Latest news with #OnyxCoffeeLab
Axios
13-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
A robot served me coffee at XNA — and I kind of loved it
One experience when visiting Northwest Arkansas National Airport struck me (no, not Slim Chickens — though I did try it and Zaxby's still wins). It was trying out the robot coffee shop, Bionics by Onyx. Why it matters: I've heard most locals walk past it. But for travelers — especially newbies — that robot kiosk near Gate A1 was a charming surprise. What they're saying: "That's at the airport to impress people like you when they get off the plane," Axios Northwest Arkansas' Worth Sparkman told me. It worked; I was intrigued and decided to find out more about the robot serving coffee. The big picture: The robot is one of two kiosks in the area, and they are part of a bigger experiment by Onyx Coffee Lab, the Northwest Arkansas brand already known for high-end coffee, sleek cafés, and its shiny new three-story Springdale flagship. "We always try to innovate," Onyx co-founder Jon Allen told Axios. "This started during COVID, when we were asking: how can we deliver high-quality coffee in a no-contact way?" Zoom in: The robotic barista is the result of a partnership with a San Francisco-based company. It crafts a limited menu—espresso drinks, lattes, even matcha—on demand. The robot's performance wasn't perfect out of the gate: "During beta, it was up about 60% of the time," Allen said. "Now it's closer to 95%." One major hiccup was airport security. Refilling the machine with beans required hours of screening and clearance. "Half the downtime was just trying to get coffee past TSA," Allen said. State of play: Onyx sees Bionics as a complement to its in-person service, not a replacement. Allen says the robot has already paid off in marketing alone. "We're not trying to replace baristas," he said. "But for places like airports, universities, even museums—it makes sense." Onyx already operates a Bionics unit outside its Bentonville café, keeping the location running 24/7. The company also plans to expand to the University of Arkansas and a local museum. Yes, but: The robot still has limits; one customer didn't have Google or Apple Pay. She gave me $6, and I bought her a latte. Allen knows that limitation and says Onyx is working on an app to let customers pre-order from the tarmac or classroom. And yes, they're gathering customer data—regional preferences starting to emerge by flight origin. New Yorkers, apparently, like different beans than Dallas folks.
Axios
24-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Onyx opens chocolatey café in Springdale
Onyx Coffee Lab, NWA's coffee company institution, is returning to Springdale with a spacious version of its familiar coffee shops that will also offer desserts, cocktails, wine and chocolate made in-house. The big picture: Onyx's addition to downtown Springdale is part of a string of restaurant-and-renovation development taking place over the past few years. There's a "rising tide" mentality among the hospitality community here, Onyx co-owner Jon Allen told Axios, meaning there's a shared belief that everyone will do better as more people visit the area for these new offerings. State of play: The new location opens fully on May 5. It occupies three stories of the former First Security Bank complex on Emma Avenue and has been two years in the making. The walk-up window and outdoor seating opened to the public a couple of weeks ago and is already more popular than the owners expected, Allen said. The intrigue: The new space dwarfs its typical locations, clocking in at a whopping 6,400 square feet. And Onyx's Terroir chocolate brand will also be headquartered here. Andrea and Jon Allen started Onyx in 2012 in Springdale, but they had been without a location there since 2019, so their new mega-cafe is a homecoming of sorts. The coffee company's headquarters and roastery will remain in Rogers. Zoom in: The ground floor hosts the primary café and most of the seating, but guests can also head down to the basement bar and watch Terroir chocolate being made. The basement will host wine and chocolate pairing events, along with talks from farmers from all over the world. Onyx wine club members will also be able to stop by for their monthly bottles curated by Andrea Allen, offering club members a second location beyond Hail Fellow Well Met in Johnson. Diners can expect full entrées for breakfast and lunch, plus desserts and chocolate. Zoom out: For some, working remotely means plopping down all day at a coffee shop, and some businesses mitigate that with time limits or asking people to leave. But Onyx is offering a free space upstairs with desks for those who want workspace, featuring a 16-seat boardroom table. What they're saying: Allen said he hopes the new Onyx site will draw visitors from neighboring cities like Bentonville.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘World's best' coffee shop for 2025 named
It's official: Sydney has the world's best coffee shop. At least that's what a new list ranking top cafés globally found, with the Australian city beating out perennial rival Melbourne for the top spot. Sydney-based Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters was crowned the best coffee shop in the world, followed by Onyx Coffee Lab of Arkansas, Gota Coffee Experts of Vienna, Austria, Proud Mary Coffee of Melbourne and Tim Wendelboe of Oslo, Norway. The top 10 coffee shops also hailed from Singapore, France, Malaysia and Colombia. Cafés worldwide were judged on a variety of factors, ranging from quality of coffee and food, sustainability practices and customer service, according to the ranking's website. Both public opinions and experts' evaluation were taken into account to reach the final selection, according to the 'World's 100 Best Coffee Shops.' Jody Leslie, general manager for Toby's Estate, told CNN Travel that her whole team was 'completely stoked' when they learned about the result. 'We've been in the coffee game a long time and we know what we do is amazing and we try very hard to be consistent and so to be recognized like this is just amazing,' she said. Its flagship shop, located in Sydney's southwest Chippendale neighborhood, earned the recognition, but it has branches across Australia and Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia and the Middle East. Leslie said sales have surged since the announcement, attracting more visitors eager to try her team's coffee. To thank customers for their support, Toby's Estate will host a free coffee day on February 27. The Toby's Estate flagship shop features a brew bar where coffee is made in front of customers and a roastery on-site, roasting fresh beans daily. The coffee chain began in 1997, when lawyer Toby Smith started the business from his mother's garage in Woolloomooloo, a harborside eastern suburb of Sydney. Arkansas-based Onyx Coffee Lab ranked second. The company has three branches in Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Springdale, but it wasn't clear which made the list. Vienna's Gota Coffee, ranked third, also took to social media to express gratitude for the recognition. 'We are honored to share this award with not only the top 100 shops around the world mentioned but all the cafes throughout the industry who get up each morning to offer the best hospitality and service to their guests,' Onyx Coffee Lab posted on its Instagram. 'This journey has been fueled by passion, precision, and the incredible support of our coffee-loving community,' Gota Coffee posted on its Instagram. 'Here's to pushing the boundaries of coffee culture, one brew at a time!' Australia's cafe scene is famed for its cool vibes and the competitive spirit of baristas chasing the perfect brew. Australian cafés have popped up in major cities worldwide, offering up avocado toast and flat whites — both of which originated in the country (though many New Zealanders dispute the flat white's origin). Within Australia, a long-standing rivalry exists between Sydney and Melbourne – not least over which city brews the better cup of joe. Melbourne has traditionally been regarded as the country's coffee capital — with a coffee history that dates back to the post-World War II era, when Italian immigrants brought their espresso machines and café traditions to the city. In recent years, Sydney's coffee scene has punched above its weight, bruising the pride of Melbourne fans. The Harbor City overtook Melbourne last year in a list of the top 10 best cities worldwide for coffee, published by American magazine Food & Wine. Sydney took home the number three spot, while Melbourne landed at number 10. The magazine named Melbourne's Proud Mary a 'standout' café, which also ranked fourth on the world's 100 best coffee shop list. That wasn't the only blow to Melbourne's coffee reputation. In 2023, Australian travel site awarded the title of 'best flat white' to The Cupping Room in the national capital of Canberra, despite calling Melbourne the 'unofficial coffee capital of the world.' If there's one thing the lists can agree on, it's that Australia wins. 'I think our win is a win for the country. Australian coffee is, I think, the best in the world and so it doesn't come down to Sydney and Melbourne,' said Leslie of Toby's Estate. 'We want to be strong as a country, and that helps everyone.'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New study reveals the top 100 coffee shops in the world
The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops has just released its highly anticipated 2025 ranking, naming the top spots for a perfect cup across the globe. Topping the list is Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters in Australia, a well-known specialty coffee roaster known for its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. Founded in 1997, Toby's has built a reputation for high-quality beans and a fair-trade supply chain that supports its growers. Its flagship café in Chippendale, Sydney, is a must-visit for those in the area. Coming in second is Onyx Coffee Lab, a U.S. favorite with multiple locations across Arkansas. Known for its seasonal flavors and expertly sourced beans from Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, Onyx has gained a cult following for its innovative approach to specialty coffee. Rounding out the top three is Gota Coffee Experts in Austria. Situated in the heart of Vienna, Gota is recognized not only for its award-winning coffee, but also for its hands-on workshops, where visitors can learn the art of coffee processing, roasting, and brewing. Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters, Australia Onyx Coffee Lab, USA Gota Coffee Experts, Austria Proud Mary Coffee, Australia Tim Wendelboe, Norway Apartment Coffee, Singapore Kawa, France Coffee Anthology, Austria Story of Ono, Malaysia Tropicalia Coffee, Colombia Espressolab, South Africa Hola Coffee Lagasca, Spain Casa Canela, Venezuela Alquimia Coffee, El Salvador Kross Coffee Roasters, Greece MOK Coffee, Belgium Prevail Coffee, USA Yardstick, The Philippines Veneziano Coffee Roasters, Australia Puku Puku, Peru You can view the full list on The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops website. The post New study reveals the top 100 coffee shops in the world appeared first on The Manual.
CNN
26-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
World's best coffee shop for 2025 named
It's official: Sydney has the world's best coffee shop. At least that's what a new list ranking top cafés globally found, with the Australian city beating out perennial rival Melbourne for the top spot. Sydney-based Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters was crowned the best coffee shop in the world, followed by Onyx Coffee Lab of Arkansas, Gota Coffee Experts of Vienna, Austria, Proud Mary Coffee of Melbourne and Tim Wendelboe of Oslo, Norway. The top 10 coffee shops also hailed from Singapore, France, Malaysia and Colombia. Cafés worldwide were judged on a variety of factors, ranging from quality of coffee and food, sustainability practices and customer service, according to the ranking's website. Both public opinions and experts' evaluation were taken into account to reach the final selection, according to the 'World's 100 Best Coffee Shops.' Jody Leslie, general manager for Toby's Estate, told CNN Travel that her whole team was 'completely stoked' when they learned about the result. 'We've been in the coffee game a long time and we know what we do is amazing and we try very hard to be consistent and so to be recognized like this is just amazing,' she said. Its flagship shop, located in Sydney's southwest Chippendale neighborhood, earned the recognition, but it has branches across Australia and Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia and the Middle East. Leslie said sales have surged since the announcement, attracting more visitors eager to try her team's coffee. To thank customers for their support, Toby's Estate will host a free coffee day on February 27. The Toby's Estate flagship shop features a brew bar where coffee is made in front of customers and a roastery on-site, roasting fresh beans daily. The coffee chain began in 1997, when lawyer Toby Smith started the business from his mother's garage in Woolloomooloo, a harborside eastern suburb of Sydney. Arkansas-based Onyx Coffee Lab ranked second. The company has three branches in Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Springdale, but it wasn't clear which made the list. Vienna's Gota Coffee, ranked third, also took to social media to express gratitude for the recognition. 'We are honored to share this award with not only the top 100 shops around the world mentioned but all the cafes throughout the industry who get up each morning to offer the best hospitality and service to their guests,' Onyx Coffee Lab posted on its Instagram. 'This journey has been fueled by passion, precision, and the incredible support of our coffee-loving community,' Gota Coffee posted on its Instagram. 'Here's to pushing the boundaries of coffee culture, one brew at a time!' Australia's second largest city ranks among the world's best for coffee, but there's something else Melburnians queue up for each morning. Related video A must-have to start the morning in Melbourne. And it's not just coffee Australia's cafe scene is famed for its cool vibes and the competitive spirit of baristas chasing the perfect brew. Australian cafés have popped up in major cities worldwide, offering up avocado toast and flat whites — both of which originated in the country (though many New Zealanders dispute the flat white's origin). Within Australia, a long-standing rivalry exists between Sydney and Melbourne – not least over which city brews the better cup of joe. Melbourne has traditionally been regarded as the country's coffee capital — with a coffee history that dates back to the post-World War II era, when Italian immigrants brought their espresso machines and café traditions to the city. In recent years, Sydney's coffee scene has punched above its weight, bruising the pride of Melbourne fans. The Harbor City overtook Melbourne last year in a list of the top 10 best cities worldwide for coffee, published by American magazine Food & Wine. Sydney took home the number three spot, while Melbourne landed at number 10. The magazine named Melbourne's Proud Mary a 'standout' café, which also ranked fourth on the world's 100 best coffee shop list. That wasn't the only blow to Melbourne's coffee reputation. In 2023, Australian travel site awarded the title of 'best flat white' to The Cupping Room in the national capital of Canberra, despite calling Melbourne the 'unofficial coffee capital of the world.' If there's one thing the lists can agree on, it's that Australia wins. 'I think our win is a win for the country. Australian coffee is, I think, the best in the world and so it doesn't come down to Sydney and Melbourne,' said Leslie of Toby's Estate. 'We want to be strong as a country, and that helps everyone.'
