Cafe X opens a robotic coffee shop in SF

 

Cafe X opens in San Francisco, bringing robots to the coffee shop

 

The world’s first coffee shop opened in Constantinople in 1555. Four hundred and some years later, Cafe X is putting a twist on that old barista model. Opening in San Francisco today, the startup is opting instead to have a large robotic arm craft your caffeinated potions.

 

Many arguments for automation go, consumers will be directly benefiting from cheaper prices. Cafe X is asking just $2.25 for an 8 oz drink that regularly goes for $4 – $5 in San Francisco. At scale, Cafe X should be able to increase margins within the industry while reducing wait times for hurried patrons.

 

Third-wave coffee affectionados dealing in drips and expensive siphons might find fault in Hu’s thesis, though a Mitsubishi 6-axis industrial robot is arguably the most “elite” tool imaginable for making coffee.