Richmond’s bubble tea scene just got a futuristic twist with the recent soft opening of Tea Industries.
This isn’t your regular tea spot; it’s Metro Vancouver’s first robot-operated bubble tea shop!
After we first broke the news about the shop in February, Tea Industries has finally unveiled its robotic arm in action.
At the heart of Tea Industries is a sophisticated robot arm from Yaskawa Electric in Japan, known for its versatility and precision.
This isn’t just any robot; it’s capable of everything from crafting bubble tea to even building vehicles!
The robotic arm used at Tea Industries is different than the one at MUJI Robson.
While this robot also automates the entire drink-making process, it doesn’t feature the sophisticated projections or speech capabilities seen with Artly’s Jarvis robot.
But here, Toffee – the robot arm – has the mission to perfect your drink, completing each order in a brisk two minutes.
Kelvin, the store manager, told Noms Magazine that the shop is able to run with just 1 or 2 staff – greatly reducing the labour costs.
The staff will be on-site to assist in times when Toffee may run into any technical problems, prepare the fresh ingredients, and assist customers with how the shop works.
Here, the drinks have competitive pricing, with drinks ranging from $5.50 to $6.50, which sweetens the deal.
Kelvin assured us that there is no need to tip Toffee or the staff.
The menu at Tea Industries is divided into three categories: milk tea, hot tea, and cold tea.
From the creamy richness of Thai Milk Tea and Japanese Roasted Milk Tea to the robust flavours of Assam Black Tea and Oolong tea, there’s a decent selection available.
And with the shop actively seeking feedback during its soft open phase, it’s clear that they’re committed to refining and expanding their offerings.
Orders can be placed at the front counter or through two touch screen kiosks, akin to the self-serve machines at McDonald’s.
An app is in the pipeline, aiming to streamline the ordering process further.
Each receipt comes with a QR code, your key to retrieving your drink from a numbered door.
And as a charming touch, the robot arm waves once your beverage is ready, adding a cute touch to the automated process.
Located conveniently across from Richmond Centre and near the Brighouse Canada Line Station, Tea Industries isn’t just about serving tea; it’s looking to create a space for the community.
The store design includes raised auditorium-style steps for seating and doubling as a venue for future small events.
As Tea Industries prepares to introduce this new model to the market, it’s also eyeing expansion, with plans to venture into Vancouver and UBC.
While the concept is novel and the location strategic, the shop’s future in the competitive and saturated bubble tea market of Richmond will be interesting to watch.
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Address: #195 6388 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC