Robot Barista Comes to Freelancer's Cafe
By Michael V. Hannigan
Wednesday morning, I sat with Paul Benson in front of his Freelancer's Cafe on the square in Athens and waited.
Paul has been doing that a lot over the past two years as he works to create a one-of-a-kind space that mixes the best of technology and community. He has a vision of a place that allows people to access the internet and work while computer gamers compete on the coolest equipment. There will also be niche foods and drinks.
That last one is what we were waiting for on Wednesday. Drinks. Paul ordered a Cafe X coffee robot for the cafe, a state-of-the-art robot arm barista ready to serve up your lattes in a blink of an eye. One of a kind just like Paul.
"You look at building a cafe of the future and you need some futuristic stuff," he said.
So we waited. Supply chain shortages and the Covid crunch have slowed Paul's plans. Everything has taken longer than expected. It took 10 months to get cups. Ten months!
Thankfully things are coming together now and Paul didn't have to wait too long for his robot. It arrived Wednesday evening, a machine big enough that heavy equipment was required just to get it out of the truck and into the cafe.
Wednesday's delay was comparatively small.
"It took me a year and a half to get this," Paul said.
The unit's robot arm comes from Japan with the whole Cafe X assembly coming from San Francisco. Paul said the robot should be able to make 48 drink combinations and be able to make your coffee in about 26 seconds.
"I've already been working with Van Zandt Coffee," he said. "We are going to use a local coffee roaster."
The robot doesn't have a name yet. Paul said he wanted to wait and check out its personality. That's right, the robot will have personality.
"It does a little dance when it gets happy, so we'll see," he said.
So when will the cafe open? It's getting close! Paul said the last pieces are coming together and there have already been private parties at the cafe
"Things are starting to move pretty quick now," he said.
You can keep updated on the Freelancer's Cafe by following their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/freelancers.cafe.athens and by watching their website here https://freelancerscafe.com/.
These posts are free thanks to Hannigan Media sponsors Athens Screen Printing, Tinsley Law & Title, Gibson Pharmacy, R&R Lawn Specialist, Gilbert Electric, Hunan Buffet, and Holt Wrecker.
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