- Record Series B round marks largest single financing in China’s commercial automatic coffee machine sector
- Startup plans to expand R&D, manufacturing capacity and global sales
Chinese commercial coffee machine maker CAYE (咖爷科技) has raised nearly 400 million yuan ($59 million) in a Series B funding round, setting what the company said is a record for a single financing in China’s commercial fully automatic coffee machine industry.
The round, announced on June 29, was led by existing shareholder Meituan DragonBall Capital, with participation from Brill Capital, GL Ventures, Suzhou Capital Group and Jiabin Capital.
Proceeds will be used to accelerate core technology development, expand manufacturing capacity, grow overseas operations and strengthen the company’s global after-sales service network.
‘Bionic Barista’
Founded in December 2022 and headquartered in Suzhou Industrial Park, CAYE develops and manufactures commercial fully automatic coffee machines.
Its products are built around a proprietary Bionic Barista system, which redesigns key brewing processes including grinding, dosing, tamping and espresso extraction.
Unlike many global manufacturers that outsource key components, CAYE says it is the only domestic company in its segment to develop all core components in-house.
It controls the entire production chain—from raw materials and precision components to sensor control systems and finished machines—and has filed more than 300 patents, over 40% of which are invention patents.
±0.2 grams per cup
Its proprietary technologies include an automated dosing system that limits coffee weight deviation to within ±0.2 grams per cup, a vibration-based distribution system designed to improve extraction consistency, and a closed-loop calibration system that automatically adjusts brewing parameters based on coffee beans and environmental conditions without manual recalibration.
The company also said more than 90% of each machine is made from metal, including food-grade brewing modules, reducing reliance on plastic components that can degrade over time.
Planned 100,000 deliveries in 2028
CAYE’s flagship X-series machines are now sold in more than 80 countries and regions. The company said cumulative domestic sales this year have already surpassed the combined China sales achieved by comparable imported brands over the past decade.
The company currently operates a manufacturing facility in Suzhou with planned annual capacity exceeding 40,000 machines and is building a new 38,000-square-meter smart factory. It aims to increase annual deliveries to 100,000 units by 2028.
