Starbucks is experimenting selling espresso drinks from a machine, without the barista. Through its Seattle's Best Coffee label, Starbucks has teamed up with Coinstar and Bellevue-based Concordia Coffee to create automated self-serve espresso kiosks in grocery stores in eight states, including Washington. The machines grind their own beans and crank out lattes, mochas, chai teas, hot chocolates and drip coffees. So far 86 machines have already been installed at Albertsons and other groceries. (Via Puget Sound Business Journal)
Starbucks brewing self-serve espresso bars
Starbucks is experimenting selling espresso drinks from a machine, without the barista. Through its Seattle's Best Coffee label, Starbucks has teamed up with Coinstar and Bellevue-based Concordia Coffee to create automated self-serve espresso kiosks in grocery stores in eight states, including Washington. The machines grind their own beans and crank out lattes, mochas, chai teas, hot chocolates and drip coffees. So far 86 machines have already been installed at Albertsons and other groceries. (Via Puget Sound Business Journal)
Oh boy - we've come almost full circle - cheap, mediocre coffee from a vending machine, expensive mediocre coffee from a barista hidden behind a five and a half foot tall espresso machine, to expensive, mediocre coffee from a vending machine.
I wonder if they'll be using the little paper coffee cups that had poker hands on them - three cards shown on the side of the cup and two hole cards on the bottom. That would be fun to see again.