Cafe X Market

Robo-Barista Now Making Your Latte at New Downtown Cafe X - Eater SF

"Cafe X says its robot barista isn’t meant to replace real baristas. For one thing, the machine’s animatronic arm and lego-like hand, which debuted last year at a Metreon kiosk and is now making specialty coffee drinks at a dedicated Market Street cafe, lacks the customary tattoos that mark the arms of human baristas. For another, it doesn’t exhibit a capacity for latte art. “We say that our robot makes a sun and a moon design,” community manager Sam Blum jokes. Rather than supplanting baristas, Blum suggests, Cafe X might create new roles for coffee specialists. “During peak times in cafes, baristas can be really bogged down, and can’t interact with even their favorite customers,” he tells Eater SF. But at Cafe X, where customized german coffee machines from WMF churn out several drinks per minute, “having the robot move the cups around and prepare the drinks allows us to interact more with customers.” Cafe X employs several (human) greeters to lure customers in off the street (with the help of coupon codes), explaining the mechanics of the operation and educating customers on coffee beans. “Our product specialists go through barista training,” Blum explains, “so they can talk about the drinks as baristas do.” A display table shows available beans from respected roasters like Ritual, Equator, and Intelligentsia, who have calibrated the Cafe X machine’s measurements to their specifications. Customers proceed to iPads where they place their order, specifying their roaster, roast, and milk (oat is an option). Matcha lattes, hot chocolates, and other non-coffee drinks are also available. For maximum efficiency, orders can be placed ahead of time on an app. When a customer’s drink is ready, it’s delivered by robot arm, deposited with a flourish or wave that’s about as human as the Queen of England’s. The automated ordering process is similar to the technology at Eatsa, a nearby automat-style eatery, and a year of testing at the Metreon has streamlined the process. Aside from speed and convenience, Cafe X touts its value: Their roasts are the same as many specialty coffee shops, but their prices are lower: A latte is $3.25 — and there’s no expectation to tip. Initially, Cafe X founder and CEO Henry Hu raised a $5 million seed funding round from investors like Khosla Ventures, Social Capital, Jason Calacanis, Felicis Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank and The Thiel Foundation. Meanwhile, other automated food companies, like pizza robot company Zume, have generated curiosity and investment. Near the original Cafe X machine, there’s even a new automated ramen vending machine, Yo-Kai express. Cafe X is open at 578 Market Street from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 8p.m. on weekends." - Caleb Pershan