A Coffee Roastery in Finland Launches an AI-Generated Blend
In a bold move that combines tradition with technology, a coffee roastery in Finland has introduced a coffee blend developed by artificial intelligence (AI). Kaffa Roastery, based in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, hopes that this trial will demonstrate how technology can ease the workload in a sector known for its manual labor.
The AI-Conic Blend
The newly launched coffee blend, aptly named “AI-Conic,” is the result of a joint project between Kaffa Roastery and local AI consultancy Elev. The blend, selected by the AI, consists of four types of beans, with a dominant presence of Brazil’s velvety Fazenda Pinhal. Leveraging models similar to ChatGPT and Copilot, the AI was tasked with crafting a blend that would appeal to coffee enthusiasts by pushing the boundaries of conventional flavor combinations, according to Elev.
Exploring the Role of AI in Coffee Roasting
Kaffa Roastery’s Managing Director and Founder, Svante Hampf, expressed the desire to explore how AI and its various tools could assist in the coffee roasting process, a traditionally artisanal profession highly valued in Finland. By providing the AI with descriptions of their coffee types and flavors, Kaffa Roastery and Elev aimed to create an exciting new blend.
At the Helsinki Coffee Festival, where “AI-Conic” was showcased, Hampf revealed his surprise that the AI chose to create a blend using four different types of coffee beans, rather than the usual two or three. However, after conducting blind taste tests, Kaffa’s coffee experts agreed that the tech-assisted blend was perfect and required no human adjustments.
AI’s Impact on the Coffee Industry
Antti Merilehto, a spokesperson for Elev, believes that “AI-Conic” demonstrates how AI can introduce new perspectives to seasoned professionals while offering coffee lovers unique taste experiences. Kaffa Roastery hopes that this trial sparks a dialogue among coffee professionals in Finland about the potential future role of AI in the industry.
Finland, known for its strong coffee culture and passion for technology, with a flourishing startup scene, is an ideal location for such an experiment. Hampf sees this trial as just the first step in uncovering how AI can help the coffee industry in the long run, highlighting the impressive coffee taste descriptions generated by the AI.
By successfully combining the artisan skills of a roastery with AI-provided data, Kaffa Roastery believes that AI has a significant role to play in shaping the future of coffee. This trial serves as a testament to the potential of technology to enhance and innovate traditional practices, while still honoring the rich history and craftsmanship of the coffee industry.
