> Coffee vending machines? That’s what’s inside the box, it’s nothing new really… There are very high quality ones too.
I have yet to see a high-quality one.
I've been at two offices that have automated espresso machines. They'll make something that's labeled as a "Latte", but it's just coffee with powdered milk.
You are right that most are not very good, but it's more because of business reasons than technical ones. It's more costly and bulky to keep remote coffee machines supplied with fresh milk or cream, as well as other extras, and keep it all well refrigerated. Most people do not seem to be ready to pay extra for it.
But a robot barista in a coffee shop would end up being exactly like normal coffee machines that have been around forever, perhaps just a bit higher-end than an office one. It's not really an idea like OP was implying.
I've had a coffee from a high end bean to cup machines, installed in a conference room at our vebdor's headquarters, which used fresh milk and made a better cappuccino than I've had from real humans at many chain coffee shops. They might be rare, but they're out there.
I have yet to see a high-quality one.
I've been at two offices that have automated espresso machines. They'll make something that's labeled as a "Latte", but it's just coffee with powdered milk.