The novelty of seeing a robot arm prepare artisanal coffee within a kiosk seems to be a winning, viable recipe
Two hospitals in Singapore have installed a fully-autonomous AI-led “robot barista” to brew and serve high volumes of coffee to visitors, patients and staff around the clock.
At Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) and Mount Elizabeth Hospital, the automated coffee-making robot arm — named Ella — has elicited positive feedback.
According to Charity Wai, Chief Operating Officer, SKH: “Ella has earned a popular following… as visitors and staff alike appreciate the barista-grade coffee served with consistency, precision and speed. Having the first fully-autonomous AI-led robot barista aligns well with SKH’s vision also in using robotics and digitalisation to ensure we deliver quality care consistently and efficiently!”
At Mount Elizabeth hospital, Crystal Bok, the wife of a patient there noted: “On the many occasions that I stayed over with my husband, waking up to a nice fresh cup of coffee was essential. Subscribing to the pre-order service ensured I was able to have a quality cup of coffee anytime of the day which I appreciated the most. It’s incredible how technology can bring such comfort, turning every stressful situation into a positive moment.”
Originally designed for the retail sector in 2018, the Ella kiosk occupies less than six square meters of floor space, and allows customers to get an artisanal coffee fix contactlessly. Rated at a serving speed of over 200 cups per hour, the machine has even achieved a daily average of 400 cups at SKH. The menu consists of coffee in hot and iced , with an option for flavour customization and use of plant-based milk instead of normal milk.
According to Keith Tan, CEO and founder, Crown Digital, the makers of Ella: “By delivering high-quality barista-grade coffee to our healthcare heroes, patients, and caregivers, Ella embodies our commitment to unparalleled efficiency and reliability.”
The plug-and-play kiosk software also manages payments, mobile app orders, production, and pick-up, thereby reducing the hospitals’ involvement in ensuring its smooth operation.
