🤖 Will We Have Robot-Barista’s Soon? The Truth Behind The Future of Starbucks & Their 1 Billion Dollar A.I Plan

📰 A Manhattan landlord is now paying out of pocket after their Starbucks tenant terminated their lease — and told them the future is all robots: no more baristas, no more labor costs, just machines slinging lattes.

Sounds like a sci-fi caffeine takeover, right? But when you cut through the steam, the story isn’t that simple—and the facts tell a very different tale.

🎯 The Rumor

Our source, who leases prime space to Starbucks for $12K a month, says he was told all new Starbucks locations will run on automated drive thrus. It’s a dramatic vision—one that matches viral headlines about robot baristas popping up in airports and malls. But is Starbucks really about to fire every barista?

✍️ The Reality

Starbucks is quietly shuttering dozens of its New York City shops in its latest restructuring sweep. Recent reports show 34 locations across the five boroughs are set to close. 

The move is part of a $1 billion turnaround plan under CEO Brian Niccol.

🚨 Starbucks says the affected stores either fail to meet the “warm, welcoming” standard customers expect or don’t show a clear path to profitability. Many displaced workers may be offered transfers or severance, but for locals, their morning latte run may now require a detour.

• But Starbucks says it’s adding humans, not subtracting. In 2025, CEO Brian Niccol actually announced: more baristas, fewer automation rollouts. The company is slowing down its push for high-tech machines after realizing customers don’t come for robotic efficiency—they come for human warmth, eye contact, and the vibe.

  
  

• Automation isn’t dead—it’s moving backstage. Starbucks is still deploying AI to handle inventory counts, speed up drink assembly, and support staff with tools like the “Green Dot Assist” system. Think of it as a pit crew making the baristas’ jobs easier, not replacing them.

  
  

• Mobile-only, robot-adjacent stores are out. Starbucks is phasing out “pickup only” formats and recommitting to spaces with seats, social energy, and human connection.

  
  

• Other players are the real robot baristas. Companies like Artly and Crown Digital’s “ELLA” are running fully robotic cafés in airports and shopping centers—but that’s not Starbucks.

🔔 The Bottom Line

Starbucks isn’t swapping out its partners (that’s what they call employees) for chrome-plated espresso bots. Instead, it’s doubling down on people while using automation as a quiet assist behind the scenes. So while you will see robots making coffee in the future, don’t expect your neighborhood Starbucks to turn into Westworld with whipped cream.

👉 Machines might make the drink faster, but they can’t smile when they hand you your cup. ☕️

Starbucks’ bold $1 billion “Back to Starbucks” restructuring is designed to refocus investment on in-store experience and streamline operations.  While the plan does include closing underperforming coffeehouses (reducing North American company-operated stores by about 1%)  , cutting ~900 non-retail roles, and eliminating open positions — Starbucks will also upgrade more than 1,000 locations with warmer designs, expanded seating, and inviting atmospheres. 

The goal: rebuild customer loyalty by leaning into human connection, while judiciously trimming costs and complexity thru automation.

Best of both worlds, and yes, having billions helps.