Should Starbucks replace its baristas with a robot?

There is a lot to be said for the idea of a robot coffee maker. A new startup has built a trial espresso machine which operates entirely automatically. (There is only one machine currently in existence. It's located on the University of Texas campus, if you want to visit.)

Presuming certain quality thresholds are met, I see no reason why about half of the Starbucks orders could be replaced by a robot. In fact, I suspect it will follow the same model as grocery stores with Self Checkout lanes, or the Automated Postage Centers which are found in some post offices.

There will always be a certain percentage of customers (like me) who know exactly what they want, and who are willing to learn how to use a new machine in order to get it. Add an automated kiosk to a Starbucks and I will happily skip the line and head straight to it for my ultra-simple standard order: a tall Americano with room.

But just like the grocery store and the post office, DIY is not the complete solution. For one thing, there will always be customers who do not want to use a machine, regardless of any other factor. They want to tell a human being "tall vanilla latte," end of story. (Serious question: how long can our society afford to cater to these grouchy technophobes? I suspect that using a real person, be it a grocery store checker or a post office clerk, will soon come with a surcharge to help defray the extra cost.)

Not to mention the custom orders. Sometimes I like to order a tall chai latte with a shot of espresso added. Will the machine be able to accommodate that customization? What about customers who order a four-pump mocha, a half-caff latte, or a no-water chai tea latte?

Not to mention, if the machine breaks down - and it will - it will be out of commission for at least a few hours. Whereas if a barista hurts themselves on the job, the manager can just swap in another person and keep going.

Automated espresso machines are probably going to become ubiquitous in the next decade, but they definitely won't be able to take over completely.

Image copyright Briggo