Smart Bartender: Build Your Own Raspberry Pi‑Powered Cocktail Station

Why pay high prices at bars when you can create a custom, automated cocktail station at home? Our Raspberry Pi‑powered Smart Bartender mixes up to six ingredients simultaneously, saving money and impressing guests.

Story

Tired of spending $12 for a modest drink? The Smart Bartender lets you craft any cocktail—from a classic rum and coke to a complex Long Island iced tea—right in your kitchen. Built on a Raspberry Pi, the system can be expanded for additional pumps, integrated with Alexa or Google Assistant, and customized through a simple code interface.

Configure recipes with two buttons and a screen, then add new drinks to the repository via the bartender’s code. Watch the full build video below to see the process in action.

Watch the build video

Building the Frame

We started with 1"×2" lumber (actual dimensions: 0.75" × 1.5"). Cut the following pieces:

4 × 16″ long
4 × 9″ long
6 × 7.5″ long

Screw two 16″ pieces and two 7.5″ pieces together to form one side of the frame. Repeat for the opposite side. Drill pilot holes first to prevent splitting. Connect the sides with the 9″ pieces—two at the bottom, two at the top—to complete the rectangular frame.

The electronics sit at the base, so we added two 7.5″ supports 3″ above the bottom to create a platform for the drink. Screw them into the frame at the measured mark.

Cutting the Drink and Electronics Platforms

Two MDF boards serve as the drink and electronics platforms:

Drink platform: 12″ × 9″
Electronics platform: 11‑7/8″ × 7‑3/8″

Create a 1.5″ × 0.75″ notch on each corner of the drink platform to accommodate the vertical posts. The drink platform rests atop the side supports; the electronics platform slides into the frame from the side and sits on the bottom posts.

Making the Bartender Panels

The frame’s skin comes from black PVC sheets cut with a box cutter:

Front panel: 12″ × 16″
Left panel: 9.25″ × 16″
Right panel: 9.25″ × 12‑1/8″
Access panel: 9.25″ × 3‑7/8″
Top panel: 12.25″ × 9‑5/16″
Back panel: 12″ × 16″
Inside side panels: 8‑15/16″ × 10.25″

Score the sheets deeply, then snap off each piece. The front panel receives an 8.5″ × 10″ window above the MDF board to insert the drink.

Assembling the Funnel

A 3D‑printed bracket holds the drink funnel. Because our printer’s build volume was limited, we printed two mirrored halves and bonded them. Attach the bracket to the underside of the top frame and drop the funnel into place.

Mounting and Wiring the Electronics Board

Secure the Raspberry Pi and peripheral board on the electronics platform with double‑sided outdoor tape. Follow the provided circuit diagram to connect the pumps, LEDs, and display. All components are listed in the parts table.

Mounting the Drink Pumps

We installed six pumps behind the bartender, each feeding a distinct ingredient. To protect the tubes, 3D‑printed standoffs separate the pumps from the wood. The pumps are secured through the back panel into the vertical posts.

Create two ½″ holes near the electronics for wiring: one for all pump cables, another for the power supply. Cover the edges with 3D‑printed bushings.

Installing the LED Lights

A multi‑color LED strip encircles the top of the frame, adding visual flair during operation. Mount it with outdoor tape and route the wires through the side panels.

Installing the Manifold

The 3D‑printed manifold gathers tubes from all six pumps and directs them into the funnel. Drill six holes in the top panel to route the tubes, then align and attach the manifold. Verify tube lengths with food‑grade silicone tubing before finalizing.

Installing the Buttons and Screen

Cut a rectangular opening beneath the drink window on the front panel. Drill four holes that match the screen’s mounting points, then secure the screen with four small screws. Install the two side buttons by drilling holes on either side of the screen; attach them with hex nuts from the back.

A 3D‑printed border gives the front panel a finished look; glue it onto the panel.

Wiring the Pumps

Solder black and red power leads to each pump terminal. Place a 1N4007 diode across the terminals to block any back‑feeding current into the Raspberry Pi, as shown in the circuit diagram.