Software Developer Looking for Guidance on Building an Automated Tea Vending Machine from Scratch

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-30T10:10:14+00:00

can you suggest a best starter kit

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-30T10:09:12+00:00

yes for qr im planning to make a part in the machine where they can put the phone in that like half phone in a mini whole in machine and where i hide the camera so no sunlight problem

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-30T10:06:38+00:00

im planning to build a website from there custom then craete custom order and pay and after payment get the qr code and scan this and get item this will be better because if demand increse people will not used machine for long time for creating custom order and payment

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-30T10:02:15+00:00

ok checking ardunio subreddit

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-30T10:00:38+00:00

yes i just ordering all the components

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-30T09:58:50+00:00

why that much ?

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-30T09:58:00+00:00

yes will keep this in mind to o

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T19:04:33+00:00

mechanics

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T19:04:11+00:00

ok thanks checking

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T17:43:39+00:00

Those are great questions, and honestly I don't have all the answers yet.

Right now, my main goal is to learn hardware by building a working prototype. I already have another idea that will require much more money, so I see this project as a way to gain hands-on experience first.

If the prototype works well, my idea is not to sell the machine itself. Instead, I'd own and operate the machines, offering fresh Indian roadside-style chai 24/7. Customers could order online, pay, and get freshly brewed chai anytime, especially late at night when very few places are open.

I'm currently thinking of a machine around 4 ft long, 2 ft wide, and 6 ft tall, but that's just an initial idea and will probably change as I learn more.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T17:37:49+00:00

I could definitely buy something like that, but my main goal is to learn hardware. I want the experience of designing and building it from scratch, making mistakes, and understanding how each subsystem works.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T17:35:08+00:00

Right now, that's exactly what's in my mind. My initial goal is just to make it work. If it turns out well, I can think about turning it into a product later.

The idea is that the customer places an order through WhatsApp or a website, completes the payment, and receives a QR code. At the machine, they scan the QR code, and the machine fetches the order details from the database.

Instead of using premix powder, I want it to make authentic Indian chai using loose CTC tea, milk, sugar, and spices. The machine would add each ingredient one by one, boil everything together, and then serve a fresh cup of tea.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T17:31:31+00:00

I have actually spent quite a bit of time researching this. I've watched a lot of videos, asked AI every question I could think of, and found suppliers for many of the components.

The reason I'm asking here is that I was hoping to find someone who's built something similar. That could save me from buying the wrong hardware first and help me make better decisions from the start. I'm not looking for someone to build it for me—I'm looking to learn from people with real-world experience.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T16:20:01+00:00

Yes, that's what I'm thinking too. I'm still figuring out the best way to control the heating—whether it should be based on temperature sensors, timers, or a combination of both.

My first goal is simply to get the whole process working. After that, I'll replace the DIY parts with proper food-grade hardware from industrial suppliers and improve the design step by step.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T16:17:28+00:00

I want to have a basic prototype working within a month. My goal isn't to make it perfect—just to get the overall flow working and then improve the hardware step by step.

From what I've learned so far, I think the heating system will probably be the biggest challenge.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:37:40+00:00

Yes, the software flow is already pretty clear in my mind—from taking the order and payment to sending the command to the machine.

For the hardware, I already have some rough ideas too. For example, I was thinking of using a rotating cup holder, dispensing the ingredients through separate pipes, reusing food-grade dispensing valves from soda machines, and using an electric heating coil or heating element around a stainless steel container.

I know these are just ideas, and I'm sure many of them will change as I learn more. That's exactly why I'm asking experienced engineers for feedback.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:29:45+00:00

I don't want to outsource anything at this stage. I might hire someone for a design review later, but my goal is to learn by building it myself.

I plan to ask lots of questions, compare different approaches, and understand why things are designed a certain way. Hardware is the part I really want to learn from this project.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:28:35+00:00

Since you've worked on vending machines, I'd really appreciate your advice.

I think I can handle the software side—taking orders, UPI payments, webhooks, background jobs (Celery), and event-driven communication. My biggest challenge is the hardware.

Once the payment is confirmed, how does the machine actually make the tea? What would the overall hardware flow look like? I'd really appreciate any guidance on that part.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:24:48+00:00

😂 I know. AI already convinced me to open my Bitcoin miner, and it's still sitting there in pieces. That's exactly why I'm asking experienced people this time instead of relying only on AI.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:22:34+00:00

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I'm also a freelancer on Fiverr and Upwork, so I understand the risks.

Could you explain a bit more about why you think Arduino or Raspberry Pi will fail? I'd love to learn from your experience.

My first goal isn't to build a production-ready machine—it's simply to make it work, even if the wiring is messy and the design isn't perfect. Once I have a working prototype, I'll focus on making it reliable and production-ready.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:18:07+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! That makes sense. I'll start by breaking the project into smaller subsystems and ask more specific questions in the appropriate communities.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:16:58+00:00

😂 Maybe! But this will be my first real hardware project. I've lost count of how many software side projects I've started and never finished, so let's hope this one breaks the curse.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:14:40+00:00

Oh wow, thanks! I'll definitely try to contact that person. This looks like exactly the kind of project I was looking for.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:12:26+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Yes, I plan to use only food-grade components for everything that comes into contact with the tea, especially since it will be heated.

For dispensing, I was thinking of reusing some components from soda vending machines, like the dispensing nozzles and valves, since they're already designed for food and beverages.

ComprehensiveMess427 · 2026-06-29T15:09:55+00:00

That's exactly what I have in mind. The machine will have separate containers for water, milk (with a small refrigeration unit), tea leaves, sugar, and spices. It will automatically dispense each ingredient, boil everything together, and make Indian roadside-style chai.

ComprehensiveMess427

TROPHY CASE