An Alexa vending machine served me Coca-Cola Energy, and it was awesome
'Alexa, order Coke Energy'
LAS VEGAS –– Two things that keep me fueled at CES 2020 are my enthusiasm for Alexa-enabled devices and copious amounts of caffeine. Coca-Cola married my two obsessions with its all new Coca-Cola Energy drinks, which were served to me by the largest Alexa speaker I’ve ever seen.
All I had to say was, “Alexa, order Coke Energy.” Sure enough, a can appeared.
“Alexa, order Coke Energy” #CES2020 pic.twitter.com/KMtM2vvJ2fJanuary 7, 2020
The massive Coca-Cola Alexa Wall has built-in microphones and speakers. Between cracking jokes and looping the ASMR-triggering sizzle sounds of soda cans opening, the Alexa Wall vends Coca-Cola Energy cans. Available in Classic, Zero, and Cherry flavors, the new caffeine-suffused soda is set to hit stores January 20.
I got to taste the new beverage early here at 8 a.m. while I spoke to Jaideep Kibe, vice president of Coca-Cola Trademark. Kibe told me a bit about the new line of Coke products.
“Everything we do begins with the consumer,” Kibe said. “We learned consumers were looking for an energy drink with the familiar Coca-Cola taste. So we took their favorite flavors and added a boost.”
It tastes familiar indeed. As I sipped on a cherry-flavored Coca-Cola Energy, I realized I’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a traditional Cherry Coke and the caffeine-packed one. I’ve never enjoyed the taste of big-name carbonated energy drinks, but Coca-Cola Energy is one I would actually grab in the store.
Coca-Cola Energy verdict! pic.twitter.com/V7JxOR5MwUJanuary 7, 2020
Sadly, the chatty Alexa Wall won’t be available for purchase . Expect voice-enabled vending machines to hit the mainstream eventually, though.
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Kate Kozuch is the managing editor of social and video at Tom’s Guide. She writes about smartwatches, TVs, audio devices, and some cooking appliances, too. Kate appears on Fox News to talk tech trends and runs the Tom's Guide TikTok account, which you should be following if you don't already. When she’s not filming tech videos, you can find her taking up a new sport, mastering the NYT Crossword or channeling her inner celebrity chef.