Smart Coffee Machine Serves Free Coffee When You Yawn

Ever found yourself stranded at an airport, exhausted from delays and long layovers, desperate for something—anything—to help you stay awake? You’re not alone. Many travelers stuck in transit hubs battle fatigue, especially during off-peak hours or unexpected delays. A simple solution might be just a yawn away.

Yes, you can get free coffee simply by yawning. A smart coffee machine called "Bye Bye Red Eye" activates and dispenses a free cup of coffee when it detects a yawn through its facial recognition camera.

How the Yawn-Activated Coffee Machine Works

The "Bye Bye Red Eye" coffee machine uses facial recognition technology to detect when someone yawns nearby. There’s no app, no button, no payment required. You simply walk up to the screen, let out a yawn, and the machine recognizes the action and immediately brews and dispenses a fresh cup of hot coffee. It’s designed specifically for tired travelers in need of a quick boost.

Where You Can Find This Coffee Machine

This innovative machine was installed by South African coffee company Douwe Egberts at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. The airport is a major hub in Africa and a common site for long passenger waits due to flight delays or connecting flights. The coffee machine was placed there as a creative way to engage tired passengers and promote the brand’s coffee as a reliable pick-me-up.

Why Yawning Was Chosen as the Trigger

Douwe Egberts chose yawning as the activation trigger because it’s one of the most universal and visible signs of tiredness. Unlike other biometric signals or manual inputs, a yawn is an involuntary and honest indicator that someone could use caffeine. By using facial recognition to spot a yawn, the machine targets people who are most likely to appreciate a free cup of coffee right when they need it most.

Results and Public Response

During the promotion period, the "Bye Bye Red Eye" machine served coffee to 210 tired travelers. While the article doesn’t specify the exact coffee blend used, the machine dispensed freshly brewed coffee intended to help users fight fatigue. The campaign was well received as a clever and direct form of brand engagement, offering functional value to customers rather than just an advertisement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the yawning coffee machine know when to give coffee?

The machine uses built-in facial recognition technology to detect yawns. When it identifies a yawn from a user standing in front of its screen, it automatically activates and brews a fresh cup of coffee, which is then dispensed for free.

Where is the yawning coffee machine located?

The machine was installed at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, by the South African coffee company Douwe Egberts. It was placed there to help tired travelers waiting due to flight delays or layovers.

Do you have to pay for the coffee from the smart machine?

No, the coffee is completely free. The machine is designed as a promotional tool and does not require payment, registration, or an app. You just need to yawn in front of its camera to receive a cup.

What kind of coffee does the machine serve?

The article does not specify the exact coffee blend or roast used in the machine, but it is described as a fresh, hot cup of coffee intended to help users feel more alert. It is presumably a standard brewed coffee, selected by Douwe Egberts for its wakefulness benefits.

How many people received free coffee from the machine?

During its promotional period, the "Bye Bye Red Eye" machine served coffee to 210 tired travelers at the airport.

Is this coffee machine still in operation?

The article does not state whether the machine is still in operation after the promotion ended. It was part of a specific campaign by Douwe Egberts to engage travelers at O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Tired Travelers

For travelers needing a strong wake-up, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe offers bright citrus and floral notes to refresh the senses, while their Brazil Queen Manor delivers a smooth, low-acid profile with chocolatey sweetness for a balanced lift. Both coffees are ideal for brewing a quick, effective cup to fight fatigue. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.