Experience the future of coffee with a robot barista

In a bustling city where the pace of work continues to accelerate, finding a moment to truly savor life can feel like a luxury. Mars Coffee, located near the entrance of the picturesque Minghu Park in Guangming District, has become an ideal place for people who want to relax while basking in the sunshine. It has recently become a hotspot where patrons can indulge in a unique blend of technology and relaxation.

“Iron Egg,” the humanoid coffee robot, is the barista at Mars Coffee. Photos by Shao Jingfeng

At the core of this experience is their humanoid coffee robot, lovingly named “Iron Egg,” which utilizes cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology and automated controls to seamlessly craft and customize a variety of coffee flavors. Picture the joy of witnessing a premium “hand-drip coffee” expertly brewed by this robotic barista in just 4-5 minutes. “My expertise lies in the four-step brewing technique,” the robot shares as it begins its work, inviting patrons to observe the precision of its craftsmanship without skipping a beat.

From grinding coffee beans to precisely adding water at orchestrated intervals, the robot ensures a harmonious balance of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness in each cup — creating a flavor profile that ensures an unforgettable experience. It even educates patrons, while they await the blooming of the coffee powder in hot water, on the science behind coffee’s initial bitterness, engaging consumers in the art and alchemy of coffee making.

Mars Coffee takes pride in offering a diverse range of specialty coffees sourced from exotic locations like Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Indonesia, each carefully chosen and roasted to retain its unique origin. Amidst the refreshing embrace of spring, guests are encouraged to unwind with a cup of coffee, a good book, and the aromatic interplay of ink and coffee beans — a sensory delight that goes beyond the ordinary.

Mars Coffee enables visitors to indulge in a unique blend of technology and relaxation.

This innovative concept of creating premium hand-drip coffee through an AI-powered robotic assistant is a testament to the forward-thinking “Mars Plan” by the Fiber Modeling Society, the operator of the coffee bar. Offering a selection of nine distinct coffee flavors sourced from regions such as Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, and more, this experience seamlessly combines technological prowess with environmental consciousness, shaping a new era of sustainable indulgence.

Step into Mars Coffee, nestled in Minghu Park adjacent to Guangming Automobile City, and you’ll discover Shenzhen’s pioneering robot-powered coffee sanctuary. Peng Shenman, the coffee bar’s manager, shared with Shenzhen Daily the visionary origins of Mars Coffee, hailing from Lenghu Town in Qinghai, Northwest China. Lenghu, translating to “Cold Lake” in Chinese, is situated deep in the Gobi Desert and is renowned for its Mars-like landscape.

Mars Coffee enables visitors to indulge in a unique blend of technology and relaxation.

The coffee shop upholds its environmental values by embracing eco-friendly tea and coffee utensils made from bamboo fiber, as mentioned by Peng. “As far as I’m aware, there are over 1,000 parks in Shenzhen, and some feature AI-powered coffee machines. However, our coffee bar stands out as the only one utilizing a humanoid robot,” the manager highlighted.