Pierce College has a new coffee vending machine, NeeMoo Coffee, which includes a fully automated robotic arm that prepares coffee, while customers are able to view the process through the vending machine window.
Although it brings a sense of novelty, the taste of the coffee needs room for improvement.
As stated in NeeMoo Coffee’s website, the machine consists of “a milk fridge and frothing system, automatic ice maker, six-flavor syrup station, and a cup dispenser and sealer.” You can also order online through the mobile app.
The process of ordering was fairly easy, however it didn’t seem compatible with placing an order of more than one drink so it took separate transactions to do so.
After your order is placed, it pops up on a screen inside of the vending machine that shows the orders that are in progress and upcoming. The robotic arm then grabs a cup and moves over to the brewing machine.
After the coffee is done brewing, the robotic arm takes it to the lid station where it covers the drink and places it at the designated pick up window of the vending machine. Stirrers are also available to mix your coffee. The machine calls out the order number through a speaker to let you know when your order is ready.
The overall process for each drink to be ready is less than two minutes.
The prices range from $3 to $4.65. Some of the flavors they offer are Caffé Americano, Cappuccino, Sea Salt Caramel Latte, and Pumpkin Spice Latte. Their drink options can be made hot or iced.
Their Iced Pumpkin Latte is the most flavorful. There was not too much milk or espresso but a perfect mix with a touch of the pumpkin spice. It also had a proper ice to drink ratio, which helped because the ice did not water the drink down but kept the drink cold enough to enjoy. As for the hot drinks, the Sea Salt Caramel Latte is a personal favorite.
There is a light layer of foam on top of the drink which makes the flavor creamy. There was a nice balance of sweet and saltiness, and neither flavor overpowered the other. The Cappuccino was quite similar to the Sea Salt Caramel Latte with a thicker layer of foam on the top which made it taste more milky. Lastly, the Caffé Americano was a different experience. It seemed that there was not an ideal balance of the espresso and hot water. The drink did not taste like a fresh brew and was watered down.
The NeeMoo Coffee vending machine at Pierce would be a recommendation for those who are looking for an affordable, time convenient and tasteful drink before or after class.
