An artisan coffee roastery located in Helsinki, Finland, has unveiled a coffee blend that was developed using artificial intelligence (AI). The introduction of this blend is part of an experiment to explore how technology can alleviate the workload in a sector that traditionally emphasizes manual labor. The Helsinki-based Kaffa Roastery's "AI-conic" blend was launched in Finland, a country known for consuming the highest amount of coffee per capita globally, according to the International Coffee Organization. The blend, created by an AI algorithm, features a combination of four types of beans, with Brazil's smooth Fazenda Pinhal taking the lead. The collaboration between Kaffa, Finland's third-largest coffee roastery, and local AI consultancy Elev employed models similar to ChatGPT and Copilot to develop the blend. Elev stated that the AI was given the task of creating a blend that would harmonize well with the preferences of coffee enthusiasts, pushing the boundaries of traditional flavor combinations. Svante Hampf, the managing director and founder of Kaffa Roastery, explained that the objective of the partnership was to test how AI and its diverse tools can assist in the craft of coffee roasting—a cherished artisan profession in Finland. They provided the AI with descriptions of their coffee types and flavors, allowing it to create an innovative new blend.

The result, "AI-conic, " was showcased at the annual Helsinki Coffee Festival, where coffee roasters and enthusiasts gather. In addition to selecting the coffee beans from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Guatemala, the AI also designed the coffee package label and a detailed taste description, describing "AI-conic" as a well-balanced blend with hints of sweetness and ripe fruit. Hampf admitted to being surprised that the AI chose to create a blend using four different types of coffee beans, rather than the usual two or three, which distinguishes tastes from different origins. However, after conducting initial test roasting and blind tastings, Kaffa's coffee experts unanimously agreed that the AI-assisted blend was perfect and required no human adjustments. According to Antti Merilehto, a spokesperson for Elev, "AI-conic" highlights how AI can bring fresh perspectives to seasoned professionals and offer coffee lovers new taste experiences. Kaffa Roastery hopes that this trial sparks dialogue among coffee professionals about the possibilities AI holds for the future. Finland, known for its strong coffee culture and thriving startup scene, blends its passion for technology with its love for coffee. "This trial was the first step in assessing how AI could assist us in the future, " said Hampf. He added that the project successfully combined the artisan skills of a roastery with the data provided by AI, concluding that AI has much to offer in the long run. "We are particularly impressed by the coffee taste descriptions it created, " Hampf concluded.