HKUST Engineering and Pacific Coffee Partner to Enhance Student Learning with Robotic Coffee Machine
The School of Engineering (SENG) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) entered into partnership with Pacific Coffee Company Limited (Pacific Coffee) to promote student learning with Pacific Coffee’s state-of-the-art robotic coffee machine. The machine was officially unveiled today (October 8) by senior management of both organizations, signifying their shared commitment to enhancing education innovation and providing students with hands-on experience in engineering principles, design thinking and business operations.
The partnership stems from the signing of a memorandum of understanding between HKUST and China Resources Enterprise (CR Enterprise), the parent company of Pacific Coffee, in 2022, which forged a long-term strategic cooperation leveraging HKUST’s scientific capabilities and China Resources’ cross-industry resources.
Attending the occasion today were Prof. Hong K. LO, Dean of Engineering, HKUST; Prof. Henry LAM, Director of Center for Engineering Education Innovation, HKUST; Prof. Ben CHAN, Associate Director of Center for Engineering Education Innovation, HKUST; Mr. LI Nan, Vice President of CR Enterprise and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Coffee (Hong Kong and Overseas); Mr. Leo ZHU, General Manager of Smart and Digitalization Department of CR Enterprise; and Mr. Roy KEUNG, Associate Director, Retail Operations and Marketing, Pacific Coffee.
The machine is housed in the Engineering Commons, the newly renovated central hub for student learning and social gatherings of the School, and is managed by the School’s Center for Engineering Education Innovation (E2I).
A fully automated device designed to brew coffee with precision, innovation and efficiency, the Pacific Coffee robotic coffee machine uses robotics technology to handle the entire coffee-making process, including grinding beans, dosing, tamping, and frothing, ensuring consistent quality with each cup. It incorporates artificial intelligence to customize coffee preferences, including strength, flavor, and temperature, and can learn user preferences over time to offer personalized recommendations.
“We would like to thank Pacific Coffee for the robotic coffee machine for teaching, learning and student development purposes. As a key driver of education innovation, HKUST School of Engineering constantly explores new ways of teaching and learning that foster students’ creativity and collaboration in real-world settings. The coffee machine will not only form a point of interest that draws students for discussion, learning and gathering at the new Commons, but will also help to train their leadership, communication and problem-solving skills through the learning process,” said Dean of Engineering Prof. Hong K. Lo.
The coffee machine will initially be used for training and educational purposes in the School’s peer mentoring program, serving as a platform to facilitate collaborative learning and discussion between peer mentors and mentees. In the longer term, it will be developed into a credit-bearing course on design thinking and entrepreneurship, further enriching students’ understanding of robotics, programming, branding management and business operations.
For media inquiries, please contact:
HKUST School of Engineering
Celia Lee
Tel: 2358 8982 / Email: celialee@ust.hk
Dorothy Yip
Tel: 2358 5917/ Email: egkkyip@ust.hk
Pacific Coffee Company Limited
Yan Wong
Tel: 2290 6913 / Email: yanwong@pacificcoffee.com
Pony Qiu
Tel: 2290 6975 / Email: ponyqiu@pacificcoffee.com
