A Helsinki-based artisan roastery has unveiled a new coffee blend developed by artificial intelligence (AI) in a trial aimed at modernizing the traditional manual work of the sector. The blend, named “AI-conic,” was introduced this week by Kaffa Roastery, fittingly in Finland, a nation known for its high coffee consumption.
Finland, with its 5.6 million population, ranks as the world’s top coffee consumer, averaging 12 kilograms per capita annually, according to the International Coffee Organization.
The “AI-conic” blend, featuring four types of beans led by Brazil’s Fazenda Pinhal, is the outcome of a collaboration between Kaffa Roastery and local AI consultancy Elev. Leveraging models similar to ChatGPT and Copilot, the AI was tasked with creating a blend that would appeal to coffee enthusiasts, pushing the boundaries of traditional flavor combinations.
Svante Hampf, managing director and founder of Kaffa Roastery, explained that they provided AI with descriptions of their various coffee types and flavors, instructing it to craft an exciting new blend. The result surprised them: “AI-conic” comprises four different types of coffee beans, rather than the usual two or three, creating a well-balanced blend of sweetness and ripe fruit.
After blind testing, Kaffa’s experts confirmed that the AI-generated blend was perfect, requiring no human adjustments. Antti Merilehto, spokesperson for Elev, emphasized that “AI-conic” demonstrates how AI can offer new perspectives to seasoned professionals, introducing coffee lovers to new taste experiences.
Kaffa Roastery sees the trial as a catalyst for future discussions in Finland, a nation deeply rooted in both coffee culture and technological innovation. Hampf views AI as a valuable tool for the future, impressed by its ability to generate detailed coffee taste descriptions and enhance the artisan skills of the roastery.
“This (trial) was the first step in seeing how AI could help us in the future,” Hampf said, highlighting the seamless integration of artisan skills and AI-provided data. He believes AI has much to offer in the long run and is eager to explore further possibilities.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-finland-coffee-blend-0cd12d5ae15a6d0e928c4cb4d7635b09