Bytes and Brew: Technology’s Role in Your Cup of Joe
It’s nearing the end of August. That means the start of a new school year, the continuation of sweltering hot temperatures, and...the release of pumpkin spice lattes (PSLs)? Brace yourself fellow PSL fans, despite record-high temperatures across the country, both Dunkin’ and Starbucks are set to debut their fall menu. In fact, Dunkin’ beat Starbucks to the punch this year by offering their seasonal treats starting Wednesday, August 19 – earlier than ever before. Starbucks is following suit though, with rumors that PSLs will be available August 25, which would be the beverage’s earliest ever-recorded launch date.
Whether you’re a die-hard PSL fan or despise the autumnal flavor (you should probably go ahead and unsubscribe), it got us thinking (what we do best here!) about coffee and technology.
Since Tech Square ATL Social Club (TSQATL) prides itself on fostering an environment where connections are made, let’s talk first about coffee and connectivity. Now is the norm of virtual assistant devices, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, used in the home or workplace to power and operate everyday appliances such as lights, security cameras, and thermostats. But as this widespread use of connectivity increases and becomes part of our personal routines, it’s impact also affects businesses as well. Connectivity allows for easier flow and more efficient ways of managing and storing data, and for some companies, this is an essential part of their strategy in helping maximize profits. For coffee professionals in particular, technology and connectivity are helping improve roasting and brewing features in their machines and seamlessly tracking data on their inventory and sales. Likewise, for self-proclaimed coffee aficionados, coffee tech perks include devices that control home brewing, extract settings, online orders, and contactless purchases, to name a few.
Technology in the coffee industry isn’t just helping everyday citizens brew coffee at home or pick it up on the way to work without stepping foot inside a store. It’s also essential for startups, like these five innovators in Seattle, Washington. Additionally, it has caught the attention of international tech giant, IBM. The company is the latest vendor to partner with coffee bean growers looking to track their product on its journey to market – and let consumers trace their java back to the farm to discover where and how it was grown – all via the Food Trust platform, powered by IBM Blockchain. Similarly, Microsoft is working with Starbucks to “develop a blockchain-based supply chain tracking system and mobile app that will allow customers to track the supply chain journey of the beans they buy and the coffee they drink.”
So, whether you’re counting down the seconds until you can get your hands on a PSL, or you stand firm on only sipping black coffee, just be mindful there’s more that goes into your cup of joe than you probably realize.
DID YOU KNOW?
Coffee is a fruit! The beans you brew are actually the processed and roasted seeds from a fruit, which is called a coffee cherry.
What’s your favorite coffee order? Let us know in the comments below.