Japan has a new coffee shop and it’s serving up a high-tech blend.
This week the henna cafe opened its doors at a business and shopping district in downtown Tokyo. At its helm ready to serve customers is a robot barista named Sawyer. The single-armed robot scans a ticket purchased from a vending machine and greets the customer. It then takes the person’s order boasting that it can make coffee better than most humans can.
Each cup costs about three dollars and the robot can grind the beans, fill a filter and pour hot water over the paper cup for up to five people at once. Sawyer can also operate an automated machine with six other drink options including cappucinos, hot chocolate and green tea. The café’s general manager says it’s all about productivity.
With Sawyer only one human employee is needed at the cafe to make sure everything is running smoothly. Without the high tech help about six employees are needed to make sure people stay caffeinated.
Plus since people can get coffee everywhere the gimmick is good for business.
About Brian
CBS News Radio national business journalist Brian Banmiller has spent more than 40 years in the news industry, covering business, politics and the economy on television, radio and in print. Currently, his “Banmiller on Business” reports are delivered to an audience of millions nationwide.
