By Lea Mira, RTN Staff Writer - 5.30.2024
The coffee retail industry is witnessing a potentially monumental shift, propelled by advancements in technology and evolving consumer preferences. One of the companies harnessing the power of technology to redefine the traditional coffee retail experience is Costa Coffee.
The company’s latest innovation is the autonomous coffee retail store, a fully robotic system capable of operating without human intervention for up to seven days. It uses freshly ground whole beans, milk, and alternative milk options to serve a wide array of flavors. The system is designed to deliver consistent quality, with the capacity to create up to 8 million combinations of bean and milk type, strength, temperature, and flavor.
In a strategic partnership with New York-based Delaware North, one of the largest privately-owned-and-operated hospitality and entertainment companies in the world, Costa Coffee is set to launch its groundbreaking autonomous coffee technology, dubbed Costa Coffee Creations, at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in August.
The initial system will reportedly be installed at Gates 11 and 16, offering travelers an unparalleled coffee experience at any hour of the day or night. With a compact footprint of 24 square feet and round-the-clock availability, it offers unparalleled convenience for travelers seeking coffee during non-traditional hours.
The introduction of Costa Coffee Creations comes at a time when the industry is grappling with labor shortages and growing consumer demand for convenience and personalization. According to Nick Rex, Senior Director at Costa Coffee, the machine embodies a win-win scenario for operators and guests alike. It can concoct an infinite array of coffee options in minutes and facilitate seamless mobile ordering, all without the need for human intervention.
Costa Coffee’s journey towards innovation began in 1971. Now owned by The Coca-Cola Company, the brand has over 2,700 coffee shops in the UK and Ireland and 1,300 globally. The company, which entered the U.S. market in 2021, has always relied on technology to bring new ideas to life. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, for example, Costa Coffee turned to technology to ensure that its consumers could continue enjoying their cup of Costa Coffee amidst travel restrictions. The company used Google Maps Platform to roll out more ways to order to more locations. It embedded Google Maps Platform within its mobile app and international website, using the Geocoding API to create visual place markers illustrating Costa Coffee locations on its maps. This allowed customers to easily locate their nearest store and its opening hours, and even order online for minimal contact collection.
The introduction of its autonomous coffee retail store and the upcoming pilot test of Costa Coffee Creations at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport are prime examples of how the company is redefining the traditional coffee retail experience. By leveraging technology to address industry challenges such as labor shortages and growing consumer demand for convenience and personalization, Costa Coffee is setting new standards for innovation in the coffee retail industry.
