While vending machines that dispense pre-made pizzas or burgers are nothing new, a Hamburg-based start-up named Circus is radically advancing the concept. Their flagship product, the Circus CA-1, is an AI-powered cooking robot that manages the entire culinary process autonomously – from prepping ingredients to serving the dish and even cleaning its own utensils.
On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, this vision of automated gastronomy became a reality as the CA-1 made its world debut at a Rewe supermarket in Düsseldorf's Heerdt district. According to Circus, it is currently the only company in the world producing such sophisticated systems on a commercial scale.
A Glimpse Inside the Kitchen of the Future
The CA-1 is a box-shaped unit, boasting a sleek, hygienic stainless-steel design that occupies about seven square meters. To the customer, it appears as a large kiosk with a digital display. But behind the scenes, a complex ballet is underway.
Upon selecting one of the eight currently available dishes—which range from comforting penne arrabiata and hearty lentil curry to the sweet, shredded pancake delight of the Austrian dessert Kaiserschmarrn—the system springs to life. Two sophisticated robotic arms work in unison, accessing up to 36 different ingredient containers to prepare the meal from scratch.
The robot's "eyes" are a system of six cameras that monitor the entire cooking process, ensuring consistency and precision in every step. It chops, heats, simmers, and plates the food entirely without human assistance. Once the meal is served, the system automatically cleans the cooking area and utensils, ready for the next order.
For a fascinating look at this robotic chef in action, a recent report from RTL WEST offers a compelling glimpse of the CA-1 serving customers in Düsseldorf.
Customer Reactions and the Road Ahead
Early feedback from curious shoppers has been largely positive. Many have praised the surprising taste and freshness of the meals, a significant step up from typical fast-food or vending machine options. Some early adopters, however, noted that the food could be served a bit hotter—a small teething problem for a groundbreaking technology.
This launch is just the beginning of a six-month pilot program, which will see the robots deployed in three Rewe stores across Düsseldorf and Bonn. The units have been leased for the trial period, though the exact rental costs remain under wraps. For those thinking bigger, the purchase price for a Circus CA-1 is set at €250,000.
Lars Klein, Managing Director of Rewe West, was quick to position the robot as a supplementary service, not a replacement for human staff. "The goal is to help address the pressing shortage of skilled workers in the gastronomy sector while providing our customers with an extra, high-quality fresh food option," Klein explained.
Limitations, Job Markets, and a Automated Culinary Future
So, what does this mean for the future? Circus has produced ten units so far and is already scaling up, with ambitions to eventually produce up to 6,000 cooking robots annually. It may not be long before a robotic kitchen becomes a standard feature in many supermarkets—or even forms the backbone of entire self-service restaurants.
This technological leap inevitably raises questions about the job market in the catering industry. While robots like the CA-1 can efficiently handle repetitive routine tasks, they also have the potential to create new professions in fields like machine maintenance, advanced AI programming, and specialized recipe development for automated systems. You can explore the technical specifications and the company's vision for this new era of cooking on the official Circus CA-1 product page.
Of course, even the most advanced robot has its limits. The Circus CA-1 cannot yet handle techniques that require breading, deep-frying, or the dramatic flair of flambéing. For now, those culinary arts remain securely in the hands of human chefs. But for a fresh, hot, and affordable meal on the go, the chef of the future might just be a collection of circuits, cameras, and two very skilled robotic arms.
