How does this coffee production equipment trial work in stores?

During the National Day holiday, some Chayan Yuese stores in Changsha used fully automated milk tea robots. Staff place a labeled cup in position, and a robotic arm completes most of the drink, with the cream top added by hand. Reaction was split: some saw steadier quality and less staff workload, while others found the robot slower than manual work at peak times.

Cleaning and custom orders still need staff, which limits how far the trial can run on its own. The test adds to a broader conversation about coffee beverage development: machine-assisted brewing and shaking appears in more shops each year, but the equipment earns its place only when throughput, upkeep and customization are all accounted for during busy hours.

During the National Day holiday, fully automated milk tea robots appearing in some Chayan Yuese stores in Changsha became a focal point for tourists. Customers noticed that staff only needed to place a labeled cup in the designated position, and the robotic arm could complete most of the preparation process, with only the cream top needing to be added before handover. This trial sparked polarized discussion online: supporters believe standardized operations help ensure consistent quality and reduce employee workload; opponents point out that during peak hours, the robot's output speed is actually slower than manual work, resulting in longer wait times, and equipment cleaning and customization needs still rely on staff. Whether automated tea-making can truly integrate into the freshly made tea beverage scene has become a new topic of discussion in the industry.

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During the National Day holiday, many tourists visiting Changsha, Hunan, were surprised to discover that some stores of the well-known local tea chain Chayan Yuese were equipped with robots that can shake milk tea when they checked in.

From the pictures and videos taken by netizens, after a store receives an order, staff place the labeled takeaway cup in the designated position, and the entire assembly line equipment installed on the counter can complete most of the milk tea production process upon receiving instructions. Staff only need to wait a few minutes to retrieve the drink made by the robot, add the cream top and decorations, and then package it for the customer.

Although news reports about robots brewing coffee and shaking milk tea have been numerous online in recent years, many customers still find it novel to witness fully automated assembly line tea beverage production with their own eyes, and their gaze is uncontrollably drawn to the working robotic arm while waiting for their order.

In the view of netizens, the milk tea robots tried by Chayan Yuese in some stores can not only make the quality control and taste of freshly made milk tea more stable but also reduce the workload of store employees. After watching the whole process, many couldn't help but joke, "There will be no more milk tea to shake in the future—milk tea is already semi-automated."

However, some customers also raised objections after trying it, believing that the brand's choice to replace employees with machinery and equipment greatly affects the in-store experience.

A netizen who posted a video said that among the pilot stores where Chayan Yuese deployed milk tea robots, one is located in a scenic area, and during the National Day peak period, the fully automated equipment in the store was far less efficient at making tea beverages than manual output, "3-4 times slower," causing customers waiting to pick up orders to line up outside the store, and they said they waited more than half an hour to get their drinks.

Besides the slow output speed, some consumers worry that after long-term use of the milk tea-making equipment, the pipes transporting beverage ingredients, liquid outlets, and other parts may harbor dirt and grime, leading to food safety risks in the tea beverages produced. Moreover, in their view, although this equipment can assist staff in production, it also increases employees' cleaning work, and they believe the milk tea robot may not reduce the burden on workers by much.

Onlookers who are milk tea fans, however, believe that one of the reasons they choose freshly made milk tea and hand-shaken milk tea is that "the drink is made by a person." If tea shops use fully automated machines, some believe the tea beverages produced are not much different from bottled drinks produced on factory assembly lines: "Fully automatic—wouldn't I just buy bottled drinks myself?" "It feels like buying a 3-yuan drink, losing the meaning of milk tea."

In addition, some netizens said that milk tea robots should produce according to the brand's standardized preparation process and recipe. If consumers request less ice, less sugar, etc., the robot following procedures step by step may not be able to make a drink that satisfies the customer, and ultimately only store staff can complete the customized beverage.

Regarding chain brands using fully automated robots to produce freshly made milk tea, netizens do not deny that rapid technological development may in the future help milk tea workers and reduce their burden, but they also point out that judging from the working conditions of the milk tea robots tried by Chayan Yuese, this fully automated milk tea assembly line is currently not very suitable for stores with high cup output, and they believe it still needs some improvement to meet the daily working scenarios of tea beverage stores.

Images and videos are all from Xiaohongshu

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.