Baristas beware: A robot that prepares gourmet coffee cups has arrived

It seems that in the food industry, the robot revolution is well underway, machines mastering skillful tasks always performed by people.

In Boston, robots have replaced chefs and created complex bowls for customers. In Prague, machines move servers and servers with the help of an application. In Denver, they take orders during a fast food campaign.

Robots even make the perfect bread nowadays, supporting an art that has remained in human hands for thousands of years.

Now comes Briggo, a company that has created a fully automated robotic infusion machine capable of producing 100 cups of coffee in one hour – which equates to three to four baristas, according to the company.

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Using a blend of Latin American beans, the machine – called "coffee haus" – creates custom gourmet coffee cups that can be ordered via an app, allowing guests to control ingredients, espresso, aromas and temperature without any human interaction. The company says that no other company in the world has applied so much technology to "specialty coffee".

One of the main selling points of the company is to remove the human element from the command of a cup of coffee.

"No more lines, no more confusion, no more misspelled names," says Briggo's website.

Briggo said its eight machines belong to the company, but they have recently started to offer a licensed business model to potential operators. The company did not disclose the cost of this business model, but said that rent-sharing and revenue-sharing agreements are typical when a machine is placed in a public place, such as an office. airport.

Kevin Nater, President and CEO of Briggo, said the machine would thrive in popular locations, such as airports and office buildings, where several machines are currently operating.

"Imagine you are entering the safety line at the airport, as your flight is approaching and you know that if you want a coffee, you will have to queue," said Nater. "On the safety line, you can simply order your cup of coffee and pick it up at the coffee shop and arrive at the time to your flight."

"I have never found anyone who wants to queue for a long time," he added. "We just changed the game."

It seems that others are in agreement. This year, Fast Company has ranked the Austin, Texas-based company as one of the top 10 most innovative companies in the world. Assuming both companies grow, Briggo may one day compete with Cafe X, an automated San Francisco coffee shop that uses badembly line machines that promise that your coffee cup will be designed with "robotic precision".

The machines come at a time when ready-to-drink coffee, such as bottled beverages found in supermarkets and convenience stores, continues to grow in popularity, according to the report. CNBC.

Nater said he was confident his machine was making cups of coffee as well, if not better, than a human barista. Citing the robot as a "high-speed, fully-controlled food factory," he said that unlike human workers, a machine did not get angry when business grew. By badyzing the badytical data, he can ensure that the robot reaches "all of its quality criteria".

But Oliver Geib, a 24-year-old barista, remained skeptical. As coffee is made by a barista, he said, a crucial step in the process is to evaluate the water / mill ratio as the flavor develops during refined taste tests.

"All the numbers and data of the world can not really tell you how the taste of coffee," said Geib. "A big part of what a man brings is to be able to taste coffee during the taste composition process."

Fast food restaurants such as Starbucks, Wendy's, Panera and McDonald's encourage customers to order through self-service kiosks or a mobile app.

Asked about Briggo's impact on employment, Nater said restaurant companies were struggling to retain their staff and were often understaffed, particularly at airports with high staff turnover.

"We do not think we are replacing people," he said. "We are creating a high-tech retail and marketing company and creating jobs, we have just hired two people in the San Francisco Bay Area, where we will open a new branch. in spring."

But critics of automation say that machines ultimately hurt more workers than they help them. Last month, Erikka Knuti – communications director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union – said that too many companies viewed customer service as a postage cost rather than an investment. In addition to eliminating jobs, she added, removing staff from deals degrades the product sold by companies.

"Retailers and businesses underestimate the importance of customer-service interaction, that is, when a customer hands over their money and receives a warm smile that tells them they're appreciated." she said.

When asked if he feared losing his job to a robot, Geib replied "absolutely not". While he is aware of the interest of the robots that prepare coffee in particular places when customers have little time, he explained that a group of faithful people are always looking for interactive experiences. slower in cafes.

"Many customers really enjoy watching a barista pour water carefully or steam milk or add a little flour to their drink," he said. "The social aspect, the atmosphere and the interaction with the barista are an important part of the experience of coffee consumption."