This Fort Worth coffee shop is launching DFW Airport’s first-ever coffee robot
Don’t be surprised if you see R2-D2-looking robots rolling around Terminal C at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport the next time you’re catching a flight.
Ampersand, a Fort Worth coffee brand, is revolutionizing DFW Airport’s dining by partnering with RobotLAB and Hestia Robotics to offer a coffee-making robot kiosk and autonomous coffee delivery to gates.
“At Ampersand, we believe technology is the driving force behind an exceptional coffee experience,” Ampersand CEO Toan Luong said. “Designed to serve guests 24/7, this system ensures that travelers and airport employees can always enjoy a quality cup of coffee without the wait.”
Ampersand has two coffee shops in Fort Worth– one in the West 7th Entertainment District and then the second on TCU’s campus off University Drive. It’s only been a year since the local chain opened its DFW Airport location, beating out big-league competitors like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. Now, the community has supported them enough to pioneer new technology in the world’s third-largest airport.
On Monday, April 7, Ampersand will launch “Gizmo,” the robot kiosk. Then, by 2026, Luong and RobotLAB plan to have coffee robot delivery directly to customer’s gates.
Meet Gizmo: DFW Airport’s first coffee-making robot
Ampersand’s robot vision is not complete without Hestia Coffee Robotics, which built the Ampersand kiosk near Gate C35.
To operate the robot, guests can choose from 27 different signature drinks. Ampersand offers coffees, matchas and teas with flavors like vanilla, honey, snickerdoodle or coconut.
Customers order and pay all through an attached screen.
Gizmo will then prepare the order and drop it through one of three delivery windows. Customers will show a QR code to unlock their window.
The kiosk has a screen that will show the status of customer’s orders, as well as direct which window customers should pick up their drink.
Another Ampersand coffee bar with human baristas will be adjacent to the kiosk. These baristas will serve their full drink menu, as well as some bakery and pastry items. The difference between the shop and the kiosk is that the kiosk can serve customers 24/7, not just for a shift.
Future of DFW Airport: Robot coffee delivery
The other project Ampersand is focusing on is coffee delivery.
“In collaboration with our tech partners and the airport, we introduced the first robotic server and are working towards beverage and food delivery robots that will bring orders directly to travelers at their gates, eliminating friction in the ordering process and enhancing accessibility,” Luong said.
RobotLAB is responsible for the autonomous delivery robots, which use the same technology as all the Kura Sushi locations. Unlike Gizmo, these robots will operate within the Ampersand coffee bar hours (6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) since the baristas prepare and program the orders.
“These robots will never replace our team, but instead will be alongside them as a mechanism of support,” Luong said.
Here’s how delivery works:
Customers order and pay through the Ampersand app (launching by the end of 2025). The app will allow customers to schedule orders and track how close they are to their gate.
Once the customer is close to their gate in Terminal C, the robot will roll over to them.
The robots will have enclosed compartments in which the customer will scan a QR code to open their order. This will ensure that customers are taking the correct order.
The robot also operates as a way to bus empty cups and trash.
Ampersand coffee delivery bots will stem from the kiosk at Gate C35. The full functioning Ampersand coffee shop is located across from C37. There, they sell the full menu of coffee and tea drinks as well as a food menu with toasts and pastries.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 5:30 AM.