Whether it’s a business negotiation or a school project, conversations flow more smoothly with coffee. More than just a wake-me-up, it relaxes the atmosphere, sharpens the mind, and makes those long, morose all-nighters bearable.
Deeply ingrained in today’s social dynamic, coffee is by far the most popular beverage in America. The numbers don’t lie: according to the United States National Coffee Association, coffee consumption reached an all-time high in 2024, increasing by 37% since 2004. In the spring of 2024, over 67% of American adults reported having drunk coffee in the past day, eclipsing even bottled water.
That’s one of the reasons MUJI, a Japanese-owned retail giant with a growing presence across North America, decided to integrate food and beverages into its stores. By offering coffee and small bites, MUJI aimed to create a friendlier, more inviting shopping experience. Coffee played an integral role in achieving its vision.
To successfully roll out this initiative across all its locations, MUJI needed its food service to be scalable, low-maintenance, and, most importantly, consistent. While the menu offerings might change, the atmosphere, quality, and overall experience had to remain uniform across stores.
Japan has always been at the cutting edge of technology, and MUJI, true to its Japanese heritage, was open to incorporating new innovations—but with prudence. The new service couldn’t clash with its stores' serene, minimalistic decor, burden existing staff, or disrupt MUJI’s signature quiet, calm ambiance. After a taste test in Portland, Oregon, MUJI found its solution in Artly’s Barista Bot. In 2021, Barista Bot secured a place in MUJI’s Portland store.
Barista Bot was an instant hit at MUJI Portland. In addition to enhancing the shopping experience, the robot barista made its way onto shoppers' social media. Videos of Artly’s Barista Bot pouring intricate latte art circulated on Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. Powered by the Vision-Language-Action (VLA) AI model, trained using motion capture data from world-class baristas, Barista Bot can create over 28 different types of hot and cold coffee drinks. The increased social media presence drew crowds to MUJI’s Portland store specifically to see Barista Bot in action and savor its craft coffee.
After a rousing initial reception in Portland, Barista Bot expanded to MUJI’s New York location in 2022 and then crossed borders to Vancouver, Canada, this time under a new name: Jarvis. Soon after, Jarvis arrived on the East Coast, landing in MUJI’s flagship Toronto store. Not to be left behind, MUJI Portland’s first Barista Bot was upgraded to boost efficiency and speed. No matter the location, Jarvis had the same effect: shoppers were drawn in by the novelty of the robotic barista and stayed for the high-quality coffee.
Barista Bot operates autonomously most of the time, sending out only a brief audio alert when its ingredients run low and requiring staff attention only when absolutely necessary. Designed to mimic human motion, it uses standard coffee-making equipment without extensive modifications, making integration into existing spaces seamless. Furthermore, by eliminating the need for specialized machines, Barista Bot reduced MUJI’s upfront investment costs.
Beyond efficiency, Barista Bot’s precision allows it to craft intricate drinks like the taro latte, one of the most popular offerings at MUJI Toronto. Made with two-thirds fresh, cold milk and topped with a carefully poured shot of espresso, the taro latte relies on Barista Bot’s precise layering motions to achieve its rich, balanced flavor.
And that’s what it all comes down to. Robot or not, it always circles back to a good, invigorating cup of coffee. Using premium ingredients and high-quality coffee beans, Jarvis now serves over 70 cups of deliciousness daily at MUJI Toronto. By this point, Jarvis is already an experienced barista, having served nearly a million cups of coffee since its inception.
And it’s only getting better. At the Nvidia Graphics Technology Conference 2025 (GTC), Artly unveiled its latest advancement: a next-generation robotic hand designed to replicate human dexterity more precisely than ever before. With this upgrade, Jarvis is set to create even more stunning latte art—bringing high-tech craftsmanship to every cup.