San Francisco’s Cafe X Automates Coffee Making Even More

Recently, we saw what kind of issues can come up when orders come in faster than a business can fill them. It’s the kind of problem to have, and for many, the answer is “hire more people.”

That’s a good answer, one that keeps the economy going. Cafe X, meanwhile, is taking the answer that’s getting more disturbing to many: “bring in a robot.”

Cafe X—found in San Francisco—is bringing in an actual robot to handle the job. Users can file an order via smartphone or a kiosk with an iPad, which then routes the order to the robotic barista.

The robot barista then makes the order, adds syrup or other accoutrements as required and then, with a Mitsubishi six-axis arm, manipulates the completed beverage into place at one of eight attached warming stations, where it awaits pickup and sends its purchaser a text to notify him or her of completion.

The robot is even mostly self-cleaning, though one human employee will be available to oversee the operation and address any problems that come up. So far, Cafe X vends over 1,000 cups per week at its original Hong Kong location, and has raised around $5 million in venture capital funding to make a push into malls, airports and other locations.

Given that we’ve already seen what happens when orders overwhelm human staffers, it probably wouldn’t be out of line to think that Starbucks is watching Cafe X’s progress with clear interest.

A system like this is tailor-made for mobile payments operations, because with some minor adjustments in code, it probably could be connected to an app where mobile ordering and payment systems could be readily put in play. Moreover, it would likely take a lot of the space for order production out of the equation, freeing up more table space.

While robot baristas would likely be attractive for businesses, it also raises the clear potential for more job loss, a point that’s been particularly politicized in the last several months.

With even Starbucks coming under fire for a plan to hire refugees over citizens, this plan may not get as far as some might think thanks to sheer political pressures. Still, it’s a noteworthy proposition, and one to keep an eye on all the same.