• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Advertise
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Features list
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsor an article
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Editorial Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous Vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Culture
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Press releases
  • Events
cafe x

Heard the one about the robot barista?

February 6, 2017 by Sam Francis

Man walks into a coffee bar and says, “Waiter, coffee, black, no sugar.”

How anyone can drink coffee without milk, cream or sugar is beyond our understanding of human taste buds, but anyway…

A robot barista would not be making such judgments, and would serve up the coffee just as the man who walked into the bar had ordered it.

It might take a few years, but sooner or later, you will be served some drink or food somewhere by a robot. 

cafe x robot

But if you want it to happen sooner, you could pop into Cafe X, which has just opened branches in San Francisco, in the US, and in Hong Kong, on the other side of the world.

Cafe X employs small robots – manufactured by Mitsubishi – to make the coffee, and according to a report in Wired, the “robot barista makes a dang good latte”.

Established by Henry Hu, Cafe X has raised $5 million in venture-capital funding, and a Thiel Fellowship last year.

Hu, CEO, took what he knew about industrial robots used in automaking factories and decided to put them to making coffee. And he says he wonders what other uses robots could be put to.

Cafe X Technologies unveiled its robotic café in its first US Location in San Francisco about a week ago.

Its unique selling point, perhaps, is its claim to be able to serve coffee “in seconds” – which is good if you’re in a hurry.

Cafe X Technologies says it combines machine learning and robotics, aiming to eliminate the variabilities that bog down today’s coffee experience.

And the company says it is solving for the “time and quality compromises that consumers are forced to make with daily coffee rituals”.

Working closely with local coffee roaster partners, Cafe X claims it can “consistently serve its customers in seconds” with a focus on delivering beverages that taste exactly how the coffee roaster intended.

The inaugural machine is located in downtown San Francisco’s Metreon shopping center, a highly trafficked area that will be the blueprint for future Cafe X locations.

In partnership with WMF, a leading international manufacturer of fully automatic coffee machines, Cafe X Technologies has developed a fully automated robotic café that integrates hardware and software which blend the functionality of baristas and specialty coffee preparation methods.

Cafe X sets itself apart by removing the on-site wait time, the potential for preparation error, and the unexpected variability, setting a new standard for automation technology and the specialty coffee service industry.

henry hu cafe x
Henry Hu, CEO, Cafe X

“I’ve long been a big coffee consumer and there’s never a guaranteed seamless experience,” says Hu.

“In today’s world, you have two options for getting a cup of coffee: you’re either in and out with something subpar or you’re waiting in a 15-minute line for a great cappuccino. I started Cafe X to eliminate that inherent compromise and give people access to a tasty cup of coffee consistently and conveniently.”

Customers can order customized espresso-based beverages on the spot at the ordering kiosk or they can download the Cafe X app onto their mobile device to order in advance.

Once the beverage is ready, customers use the touch screens on the robotic café to type in a four-digit order number which is either sent via text message or displayed on the Cafe X mobile app for iOS and Android.

The Mitsubishi robot arm will then identify the customer’s drink from the waiting stations and deliver it to the customer within seconds.

“This won’t replace baristas or the coffee shop experience that so many people have come to love – we don’t aim to do that,“ says Hu. “What we’re offering is the best possible experience for people who are looking for consistent specialty coffee to-go.”

Cafe X has formed unique partnerships with local roasters who share similar values of delivering premium coffee the way they intended.

It works with its roasters to source specific premium ingredients and create unique drinks that are programed into the automated coffee systems within the robotic café.

Cafe X currently works with the following coffee roasters:

  • AKA Coffee: Based in Oakland, California and specializing in a range of delicate and vibrant single origins along with a spectrum of blends thoughtfully roasted to develop each of their intended flavor profiles.
  • Verve Coffee Roasters: Critically acclaimed and based in Santa Cruz, Verve is bridging the gap in the coffee experience from seed to cup.
  • Peet’s Coffee: A Berkeley based specialty coffee roaster and retailer.

“There’s an entire segment of the consumer population that’s not buying coffee because it doesn’t fit into their present moment,” says John Laird CEO of AKA Roasters, “We’re truly excited to partner with the Cafe X team to expand to those customers we might not otherwise reach.”

Menu prices start at $2.25 for an 8 oz cup and will vary depending on customer’s coffee bean selection which includes single origin options.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket

Related stories you might also like…

Filed Under: Industrial robots, Industry, News Tagged With: cafe, coffee, mitsubishi, robot

Primary Sidebar

Search this website

Latest articles

  • Mitsubishi Electric says its robots are ‘bridging skills gaps’ in automation technology
  • Pusan National University scientists develop ‘game-changing method’ to create safer, long-lasting lithium-ion batteries
  • Fraunhofer develops ‘resource-efficient’ measurement system for semiconductor wafer production
  • Tokyo University scientists discover key to ‘stable, high-performance, and long-life’ sodium-ion batteries
  • Swiss Steel develops ‘sustainable and easy-to-machine special steels’ for automotive industry
  • How to Calculate Diminished Value for Your Car After an Accident
  • Gartner predicts one in 20 supply chain managers will manage robots, not humans, by 2030
  • Moldova launches new incubator for robotics, digital agriculture, and foodtech
  • Pudu Robotics launches new industrial sweeper and vacuum
  • Out of thin air: MIT engineers develop device that creates safe drinking water from air

Secondary Sidebar

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT