JK86 Self-service Coffee Vending Machine in the Bus Stop

Project Background
In January 2025, the transportation hub management department of a city installed a JK86 self-service coffee vending machine beside the waiting shelter of Zhongshan Road Bus Station, which serves an average daily passenger flow of 800 people, in order to enhance the convenience services at the bus stop.

Equipment Configuration
The machine features a built-in ice maker capable of producing 80 kg of ice per day and can prepare both iced and hot beverages. It offers over 20 varieties of drinks, including coffee, milk, and milk tea, with prices ranging from 8 to 12 RMB. The payment system supports WeChat Pay and Alipay QR code payments. The average time from beverage selection to completion is 40 seconds.

Operational Management
The device is maintained by the station management department of the bus company operating the stop. Restocking and cleaning are conducted daily before operation begins at 5:30 AM. The machine is equipped with a real-time monitoring system that automatically sends alerts to duty personnel when supplies of coffee powder, milk powder, and other ingredients fall below 20%. Power is supplied via the bus stop’s existing lighting circuit, with an average monthly electricity consumption of about 60 kWh.

Usage Data
Three months of operational data show that the machine’s daily sales remain stable at 40–50 cups. Peak morning and evening hours (7:00–9:00 AM and 5:00–7:00 PM) account for 70% of daily sales. During the morning peak, black coffee is the most popular (55% of sales in that period), while demand for hot chocolate increases significantly during the evening peak (40% of sales in that period). On winter days when the temperature drops below 5°C, daily sales can exceed 60 cups.

User Feedback
Based on 832 responses collected through a QR code feedback system set up at the stop, the machine received an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5. Commuters frequently mention that "it's convenient to grab a drink while waiting for the bus" and "the temperature of the hot drinks is just right."

Management Evaluation
In its quarterly report, the bus station management department noted that the device effectively utilizes idle space at the bus shelter, particularly providing supplementary services before the first bus departs in the early morning (5:40–6:20 AM) and after the last bus (after 10:00 PM). The machine recouped its initial costs in the fourth month of operation. The department is currently exploring the deployment of similar devices at the starting stations of three other bus routes with high passenger volumes.

Observations on Social Benefits
Station monitoring data shows that after the machine was installed, disposable beverage packaging in the waiting area decreased by approximately 25%. During winter mornings, the average waiting time of passengers increased by 1.5 minutes due to purchasing hot drinks, but this did not disrupt boarding order. The bus company plans to install a small rain shelter next to the machine in the next phase and is considering partnering with a local non-profit organization to allocate a portion of the revenue toward maintaining convenience facilities at bus shelters.