Japanese commuters can now drink their morning coffee from a fully automated barista. Ella the robot, an IoT device from Singaporean startup Crown Digital, has been installed at stations in Tokyo and Yokohama for marketing tests through February 2022 in collaboration with JR East.

Whether or not human hands are involved in the morning coffee, the efficiency of the new system is undeniable. With an installation area of only 5 square meters and the accuracy to produce up to 200 cups of coffee per hour, the system saves a series of steps to the consumer. Ella is not only faster than the traditional coffee shop experience, but also cheaper, at only $3 per cup.

The machine itself consists of a Techman Robot autonomous arm, a Delonghi Japan coffee maker, and a recognition and cleaning system designed to detect spills and malfunctions. In addition, a remote ordering and receiving interface minimizes contact between commuters and the barista.

Of course, the rise of robots in the serving industry is not welcomed by all. These machines are still in their infancy and are not inexpensive enough to become a fixture in our daily lives. Nevertheless, negotiating the role of humans in food service will certainly be a necessary step as we move slowly toward a much more automated industry.

Until robots take over, many of us will continue to rely on our best espresso machines to wake us up in the morning. But if you need something a little more automated, we suggest checking out the best Nespresso and the best Keurig coffee makers for pod convenience.