Revolution！Taiwan’s First Robot-Brewed Coffee Shop

By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

Taiwan’s first “fully robot-brewed coffee” shop, Swing Black Coffee, officially opened in early September. Aside from sparking debates over machines replacing humans, the shop also offers premium coffee at just NT$80, attracting the attention of coffee enthusiasts even before its opening.

At Swing Black Coffee, you can enjoy top-tier single-origin pour-over coffee that usually costs NT$100–200 at other specialty coffee shops for under NT$100—a pleasant surprise. This affordable price is made possible by the shop’s robotic barista “OTFES.” The precision-engineered machine can replicate a barista’s brewing techniques, including water temperature, flow rate, speed, and timing control. Once the desired flavor profile of the coffee beans is determined by the barista, OTFES can reproduce the same process, ensuring consistent quality in every cup. While machines are used, the expertise of professional baristas is still essential to make timely adjustments, creating a seamless collaboration to produce the best coffee possible.

Swing Black Coffee derives its name from the rhythmic swing dance of the 1920s, symbolizing the circular motion of pour-over brewing, and “Black,” representing the shop’s dedication to black coffee. Coupled with OTFES’s consistent and precise brewing, every guest can enjoy specialty coffee with stable quality. Although billed as a takeout bar, the shop’s simple and comfortable ambiance reflects Swing Black’s vision of a minimalist yet sensory-rich lifestyle, offering urbanites an accessible option to enjoy quality coffee in their daily lives.