Vending machines have gone far from its initial purpose, from dispensing chips and packaged food to canned soda and bottles of beverages.
In fact, clothing apparel can now be bought through a vending machines, others slippers, while some offer shoes. Heck, there's even a cupcake vending machine.
So why hasn't anyone invented a vending machine that sells french fries -- probably because they're best served and eaten hot, but that's all about to change now.
A group of entrepreneurs and students from Wageningen University in Netherlands have just invented a vending machine that dispenses hot french fries, as reported by Entrepreneur.
HEBBEN. Op de @WageningenUR staat de eerste volautomatische #frietpatat-machine. Heb je in 120 sec. je friet/patat. https://t.co/FhO3cBL9Xw
— NOS op 3 (@nosop3) September 2, 2015
According to Eater, "It deep-fries frozen strips of potato and then serves them up complete with mayonnaise, curry, or ketchup, all in about two minutes."
Unfortunately for those who would like to abuse this heaven-sent machine, it's only a prototype - and the only machine is located in the Wageningen University campus.
But developers are actually banking on the idea, and they intend to bring the technology across the world.
There's slowly been a rise in automated dining internationally - the food industry has been looking for ways to incorporate technology into dining.
Which makes sense, given that food technology can help in reducing costs while increasing the speed of service and food preparation.
Just last week, a San Francisco restaurant called Eatsa opened, which is fully operated through machines - from order to pickup.
The future of dining at @eatsa pic.twitter.com/FJ6GjxXNr8 — Lucas Matney (@Lucas_Matney) August 29, 2015
Not only that, but McDonald's and Panera have also been introducing touchscreen order and payment kiosks into their services as well.
Natural Machines, a Barcelona-based company, has also invented Foodini, a 3D food printer, which won't surprisingly change the future of cooking.
In fact, a number of restaurants and Michelin chefs are highly interested in grabbing a Foodini for their own kitchen. Founder and chief marketing officer of Natural Machines, Lynette Kucsma, says:
"We already have a number of restaurants, including national chains, and Michelin starred chefs who have expressed interests. We expect the demand to be very big, and very broad."
You could probably start seeing Foodini in restaurants and kitchens later this year, once it's finally released.
