Singapore startup launches first-of-its-kind machine to brew kopitiam-style coffee

[kobayashiGT]

Singapore startup launches first-of-its-kind machine to brew kopitiam-style coffee
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-startup-launches-first-its-kind-machine-brew-kopitiam-style-coffee

• Mr Jason Thai decided to design a machine to brew kopi when he could not find a skilled kopi brewer
• His startup Hawkermatic aims to roll out 1,000 of the machines by 2022
• Mr Thai is confident kopi brewed by the KopiMatic is just as good as a cup brewed by a kopi “tao chiew”
   

SINGAPORE — Avid kopi drinkers could soon find that the next cup of coffee they order from their local coffee shop is brewed by a homegrown automated coffee machine, rather than hand brewed by a skilled kopi “tao chiew”.

The machine — named the KopiMatic — is the brainchild of Mr Jason Thai, who came up with the idea when he could not find a skilled kopi brewer after opening his canteen-style coffee shop at Infinite Studios in One-north in 2015.

“(Back then) I thought maybe there’s a machine which can actually make Nanyang-style coffee so I can have that role filled and then be the cashier, but then I discovered that this machine did not exist,” he said.

Nanyang-style coffee is the type usually served in kopitiams, with the flavour enhanced by the use of palm oil or butter in the roasting process. This type of coffee has always been handmade, unlike coffee in upscale outlets such as Starbucks where machines are the norm.

Discovering this gap in the market, the 51-year-old decided to take matters into his own hands and took on the challenge of making the first version of the KopiMatic.
 

Though Mr Thai has always had a passion for building things — dabbling in carpentry and metal work — the complexity of the KopiMatic required him to pick up more skills, and he learned 3D printing and computer-aided design and manufacturing to create the prototypes.

The KopiMatic went through three iterations before Mr Thai settled on what he calls “version three” of the machine.

He recalled that at first, the machine was just a row of pumps on a metal shelf and the pipes were scattered around.
 

Now, the KopiMatic has become more compact and ergonomic. It features a dual dispenser and a set of buttons corresponding to the various common kopi orders that any staff member can easily navigate and press to mix a drink to the customer’s taste.

Businesses can install the machine in their shops for S$250 a month on a hire purchase plan.

Mr Thai and the team at startup Hawkermatic said they have received interest from at least 10 local coffee shop chains, spanning 200 outlets in total.

They hope to roll out 1,000 units by 2022. The machines are being made in Singapore.

MACHINE PASSED MULTIPLE TASTE TESTS

Of course, the first question on every kopi lover’s mind is whether the taste of the coffee brewed by the KopiMatic compares to a cup carefully brewed by a trained kopi “tao chiew”.

Mr Thai and the team at Hawkermatic told TODAY during a media preview on Thursday (Aug 13) that they are confident even a kopi connoisseur will not be able to tell the difference between the machine and a trained hand.

He recalled that two years ago, when he told his regular patrons that he was shutting his coffee shop to sell the KopiMatic to other food and beverage businesses, his customers were surprised to learn that they had been drinking coffee from a machine this whole time.

“I’ve sold about 60,000 cups using the older version (of the machine) and people liked it,” he said.

And it is not just the patrons. The team at Hawkermatic also invited several bosses of local kopitiam chains to test the machine out for themselves to see if it could match the traditionally brewed coffee in taste and quality.

In a taste test, the kopitiam bosses could not tell the difference between a cup brewed on the spot by one of their staff members and a cup brewed by the KopiMatic.

On top of that, Mr Thai said what appealed to the bosses was the consistency of each cup of coffee that the KopiMatic promises.

“The consistency (of each cup of coffee) has always been a problem for them,” he said.
 

Quote

Maybe can venture overseas like Malaysia and Thailand also. But maybe thailand have to change to cha yen. 😃

Anyway, Mr Thai go Thailand shouldn't be a problem (punchline!)

kudos!

 

[Throttle2]

Jialat, more retrenchment liao.  😀

[kobayashiGT]

11 minutes ago, Throttle2 said:

Jialat, more retrenchment liao.  😀

Maybe the uncle can join starbucks?

[Throttle2]

1 minute ago, kobayashiGT said:

Maybe the uncle can join starbucks?

So he upgrade and earn more?  Wahahaha

[13177]

Kopi brewer also soon out of job. And the job is taken over by machine. 

[PSP415]

Haiz. 

Sometimes I wish that new inventions actually enhance lives without causing anyone to lose their jobs. 

Wishful thinking. 

Stay safe all 

Cheers 

[badlammy]

12 minutes ago, PSP415 said:

Haiz. 

Sometimes I wish that new inventions actually enhance lives without causing anyone to lose their jobs. 

Wishful thinking. 

Stay safe all 

Cheers 

My friend once said some jobs just cannot be automated, like the person skilled in chopping up a whole chicken for the chicken rice stall. Till today, he is still correct. 😄

[Volvobrick]

There better be a solid SOP to clean those silicon hoses on the kopi machine - they are a hotbed for bacteria growth and potential food poisoning.

[conybrwn]

not sure if it will be as good as human made?

[kobayashiGT]

Actually this is something inevitable one. I am not saying that this is good. But there must be an evolution in the industry to have growth also. Maybe next time in kopitiam, if they want to drink handmade kopi, they will pay a premium and the profit should go to the "barista" or we can train the uncles to manage the machine.

[Mustank]

Next time can make robot

can rent or buy home

Edited August 14, 2020 by Mustank

[Tohto]

5 minutes ago, Mustank said:

Next time can make robot

can rent or buy home

What type of robot you are looking at 

[Watwheels]

Not very clean using rubber hoses. If you look at the standard of ang moh kopi machines the parts and pipes are stainless steel and the ppl who use it clean it frequently.

This machine is at its infancy. The hygiene standard needs improvement. Milk especially will turn bad rather quickly when exposed to temperature and air.

Edited August 14, 2020 by Watwheels

[Kopites]

2 hours ago, Throttle2 said:

Jialat, more retrenchment liao.  😀

Alot of those coffee shop "head hand" brewedby China lady. Don't taste the same like those old uncle in the past.

Nowadays mostly either too sweet or too sour. Sometimes even so dilute like drinking brown colour water. No taste at all. 

My view.

[Kopites]

1 hour ago, conybrwn said:

not sure if it will be as good as human made?

Definitely won't be as good as human. Human need to depend on his mood.🤭

[Kopites]

1 hour ago, badlammy said:

My friend once said some jobs just cannot be automated, like the person skilled in chopping up a whole chicken for the chicken rice stall. Till today, he is still correct. 😄

A machine that can skin off the bones and meat?

[Mockngbrd]

I want teh c peng siew dai

[Kangadrool]

Key to good coffee includes good coffee powder and correct consistent temperature of the hot water (not immediately after boiled, but somewhere around 90 deg C). Powder mixture must also not be over-soaked in water which many KPT nowadays are guilty of. Hardly see KPT transfer the brewed coffee out, but mostly they are left to soaked too long. The first few customers lim liao shiok shiok, customers come after 15 minutes lim liao sour sour. 

The worst kind is recycle the spent coffee powder. 😞

Edited August 14, 2020 by Kangadrool