Watch out baristas, your job might be in jeopardy. A team of researchers at Cornell University have built a robot that not only makes espresso and steams milk, but also can learn how to operate new espresso machines. Gizmag reports that the robot barista utilizes a deep learning algorithm and a 3D camera to analyze how to use a piece of equipment. It can then plot the movements necessary to complete its task. The robo-barista already has learned how to operate three different types of espresso machines. There is no word, however, whether the robo-barista prefers Slayer or La Marzocco.
Archives for April 2015
These New Products Have the Coffee World Buzzing
Acaia Lunar Espresso Scale
Good coffee doesn’t happen by accident. When it comes to quality, precision is critical. Nowhere is this more evident than espresso. Even a half gram difference in dose or yield can have a marked effect on flavor. For espresso, we’re big fans of the American Weigh Sc-2Kg. It’s small, cheap, fast, and accurate, but it has one Achille’s heel: even a small amount of moisture will destroy it. I’ve seen many a barista ruin a scale with a careless steam wand purge or a sloppy pouring technique. But the latest product from coffee tech start-up Acaia promises to be a “barista-proof” scale. In addition to being waterproof, the Lunar offers…
Milktooth Revolutionizes Indianapolis’s Coffee Scene
Names have power. Whether intentional or not, Milktooth’s moniker has clear symbolic value: there’s a new era emerging in Indianapolis’s food and beverage scene. The first restaurant from owner/chef Jonathan Brooks has already received national attention for its creative interpretations of breakfast classics. But Milktooth is also taking the multi-roaster cafe model to heights previously unseen in the Hoosier State….
