Change yourself or you will be changed (maybe)

Okay, let's stop for a moment and take a break from our sacred morning coffee ritual to discuss how artificial intelligence is about to crash into our beloved temple of caffeine like an elephant in a glassware shop.

Yes, I'm talking directly to you, coffee professional, who views artificial intelligence as that sci-fi stuff threatening to turn our world into an episode of "Black Mirror."

Let's be honest, the coffee world has more traditions than an Italian family on Christmas Eve. And it's not necessarily a bad thing, except that some of these traditions have become excuses for not evolving.

Let's talk about roasteries still playing the "secret blend" game, as if they're competing in an episode of "MasterChef: Coffee Edition," while in reality, many rely on raw materials that would make even the least experienced nose turn up.

And then there are the bars (and baristas). Oh, the bars! Those places where uniqueness should be the norm, but instead, you find yourself in a continuous deja-vu every time you cross a new threshold. Owners who improvise and staff for whom being called "mediocre" is a huge compliment.

It's a situation so evident that even abroad they've started to mock us, but here, what do we do? We complain about price increases while watching the latest series on Netflix.

But here comes artificial intelligence, the revolution promising to shake up this world a bit too comfortable in its "catenaccio" of traditions (using an Italian soccer analogy that the average Italian man loves).

Yes, because "AI" is not just that thing you use to pick your playlist on Spotify or to ask Siri what time it is; it's a real revolution with the potential to change things as much, if not more, than the advent of the Internet. And the most incredible thing? It will change everything at a speed at least five times faster than the '90s.

But what are the opportunities for AI in the coffee world?

Let's get straight to the point with a concrete example. The new EUDR. Imagine for a moment being in a micro roastery, where the smell of freshly roasted coffee fills the air, and expertise mixes with passion. Along comes the new European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), appearing like a storm on the horizon. What if this storm could turn into a gentle spring breeze?

Our micro roastery loves quality and ethics as much as it loves coffee. With the EUDR, it must ensure its coffee does not contribute to deforestation, which means tracing the origin of every bean back to its source. It could rely only on the usual raw food enthusiast or pair them with artificial intelligence.

A designed system that can analyze supply data in real-time, compare it with deforestation maps and supplier records to ensure every bean comes from deforestation-free zones. But that's not all. This system could also suggest sustainable alternatives, helping to make informed decisions well before problems arise.

Here's how it could work: for every new batch of coffee, AI analyzes a wide range of data, from satellite monitoring of forests to sustainability certifications, through environmental and social reports. In seconds, AI can provide a "sustainability score," indicating not just if that coffee complies with the EUDR, but also if it aligns with the micro roastery's values of sustainability and ethics.

It could also optimize the supply chain by suggesting the most sustainable and "cost-efficient" suppliers or indicating the best times to buy, based on predictive analysis of market trends and climate conditions.

So, while the EUDR might seem like a hurdle for some, for those embracing AI (or welcoming changing), it becomes an opportunity to stand out, demonstrate their commitment to a sustainable future, and, why not, enjoy the process with a bit less stress. To me, that sounds like a revolution.

Take another example: Cropster and Perfect Daily Grind. Two giants in the coffee world leveraging AI to revolutionize roasting and content distribution. One uses data and algorithms to help roasters perfect their roasting cycles, while the other uses predictive analysis to understand coffee consumption trends. Aren't these artificial intelligences too?

So, tomorrow morning instead of "Hey Siri," you'll say "Hey Cropster, roast me a 5 kg batch of Nicaragua xyz for Brad Pitt (who loves a sweet and aromatic V60 for breakfast)."

"The question is not IF it will happen but WHEN"

What I want to convey with this message is not to only think about those sci-fi movie robots that end up rebelling against humanity (although, let's admit, that would be pretty cool). No, the reality is both more mundane and infinitely more fascinating.

Consider some of the projects already present in our lives: voice assistants that seem to understand your needs better than your best friend, algorithms that predict what you want to watch on Netflix before you even know it, or systems that manage to beat the world chess champion. Sounds like small, trivial tasks, right?!

Wrong. Behind these "simple" applications lie technologies capable of analyzing impressive amounts of data, learning and adapting at speeds that would make Tony Stark envious. And if you think all this has nothing to do with your beloved morning Espresso, think again.

While you may be imagining a dystopian future where baristas are replaced by soulless machines, let me tell you something: AI is not here to replace us, but to amplify our capabilities.

It's like having a superpower, but without having to wear a cape (unless you want to, of course). It's not the villain of the story; it's rather that partner you didn't know you needed, ready to suggest your next great discovery.

In short, AI in the coffee world could be the answer to problems we didn't know we had (or don't want to see), offering possibilities we hadn't dared to imagine. And for those still entrenched behind tradition, well, remember that even the Espresso machine was a technological revolution in its time.

The point is not to barricade ourselves behind the fear of the new, but rather to understand how to use this technology to our advantage, without a the soul of what makes coffee such an important part of our lives. After all, innovation in coffee is not just a matter of technology, but of mindset.

And now, at the end of this journey between coffee and AI, allow me to conclude with a thought that I hope leaves a mark. Immanuel Kant, in his "Formula of Humanity," says:

"Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of any other, always also as an end and never simply as means"”

- Immanuel Kant

It's a powerful lesson in ethics and morality that transcends time and can find deep resonance even in an era where ethics seem to fade day by day.

AI, in this context, is not just a tool for efficiency or a means to achieve commercial ends. On the contrary, if we consider it through the Kantian lens, AI becomes a means to elevate humanity, to improve ourselves and, consequently, to improve humanity itself.

When we use AI to support ethical sourcing practices, to preserve the environment, or to personalize the coffee experience in a way that respects and values the uniqueness of every individual, we are, in fact, treating humanity as an end.

The AI revolution in the coffee world, therefore, is not just about adopting new technologies to stay competitive or to meet regulatory requirements like the EUDR. It's rather about seizing the opportunity to use AI as an extension of our collective will to DO GOOD, to respect and value every single individual who comes into contact with the coffee world, from the grower to the consumer.

By adopting tools with this spirit, we can transform the coffee sector into a model of how technology can be used not only to improve processes and products but also to strengthen human bonds, promote sustainability, and celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of every coffee experience.

In this way, we not only respect Kant's formula of humanity but also elevate coffee from a simple beverage to a symbol of what we can achieve when we put humanity at the center of technology.

In conclusion, as we explore the potential of AI in the coffee world, let's remember to do so with one eye on tradition and the other aimed at a future where technology serves humanity, not the opposite.

Because in the end, let's face it, what really makes a cup of coffee special is not just the taste or aroma, but the sense of connection and community it can create. And if AI can help us strengthen those connections, then maybe, just maybe, we will have been able to capture the essence of what it means to be human.