In the Race to Build Robotic Coffee Baristas, the U.S. Vies with China

Race to build robotic coffee baristas arrives in NH as the U.S. vies with China

In the race to perfect robot coffee baristas, I am concerned that the Chinese may be building up a grande — or even venti — lead over the U.S.

In the race to build robotic coffee baristas, the U.S. vies with China

In the race to perfect robot coffee baristas, I am concerned that the Chinese may be building up a grande — or even venti — lead over the U.S.On a recent Wednesday afternoon, I drove to Hudson, N.H., a suburb of Nashua, to check out the first permanent coffee kiosk built by a North Billerica startup, P!ng. The company is currently trying to raise $500,000 on the crowdfunding website Wefunder, and is about three-quarters of the way there.