Robots do the brewing at CERĒS coffee shop
It’s 8:45 a.m., and you walk into Rice Coffeehouse to find the line wrapped around the hallway of the student center. Begrudgingly, you skip out on your morning coffee and start estimating the perfect time to return when they might not be as busy. As you leave Chaus empty-handed, you realize you could go to Dandelion Cafe if you really wanted a morning drink. But that would mean going into debt.
However, a new coffee spot opened at the Jones Graduate School of Business on Sept. 9: CERĒS Robo Coffee Shop. According to the CERĒS website, CERĒS Robot Coffee Barista is a vending machine that uses artificial intelligence to make their drinks, instead of employing baristas. Despite the initial skepticism one might have about a robot making your morning coffee, the accessibility and luxurious-tasting drinks offered at CERĒS make it a good alternative to Chaus and Dandelion Cafe.
The CERĒS Robo Coffee Shop is on the first floor, near the entrance to McNair Hall. Upon first glance, it looks more like a gigantic vending machine illuminated by blue lights than a coffee shop. Students can place their order through the built-in kiosk and watch through the glass as a robot arm prepares their coffee.
Brown College freshman Anna Perrin said that she was excited when she stopped by the Robo coffee shop with her friends, as she was previously unaware of CERĒS.
“I didn’t know we had this at Rice … I had to take a picture to show my Dad. It looks so futuristic,” Perrin said.
The menu offers 20 different drinks and customization options such as toppings and syrup. There are classic drinks such as a vanilla latte and americano. Specialty drinks include the CORA, an iced dragon fruit oat milk latte, and the signature CERĒS drink, a salted caramel cinnamon toffee latte. While the line at CERĒS can get long during busy hours, each drink is crafted in 60 seconds or less, minimizing the wait time.
I tried two different drinks: the iced caramel latte and the chai tea latte. Both drinks exceeded my expectations. The iced caramel latte was a great balance of rich coffee flavor, milkiness and sweet caramel. The taste of warm spice was apparent in the chai tea latte, which made it the perfect drink for the fall season. While CERĒS does not accept Tetra, both drinks were reasonably priced at $4.25.
Unlike Dandelion Cafe or Chaus, the CERĒS Robo Coffee Shop doesn’t provide a cozy sit-down experience with friends. However, for students who are looking for convenience and delicious coffee, the CERĒS Robo Coffee Shop provides quality drinks without a lengthy wait time.
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