AI and smart coffee tech are popping up everywhere in the coffee world, and as a specialty roastery we are watching it with genuine curiosity. At the same time, the heart of what we do will always be people, not machines - especially the chats and relationships our regulars share with our baristas.
Are robots coming for our baristas?
You might have seen videos of robotic arms pouring latte art or fully automated coffee bars and wondered if that’s the future. From our point of view, those systems are fascinating experiments, but they are not what draws you to our Rig/Bus on the market square or The Coffee Bar at The Yard.
Our busiest moments are when you are catching up with your favourite barista, talking about how your week’s going or asking about a new single origin at the till. No machine can replace the feeling of being recognised, remembered and welcomed in that way.
Why we find “smart coffee tech” interesting
When people talk about “smart” coffee technology, they usually mean espresso machines, grinders or roasting software that measure more, log more and help baristas make decisions. That might look like tracking shot times and temperatures or showing how humidity is affecting extraction so the team can adjust the grind more quickly.
As coffee professionals, that level of detail is genuinely exciting. Anything that helps reduce waste, protect quality and support our team’s learning will always catch our eye, especially as we run two very different spaces with their own challenges. We love the idea of tools that help us understand our coffee better - as long as they support, not replace, human craft.
Our promise: people first, always
Many of you tell us you “come for the coffee, stay for the people”. That little extra conversation at the window of the bus, or at the Coffee Bar is part of the experience, not an optional add‑on.
So here is our clear promise:
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Any technology we explore in future will be there to support our team, not stand in for them.
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Your chats, in‑jokes, recommendations and “the usual?” moments are as important to us as the extraction time on a shot.
The tech, if it appears, will be the quiet helper in the background - the soul of the shop will always be the people behind the bar and the community in front of it.
