# Staff-less Java Houses The Vault is a Self-Serve Coffee Shop That Relies On the Honor System By Alyson Wyers | Published 2014-07-10 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfserve-coffee-shop References: [springwise](http://www.springwise.com/staffless-coffee-shop-relies-customers-pay-honestly/) & [thevaultvalleycity](http://www.thevaultvalleycity.com) Realizing that coffee basically costs the same everywhere, give or take a few dollars, North Dakota's The Vault is a self-serve coffee shop and bakery. Payment relies on the honor system as people make their own coffee. The former bank is equipped with a [Keurig](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/connected-coffee-machine) K-Cup machine and professional brewer. Customers can pour themselves a cup, check the price board (the menu also includes soft drinks and snacks), tally up their total and pay the bill. There is a slotted honesty box patrons can slip cash into, or they can also pay by check of self-service credit card reader. Other than security cameras, no other incentives are in place to make people pay. In fact, the self-serve coffee shop has found people pay 15% more than the menu price, on average. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 92% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - 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 ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Self-serve Shops:** Self-serve shops could disrupt the traditional retail model by eliminating the need for staff and reducing overhead costs. - **Honor System Payment:** The use of honor system payment could increase consumer trust and reduce transaction friction in various industries. - **Unstaffed Facilities:** Unstaffed facilities can create around-the-clock availability and increased convenience for customers while reducing the need for staff. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Retail:** Self-serve shops and honor system payment could disrupt traditional retail models by reducing labor costs and increasing convenience for customers. - **Hospitality:** Unstaffed facilities, such as self-check-in hotels, could reduce labor costs and wait times for customers while increasing around-the-clock availability. - **Food and Beverage:** Self-serve coffee shops and restaurants could reduce wait times and increase convenience for customers while decreasing labor costs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Tourist-Friendly Cafe Kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-selfservice-kiosks.md) - [AI-Powered Robot Baristas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ella-robot-barista.md) - [Hyper-Personalized Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-free-coffee.md) - [Robotic Beverage-Crafting Baristas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sidework-dispenser.md) - [Dual-Function Retail Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haus-coffee.md) - [AI-Powered Robotic Baristas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cookright-coffee.md) - [Automated Robot Baristas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/automatic-barista.md) - [Coffee-to-Go Retail Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/caf-delice-coffee-concept.md) - [Self-Refilling Coffee Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kara-pod.md)