Choose your sweetness level and ice cubes – Taiwan’s first-ever vending machine for hand-shaken drinks

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department | Photos by SOYes Huangdou Ge

Hand-shaken drinks have become increasingly popular, with nearly everyone carrying one becoming almost a unique trend in Taiwan — so much so that even Japanese tourists are obsessed. This has also sparked a variety of creative business opportunities in the hand-shaken drink sector. Located in the Chingmei commercial district in Taichung, the hand-shaken drink shop — SOYes Huangdou Ge — has stirred up heated discussions with its innovative combination of freshly blended soy milk and fresh tea beverages. It has also introduced Japan’s vending machine model by installing an automated ordering kiosk that can issue receipts, input tax ID numbers, and offer many customization options, allowing customers to choose sweetness levels and ice amounts. It promotes itself as Taiwan’s first self-service beverage ordering shop. Recently, it also opened a branch on the 9th floor of Taipei’s San Chung Life, which often sees long queues during weekends.

The vending machine accepts coins from 5 NT dollars up to 1,000 NT dollar bills, and customers can also choose whether to add tapioca pearls, bags, and more. Its zero-interaction approach may seem impersonal, but it avoids many issues. It not only saves on labor costs but also prevents customers from ordering by mistake. In addition, it avoids hygiene and food safety concerns that might arise from handling money right before making drinks.