic Menu Creator, included with the Somabar App, you simply input one or two of your favorite drink bases, whether it be a liquor (like tequila or vodka) or mixers (like cranberry or lime juice). The Menu Creator will suggest the remaining ingredients to allow for the most robust cocktail service based upon the recipes in your professional and custom drink libraries.
How much liquid can I put in each SomaPod?
Each Somabar comes with six (6) 750 ml SomaPods [the standard size of a liquor or wine bottle] and one (1) 150 ml smaller 'bitters' SomaPod. Each SomaPod is machine washable and fully reusable and may be filled and refilled with any ingredients you like, and you may change your filled ingredient as frequently as desired. SomaPods may not be filled with highly viscous fluids (such as honey or molasses) and may never be used with ingredients containing pulp or other solids. Any such use will cause your machine to fail.