The Experiment

Can we use automation to offer delicious coffee for cheap and unlock human creativity + connection in the process?

Since machines can now create delicious coffee for cheap, I want to launch a coffee shop without baristas and reinvest savings from machine-made coffee into artists/designers and copywriters in residence. These creatives will help all the (similarly independent) people that work from coffeeshops on stuff like deck designs and email copy/blog posts.

If it works, we'll create a defensible business that takes advantage of automation, unlocks economic opportunity for creatives and enhances human experiences in the process.

To test it, I plan to run a 'pop-up' at an existing retail space (Irving Place WeWork is our partner) with the following mechanics:

- 4 to 6 hour event that makes use of the delicious coffee machines on premise
- Offer lattes, cappuccinos, etc. for ~ $2 per cup
- 8 to 10 graphic designers and copywriters on site to help folks with their projects

I've put together a group of restaurateurs to help me measure and gauge success as well.

Expected Duration: 4 Weeks

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