Starbucks Coffee and Coinstar Team Up To Create Seattle’s Best Coffee Vending Machines

Today we bring you news regarding the “Rubi,” a coffee kiosk brought to you by Coinstar and Seattle’s Best Coffee, who is partners with Starbucks.

The two companies plan to launch thousands of kiosks in grocery and drug stores, with machines available as early as this summer in the Northeast and West Coast. Seattle’s Best Coffee and Coinstar are expecting 500 kiosks by the end of this year, and thousands in the years to come.

If you’re a little surprised to see Coinstar as their partner, don’t be. Coinstar, the company behind the Redbox Movie Rental kiosks and Coinstar Coin-Counting kiosks (I hope that wasn’t a surprise), have already run a highly successful test pilot.

According to a press-release from Starbucks, the Rubi kiosk grinds and brews fresh, whole beans on demand for single cup servings. Starting at $1 for a cup of coffee, the machines also specialize in other drinks, such as mochas and vanilla lattes, for $1.50.

Personally, I think this is a fresh spin on the coffee vending machines that we’re all used to seeing. If you were one of the lucky people who got a taste from the pilot machine, or see one pop up in your neighborhood, feel free to drop us some feedback in the comments!