In the heart of Tokyo, Japan, I recently experienced a unique coffee experience — a barista run by a robot. Henn na Café (Strange Café) in Tokyo, Japan, has established a fully automated production line, using a robot named Sawyer to serve freshly-brewed filter coffee and espresso-based drinks.

This sparked my curiosity about the evolving relationship between technology and the beloved ritual of coffee consumption.

From Tokyo to global coffee capitals, the integration of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of coffee retail, promising not just efficiency but an entirely novel experience for coffee aficionados.