Coffee Service

Automated coffee bar brews success for British Columbia businesses

Photo: Adobe Stock

February 21, 2025

An automated coffee bar, launched at Shuswap Lake General Hospital in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, is proving popular with staff and visitors, while also showcasing the quality of a local coffee shop, according to a Salmon Arm Observer report. The Touch Coffee Smart Bar, the brainchild of local entrepreneur Damian Arnouse, features beans from Salmon Arm's Anvil Coffee Collective.

"This is the best coffee I've ever had out of a completely automated setup," Laura Horsthuis of Interior Health told the news outlet. "It's very, very good."

The machine offers a convenient coffee solution for the hospital, which lacks a full cafeteria. Arnouse and his business partner Ryan Synch ensure the machine is well-maintained and stocked with fresh beans. A portion of the sales supports the Shuswap Lake Health Care Auxiliary Society.

Arnouse and Synch are seeking a location for their second Touch Coffee Smart Bar.