RoboCafe is bringing an innovative coffee experience to Huntsville, featuring a robot that prepares your morning cup of coffee.
Co-Founder Pranith Vinay Kumar Salkineedi shared that while developing the technology was the easier part of their journey, starting the business proved to be more challenging. The idea for RoboCafe came a year after Salkineedi graduated from the University of Alabama-Huntsville in 2023. Like many startups, he faced entrepreneurial hurdles. “Getting the business license, food permits, and finding a spot were the biggest struggles,” he said.
Currently operating as a food truck, RoboCafe has plans to expand into a permanent storefront in the future. “A food truck allows us to test the concept without the high costs of renting a building,” Salkineedi explained. Before taking that step, they want to gather customer feedback to improve the experience. Customer service was a key motivator behind the creation of their coffee-making robot. “It was challenging to keep the coffee-making process flowing smoothly while maintaining good customer service,” Salkineedi noted.
Enter Mary, the robot designed to operate automatic syrup pumps, ice makers, and espresso machines to make the perfect cup of coffee. “This is the seventh iteration of the robot where everything works as expected,” said Salkineedi. “The mainframe is hard-coded to know its location and control various functions, like switches and pumps.”
RoboCafe is also looking to stay ahead of the A.I. curve. “A.I. is booming everywhere, and we want to be part of that trend,” Salkineedi added.
Currently, RoboCafe offers only iced beverages, but they’re working on expanding the menu to include hot drinks, juices, and other items.
Related topics:
- Costa Coffee Launches New Winter Menu, Featuring the Spanish Latte
- Lekko Coffee Expands with New Location in Downtown Cleveland
- WRC Coffee Offers Free Seasonal Drinks with New “Name Drop” Promotion
