See Chipotle's new robots that can crank out nearly 200 burrito bowls an hour

Nancy LunaJan 12, 2024, 17:14 IST

Cashews are dispensed automatically into the bowl.Hyphen

Restaurant chains are relying on automation to streamline operations and save on labor.
Chipotle is working with Hyphen, a startup that uses robotics to make up to 180 bowls per hour.

Restaurants challenged by labor costs and retention are automating every part of the business. Chick-fil-A is testing robot bussers. McDonald's, Domino's, and White Castle use AI-powered voice bots to take drive-thru-and phone orders.

Now, a robot could soon be making your next Chipotle burrito bowl.

The chain is testing an automated kitchen line by Hyphen to prepare digital orders, a $3 billion business for Chipotle.

Hyphen is one of a dozen food tech startups in the industry looking to streamline food operations for restaurants through the use of robotics and automation. But unlike other tech firms, Hyphen has buy-in from Chipotle, one of the industry's most innovative brands. Chipotle invested in Hyphen in 2022 and started piloting its robotics this year in a lab near the chain's Newport Beach, California, headquarters.

In an April earnings call, CEO Brian Niccol called the technology an exciting part of the chain's future as it strives to reach 7,000 restaurants.

Hyphen "will enable us to be even more accurate," Niccol said. "I think probably go a little bit faster, and I think give people more consistent experiences."

In July, Niccol told investors that Chipotle expects to install Hyphen's automated kitchen line in restaurants "in the next 12 to 18 months."

Based in San Jose, California, Hyphen recently gave Insider an exclusive first look at how it uses robotics to make up to 180 bowls per hour. That's about six times more than what a human can assemble in the same time.

Here's how it works.

In July 2022, Chipotle's Cultivate Next venture fund invested in Hyphen, a Silicon Valley tech startup building kitchen automation tools.

Chipotle is testing Hyphen, a startup that uses robotics to make bowls.Hyphen

During my exclusive video demo, Hyphen showed me how a grain bowl is made using its robotics system.

Hyphen gave Insider an exclusive look at how its tech makes a grain bowl via video.Hyphen

A metal arm at the bottom of the production system moves the bowl to a pan that holds grains and squash.

Metal arms move bowls from one pan to another.Hyphen

Hyphen's The Makeline is designed to automate any assembly-line food operation that makes bowls or salads like CAVA, Chipotle, or Sweetgreen.

Each pan, or holding bin, can hold ingredients at various temperatures.Hyphen

Metal arms beneath the food pans move bowls from one food dispenser to another.

Chipotle invested in Hyphen last year, and has been piloting its robotics in a lab near its headquarters in Newport Beach, California.Hyphen

In the testing phase, Hyphen makes bins and augers, spiral-shaped tools, from 3D printers.

Hyphen uses 3D printers to make production tools during the research and development phase.Hyphen

The next stop on the line is toppings. Roasted and salted cashews top the bowl. Portioning is automated using algorithms based on the order size.

Cashews are dispensed automatically on the bowl.Hyphen

The bowl continues down the Makeline until all the ingredients are prepared. The Makeline can crank out between 120 to 180 bowls per hour depending on the number of ingredients on the menu.

Hyphen's bowl continues down the automated makeline.Hyphen

The bowl continues down the Makeline until all the ingredients are prepared. The Makeline can crank out between 120 to 180 bowls per hour depending on the number of ingredients on the menu.

A tablet at the end of The Makeline shows the progress of the bowl as it goes down the line. The tablet will indicate when an order is complete.

Hyphen's automated makeline has a tablet indicating when the bowl is complete.Hyphen

Chipotle is tapping Hyphen to help streamline its digital orders, which surpassed $3 billion in sales last year.

Digital orders include takeout and delivery orders placed through the Chipotle app or through third-party aggregators like DoorDash.Nancy Luna/Insider

Automating the preparation of digital orders is among a handful of tech initiatives Chipotle is piloting. The chain is also testing Chippy, a robotic tortilla-chip maker.

Cutting limes.Chipotle

Automating the preparation of digital orders is among a handful of tech initiatives Chipotle is piloting. The chain is also testing Chippy, a robotic tortilla-chip maker.

Hyphen's The Makeline is expected to enter Chipotle restaurants next year.

Chipotle is testing Hyphen to automate digital orders. Employees will still prepare in-restaurant orders.Joe Raedle

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See Chipotle's new robots that can crank out nearly 200 burrito bowls an hour

In July 2022, Chipotle's Cultivate Next venture fund invested in Hyphen, a Silicon Valley tech startup building kitchen automation tools.

During my exclusive video demo, Hyphen showed me how a grain bowl is made using its robotics system.

A metal arm at the bottom of the production system moves the bowl to a pan that holds grains and squash.

Hyphen's The Makeline is designed to automate any assembly-line food operation that makes bowls or salads like CAVA, Chipotle, or Sweetgreen.

Metal arms beneath the food pans move bowls from one food dispenser to another.

In the testing phase, Hyphen makes bins and augers, spiral-shaped tools, from 3D printers.

The next stop on the line is toppings. Roasted and salted cashews top the bowl. Portioning is automated using algorithms based on the order size.

The bowl continues down the Makeline until all the ingredients are prepared. The Makeline can crank out between 120 to 180 bowls per hour depending on the number of ingredients on the menu.

A tablet at the end of The Makeline shows the progress of the bowl as it goes down the line. The tablet will indicate when an order is complete.

Chipotle is tapping Hyphen to help streamline its digital orders, which surpassed $3 billion in sales last year.

Automating the preparation of digital orders is among a handful of tech initiatives Chipotle is piloting. The chain is also testing Chippy, a robotic tortilla-chip maker.

Hyphen's The Makeline is expected to enter Chipotle restaurants next year.