The Coffee Connecting Machine

The Singapore Economic Development Board has created one of the most interesting brewing units the world has ever seen: the Coffee Connector. Here’s a machine which removes all awkwardness of initial contact, and as a bonus, gives you and your new acquaintance a cup of hot coffee.

The device senses when two people are standing in front of it, waiting for coffee. Users step up on its platform and enter details such as their names and what topics interest them, e.g., technology, health care and sustainability. As the machine begins to brew, exposed mechanics show the spectacle of coffee-making, creating a mesmerizing conversation starter.

“‘Let’s grab coffee’ often means more than just coffee. It signifies the start to relationships, opportunities and business decisions,” said the economic planning agency.

The goal isn’t so much to punish introverts by withholding their favourite drink if they don’t make eye-contact, but to see whether new business connections can be spurred on in non-traditional ways. The Coffee Connector’s first outing was at The Economist Big Rethink Conference in mid-March, where more than 200 pairs tried it out

The Coffee Connector is, of course, a metaphor for EDB’s purpose and intent which is to present Singapore as a place for global companies to come together and connect in meaningful ways.