Taiwan touts barista-taste AI coffee machine

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/17
By: Tsai Peng-min and Chung Yu-chen

Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) iDrip, a Taiwan-made smart coffee maker that recreates a barista taste using artificial intelligence (AI) that simulates the manual brewing process has attracted the attention of coffee lovers worldwide, according to its investor, the National Development Council (NDC).

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, NDC chief Chen Mei-ling (陳美伶) said the agency has invested NT$20 million (US$645,800) in the AI coffee maker project initiated by local entrepreneur John Yeh (葉建漢) as part of the NDC's efforts to support and invest in startups in the nation.

According to the NDC, the iDrip database contains data on a number of champion baristas' brewing procedures and the manufacturer also produces coffee bags with specific barcodes, which represents corresponding data of the companions' brewing procedures.

Once the coffee bag with a specific barcode — which varies from one coffee expert to another — is inserted into the machine, the coffee maker will automatically connect to Wi-Fi, scan the code and make the coffee.    [FULL  STORY]