Via iStockphoto / @yadidamin TikTok
A Los Angeles man purchased a coffee from a self-serve kiosk, only to be prompted for a tip. Here's why that's mind-boggling to his audience.
Many across the U.S. have taken a stand against tipping culture, arguing it’s out of control. But one man may have found the strongest proof yet that it actually is.
Amin Anjedani, the founder of Bomani, an espresso martini brand, posted a video that received more than 19,000 views. In it, Anjedani tells his audience he decided to stop at a self-serve coffee machine in the Denver International Airport. But the machine, which had no employees, asked if he wanted to tip.
“ Who am I tipping? The AI? The thing that stole the guy’s job who used to work there?” the Los Angeles-based content creator asks.
Anjedani explains that there are no workers who helped him get his coffee.
“ You grab [the coffee], you put it in this little photo thing. It takes an image of the product and then charges you,” he says. “So there’s no staff. It’s just a self-serve grab-and-go.”
What’s The Machine?
The airport has recently implemented several self-serve machines.
Fly Denver, for instance, announced that a “Barista Bot Robotic Vending” machine would be included inside the Denver International Airport. It’s clear that the Barista Bot Robotic Vending machine is not the same one that Anjedani used, however. The Barista Bot machine notably brews fresh coffee for customers using Coda Coffee, a local Denver brew. Additionally, the “Barista Bot doesn’t accept tips!”
Many airports have also implemented technology in their “grab-and-go” marketplaces, which utilizes AI to identify products, such as cans of coffee, within seconds. This technology “uses computer vision and machine learning to instantly identify items placed on its checkout tray.” It’s usually integrated with existing POS systems and payment processing, and it allows customers to purchase something in as little as five seconds.
BroBible reached out to Anjedani via TikTok direct message and Fly Denver via email for comment.
Should You Tip A Robot?
In the comments section, viewers generally agreed with Anjedani—the machine asking for a tip had taken things a step too far.
“This might be the first one I have heard where it’s not debatable, way too far,” a viewer said.
Another commenter said, “I too was victimized by this thoughtless machine.”
Then a third added, “My partner and I have stopped doing business with any company that [asks] for a tip other [than] waiters and waitresses.”
Viewers even guessed that things would get worse in the future.
“Next they’ll tell you that you need a subscription to purchase a drink lol,” a commenter said.
@yadidamin that was an absolutely wild experience #denvercolorado #denverairport #tippingculture
Has Tipping Culture Gone Too Far?
The debate as to whether tipping culture has truly “gone too far” has raged on for years. But many customers have seemingly come up with an answer: yes. A May 2026 WalletHub survey found that 81% of people think tipping has gotten out of control. Alongside that, WalletHub estimates that around 40% of Americans think the United States should ban tips.
There’s still an honest debate as to whether customers should tip at coffee shops, at least according to Reader’s Digest. That debate includes discussion of whether baristas, bagel shop workers, and counter employees are doing skilled jobs that would make tipping genuinely beneficial.
The case for tipping a machine, then, genuinely weakens. Viewers said there was no skill set a 24/7 kiosk had that’s worth tipping.