Produced by: Tarun Mishra
A Finnish artisan roastery based in Helsinki has unveiled a new coffee blend developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), marking a notable advancement in the traditional coffee industry.
Finland, known for its avid coffee consumption, consumes the highest amount of coffee per capita globally, making it an ideal location for innovative coffee initiatives. The roastery, Kaffa Roastery, collaborated with local AI consultancy Elev for this groundbreaking project.
Leveraging AI models similar to ChatGPT and Copilot, the AI was tasked with creating a unique coffee blend that would appeal to coffee enthusiasts. The aim was to explore how technology could streamline and enhance the coffee roasting process, traditionally regarded as a manual craft.
The resulting blend, dubbed "AI-conic," features a combination of four coffee bean varieties, prominently featuring the velvety Fazenda Pinhal from Brazil. This unexpected blend composition was selected by the AI based on flavour profiles and descriptions provided by Kaffa Roastery.
The AI also generated a detailed taste description for the "AI-conic" blend, highlighting its balanced sweetness and ripe fruit notes. Despite the unconventional blend composition, blind taste tests confirmed the blend's appeal among coffee experts.
Svante Hampf, managing director and founder of Kaffa Roastery, expressed surprise at the AI's choice of four coffee bean types but ultimately found the blend to be impeccably suited for their preferences. The blend required no further adjustments following initial testing.
The successful collaboration between Kaffa Roastery and Elev underscores the potential of AI to introduce novel perspectives and enhance traditional artisan practices. The project serves as a catalyst for dialogue within the coffee industry regarding the integration of technology into coffee production.
Hampf envisions a future where AI continues to play a significant role in coffee roasting, offering innovative solutions and expanding the possibilities for flavour experimentation. The project marks just the beginning of exploring AI's potential in the coffee industry.
The introduction of the "AI-conic" blend represents a significant milestone in the intersection of technology and coffee craftsmanship. As Finland embraces its rich coffee culture alongside a burgeoning tech scene, this collaboration sets the stage for future innovations in coffee production and taste exploration.