As someone who has worked in cafes for years, I was apprehensive about how AI was suggesting I sync up my much-loved morning routine. But before I wrote off the idea completely, I had to do my research, and what I discovered actually surprised me...
Like many AI-related products, this latest (and upcoming) tech promises to elevate even the best espresso machines to another level, making them almost too easy to use. But it wasn't even the machine specs that impressed me most, but the way it could completely automate the process by learning — and even predicting — exactly what I wanted from a coffee.
"Imagine waking up and your machine already knows you want a double espresso today because you slept late," says Fergal Glynn, the chief marketing officer and AI security advocate of Mindgard, a health and tech company. "This is the kind of tech AI coffee machines are introducing to the market."
These machines can suggest drinks and make them automatically. You can control it from your phone, get real-time updates, and ensure consistency. Some even remind you when maintenance is required, or it's time to restock your beans. Yeah... we're in the future, baby.
Shalvi Singh, an AI expert and founder of Healthengine, says there are three main characteristics to how AI-operated coffee machines differ from the regular, even 'smart' machines, we know today.
They include:
- Dynamic Personalization: AI coffee systems use "neural networks that optimize each brew to provide an infinite number of taste permutations, as opposed to a limited number of preset profiles," says Shalvi. So you can customize your latte or flat white to be brewed specifically to your taste.
- Predictive Tech: Features like predictive maintenance in AI coffee machines stop failures by automatically ordering replacement parts based on component wear.
- Quality Assurance: For instance, "when beans don't meet preset requirements for roast integrity and consistency, computer vision machines reject the ingredient," says Shalvi, ensuring you only enjoy a quality cup, every time.
And yes — while coffee machines that can be synced to voice recognition technologies such as Amazon's Alexa may feel futuristic, they're really just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to AI capabilities.
"Machines compatible with Alexa let you use voice commands to control them or set routines, which may be convenient, but they are usually just 'smart' and not technically 'AI-powered,'" says Fergal Glynn.
Real AI-powered coffee machines go beyond just voice commands; they learn your habits and try to optimize the brew automatically.
So, what do these baristas of the future look like? They're pretty sleek, honestly. Below, I've rounded up some of the best AI-powered coffee machines on the market... so far...
This new product from GE is one of the best drip coffee machines on the market, using Google Cloud AI to help you brew the perfect cup each morning. The AI-enabled language recognition allows users to pair this WiFi-enabled coffee maker with a voice assistant, like Google or Alexa. Tell Alexa how you like your coffee or ask questions about brewing and taste advice to streamline your morning cup.
The Lavazza a Modo Mio Voicy may not be the almost robotic machine that you picture when you think AI-powered coffee, but it still offers an AI-assisted feature that promotes a user-friendly experience. For example, it has integrated Alexa into its system for full voice control and app features on your smartphone. For only £90, this is a piece you can easily add to your coffee bar collection.
The Terra Kaffe machine is a recommendation by Shalvi that beautifully marries form and function. This high-tech machine includes features like nano-coating, barista-grade micro-foaming, and self-cleaning. Plus, it uses twelve environmental sensors to make real-time, dynamic adjustments to the brew parameter targets. You will have a machine that looks stylish on the counter as well as a satisfactory cup every time.
So, What's the Future of AI-Powered Coffee Machines?
Though it hasn't launched yet, there is an Australian brand, Allespresso, planning on delving even further into the home cafe trend with the help of AI technology.
Are you someone who likes an espresso shot in the morning, but a weaker mocha pick-me-up in the afternoon? This brand's machine plans to use facial recognition and voice commands to interact with you throughout the day.
Feels a bit Black Mirror? Certainly. But am I still intrigued? Absolutely.
If all of this sounds far too overwhelming, and you're just looking for easy ways to make a morning cup of coffee, sans too-much tech, why not start but learning the nuance between an espresso machine vs coffee maker, because while AI is attempting to automate the entire process, I must admit there is something magical about the manual act of making a cup of coffee.
