Panbotica unveils Orbista robot barista

Panbotica Technology Co. put its Orbista Advanced AI-Powered Service Robot on the floor at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago on May 18, where the machine was shown making a latte at McCormick Place. The appearance placed the company among a cluster of automation vendors at this year’s show, where restaurant operators were shown equipment pitched as a response to labor pressure, speed demands and around-the-clock service needs. The Chicago Tribune and NBC Chicago both highlighted robot baristas and sushi-making machines among the more visible demonstrations on the exhibition floor. The annual show ran May 16 through May 19, according to the event organizer. ### Where exactly did Orbista appear, and what was it doing? McCormick Place hosted the Orbista demonstration during the National Restaurant Association Show, which bills itself as a major U.S. foodservice trade event. The Chicago Tribune reported that Orbista was making espresso drinks on the show floor on May 18, and a syndicated version of the Tribune report identified the machine as making a latte. NBC Chicago also reported from the show floor on May 18, describing robot baristas and sushi-making robots as part of the weekend’s displays. The station’s segment placed the machines in a broader showcase of new food and restaurant technology. ### What does Panbotica say the robot is built to do? Panbotica says its coffee robot is designed for “24-hour unmanned operations” and can be deployed in places such as libraries, shopping centers and corporate lobbies. On its website, the company says the system is meant to reduce the need for barista training while allowing operators to update drink offerings over time. Kosim Robotics, which lists Orbista on its site, says the machine is built to handle the brewing cycle, including grinding, frothing and pouring. The company says the system can produce cappuccinos in under three minutes and hand-brewed coffee in five minutes, while using mobile ordering and cloud analytics for inventory tracking. ### How much attention did restaurant automation get at this year’s show? (panbotica.com) The Chicago Tribune reported that the Orbista barista carried a $100,000 price tag and that a separate sushi-making machine on display cost $17,500. The same report said the four-day event drew about 53,000 attendees moving through exhibition halls filled with foodservice technology and equipment. (kosimrobotics.com) The National Restaurant Association Show said the 2026 event featured more than 2,300 exhibitors and more than 150 speakers. The organizer listed the dates as May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. ### Was Orbista the only robot coffee system at the show? COFE+ said before the show that it planned to debut what it called a seventh-generation fully automated robot café at Booth 5014 in the South Building. (chicagotribune.com) Another exhibitor, Richtech Robotics, said it would show its ADAM robot in a live noodle-making demonstration during the same event. (nationalrestaurantshow.com) Restaurant Technology News said AI, automation and cost pressures were central themes at the 2026 show. That characterization came from trade coverage of the event and matched the prominence of robotics, ordering tools and labor-saving equipment across the floor. ### What happens after the Chicago demo? (markets.businessinsider.com) The National Restaurant Association Show ended on May 19 at McCormick Place, and Panbotica continues to market its coffee robot for commercial deployment through its website. The next public step for operators interested in Orbista appears to be vendor follow-up and product inquiries through Panbotica and related distributors, while the show organizer has already shifted its site back to post-event materials for the 2026 exhibition. (restauranttechnologynews.com) (nationalrestaurantshow.com)