A pragmatic approach is presented for first screening and design purposes when considering performing esterifications in a batch process, which combines heterogeneous catalysis and pervaporation for shifting the reaction toward product formation by water removal. A relatively slow esterification between tartaric acid and ethanol was chosen as a model system. Realistic performance of currently commercially available catalysts and ceramic membranes is taken into account by available experimental data. Three different process configurations, which differ in the degree of coupling of reaction and pervaporation, are analyzed. For the esterification reaction system studied, it is shown that a multifunctional membrane reactor is not a viable concept, since its operation does not proximate to the optimal requirements for the two integrated coprocesses. When it comes to configurations where catalytic reaction and separation are performed in separate units, the end design will usually depend on practical issues such as membrane stability and ease of operation.