# Automated Coffee Kiosk Rollouts Buc-ee's Partners With Costa Coffee To Introduce Automated Kiosks By Kanesa David | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-04-14 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/automated-kiosks References: [vendingtimes](https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/buc-ees-rolling-out-specialty-coffee-vending/) & [buc-ees](https://buc-ees.com/)  Buc-ee's introduced Costa Coffee automated kiosks at multiple travel centers, offering self-serve machines that make barista-style drinks, featuring a touchscreen interface and rapid 90-second preparation. The units produce espresso-based beverages such as cappuccino, latte and flat white, with customization for size, milk type, flavoring and sweetness. The machines were installed to expand Buc-ee's beverage lineup and sit alongside its existing in-store coffee bar and the Buc-ee's Beanery concept focused on speed and convenience. By combining automated production with Buc-ee's broad add-on selection, the kiosks multiply available drink combinations while reducing wait time. For consumers, the rollout delivers faster, customizable specialty coffee at highway stops, reflecting a broader trend toward automated, high-quality self-service in travel retail. Image Credit: EWY Media / Shutterstock ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 7% | Activity: 8% | Freshness: 72% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Automated High-quality Self-service:** Widespread deployment of barista-style kiosks points to a shift where machines replicate specialty beverage quality while cutting reliance on trained staff, creating room for new automated service models. - **Rapid Customization at Scale:** Touchscreen interfaces and fast preparation times allow extensive drink personalization across high volumes, suggesting scalable product-variety systems that challenge traditional menu constraints. - **Hybrid Retail Integration:** Coexistence of automated kiosks with staffed coffee bars at travel centers signals blended service ecosystems that can reshape store layouts and customer flow dynamics. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Travel Retail and Fuel Stops:** Highway travel centers become testbeds for automated specialty beverage offerings, enabling differentiated convenience experiences that can disrupt roadside foodservice norms. - **Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers:** Demand for compact, fast, and customizable beverage machines presents opportunities for modular, serviceable hardware platforms that change procurement cycles. - **Coffee Supply Chain and Ingredients:** Greater use of automated kiosks increases need for standardized, shelf-stable inputs and flavor cartridges, prompting new logistics and ingredient-format solutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ultra-Fast Automated Espresso Makers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rowan-nova-reverie-espresso-machine.md) - [Modernized Ready-to-Drink Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/costa-coffee-readytodrink.md) - [Next-Gen Automated Espresso Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-terra-kaffe-tk02.md) - [Coffee Kiosk Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valley-fair-kiosk.md) - [Refrigerated Cold Brew Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shareable-cold-brew.md) - [On-Site Coffee Roasting Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/espresso-solution.md) - [Tourist-Friendly Cafe Kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-selfservice-kiosks.md) - [Automated Beverage Dispensing Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beverage-dispensing-system.md) - [3D-Printed Coffee Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-printed-starbucks.md)