A new coffee option has opened at the Jones Graduate School of Business, offering a quick and futuristic alternative to the busy coffee lines at Rice’s Chaus and Dandelion Café. The CERĒS Robo Coffee Shop, which opened on Sept. 9, uses artificial intelligence to make coffee, eliminating the need for traditional baristas.
Located on the first floor of the Jones School, near the entrance to McNair Hall, CERĒS looks more like a large vending machine with blue lighting than a typical coffee shop. Students place their orders at a kiosk, then watch as a robotic arm prepares their drink.
For many students, the robotic coffee service is a novel experience. Brown College freshman Anna Perrin was impressed by the technology. “I didn’t know we had this at Rice. I had to take a picture to show my dad. It looks so futuristic,” she said.
The menu offers a range of 20 drinks, with options for customization like syrup flavors and toppings. Classic choices include vanilla lattes and americanos, while specialty drinks feature unique options like the iced dragon fruit oat milk latte (CORA) and the signature salted caramel cinnamon toffee latte.
Though the line at CERĒS can grow long during peak hours, the robot barista can prepare drinks in under a minute, reducing wait times. I sampled the iced caramel latte and chai tea latte. Both drinks were impressive—the iced caramel latte was a balanced blend of coffee, milk, and sweet caramel, while the chai tea latte had a warm, spicy flavor perfect for fall. At $4.25 per drink, the prices are comparable to those at Dandelion Cafe, though CERĒS does not accept Tetra.
Unlike the cozy atmosphere at Chaus or Dandelion Café, CERĒS focuses more on convenience than a sit-down experience. However, for students looking for a quick and high-quality cup of coffee, CERĒS offers a strong alternative.
Naomi Bagal, a freshman at Brown College, said she would make CERĒS part of her regular coffee routine. “I will be a returning customer,” she said.
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