Ever wondered how a robot would fare as a barista?
Or you’ve seen those wild robotic arms slinging coffee in Singapore and South Korea?
Well, it’s now here in Downtown Vancouver.
MUJI on Robson Street now features Jarvis, a robot barista from Artly, ready to brew your next latte or caffeinated drink.
It is the first Canadian MUJI store to have the robot barista on site.
Artly: The Tech Behind Jarvis
Artly isn’t just a chain of robotic arms making any coffee.
They’ve tapped into the expertise of reigning US barista champ Joe Yang to ensure their robots (all dubbed Jarvis), aren’t just gimmicks but actually skilled baristas.
Deep learning AI and computer vision were used to teach Jarvis to craft the perfect cup. That means the perfect latte art every single time.
These barista bots adapt and learn, ensuring each cup meets high-quality standards.
In 2022, they raised a steamy $8.3 million, signaling a growing appetite for their robot baristas.
Artly can be found in various US malls and at 2 MUJI locations (Hudson Yards & Portland).
But Jarvis is now brewing at downtown Vancouver’s MUJI. It’s a first for MUJI Canada, bringing a taste of robotic innovation to local coffee lovers.
According to the staff at the Robson branch, Jarvis started work just a few weeks ago.
Stay for the Show
To start off, ordering is a breeze. Just like a fast-food kiosk, choose your drink (from hot drinks to cold drinks), pay, and watch Jarvis work its magic.
If you thought that your latte will be cheaper because a robot is slinging the drink, you’ll be disappointed.
Our latte cost $5.25 for 12 oz, but if you were smart and saw the promos on the monitors behind the counter, you’d best take advantage of their first-time customer promos.
At least Jarvis doesn’t just brew; he puts on a show.
From setting the portafilter to pulling a shot to steaming milk to pouring the milk expertly and adding latte art.
Though he might not be the quickest barista around, it was neat to watch in person.
While we were waiting for our drink to be made, there were projections of our name and order on the counter.
A circle is slowly filled in green as the drink progresses to completion.
As Jarvis hands you the drink, it states your name and that it is ready.
While Jarvis nails the making of a latte, the taste might not wow you.
Fortunately, Jarvis doesn’t put you in that awkward situation of deciding whether or not to tip.
But overall, it’s more about the experience than exceptional flavour.
But if you’re browsing MUJI and crave a coffee, Jarvis could be an option.
If you fancy a robotic brew head to MUJI Robson from 10 AM to 8 PM for a cup of coffee from Jarvis.
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Address: 1125 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1B5