Next-Gen Vending Machines

Forget everything you thought you knew about vending machines.
I’m not talking about sad soda cans or a stale Twix bar rattling its way down a chute.
I’m talking about makeup, salads, cupcakes, and pure delight.

Welcome to the era of next-gen vending — and yes, I’m here for every bit of it.

When I was at LAX recently, I found myself practically giddy at the variety of vending machines scattered throughout the terminal.
A salad vending machine? A makeup vending machine? A cupcake vending machine? Yes, please!

Naturally, I went all in — because sometimes it’s the little stuff that makes the biggest impact.

The Salad Vending Machine

Let’s start with the one that made my family question my sanity:
The Farmer’s Fridge.

Salad. In a vending machine. At an airport.
They didn’t see the magic. I absolutely did.

To me, this is innovation at its most delightful — a healthy option on the go, accessible, quick, and honestly… adorable.
So I tested it out. And you know what? It was delicious. Fresh, crisp, flavorful. The only downside? No forks left.
But even that felt like part of the adventure.

I’d 100% grab a salad from here again. I hope more airports catch on to this trend.

The Kylie Cosmetics Machine

Next up? A Kylie Cosmetics vending machine.
And while I’m not a celebrity fangirl by any means, I have to say: solid move, Kylie.
Stylish packaging, great placement — and that lip gloss? A+.

My daughter joined in on this one, and we both left with a new travel staple.
I used it the entire trip, and my lips stayed moisturized even in the dry plane air.
It was one of those small, unexpected wins that made the whole travel experience feel just a little more fun.

Also, side note: when your niece tells you it’s cool after the fact, you know you’re crushing it.

Little Machines, Big Joy

I don’t know what it is about vending machines, but they hit my quantum joy radar.
Maybe it’s the simplicity.
Maybe it’s the novelty.
Maybe it’s the fact that someone thought, "You know what this airport needs? A cupcake machine."

Whatever it is, I’m here for it.

You already know I fell in love with the fresh orange juice vending machine in Singapore.
Now I’m officially on a mission to find all the next-gen vending machines that turn ordinary spaces into pockets of unexpected joy.

So if you’ve seen any fun ones — drop them in the comments! I’ll go check them out and report back.

So Why All the Love for Next-Gen Vending Machines?
Because they’re simple. Clean. Accessible.
They offer useful (and let’s be honest, fabulous) options on the go.
And sometimes, people can be too stuffy or afraid to try something like this — and honestly, it’s a missed moment.
They deliver unexpected sparks of joy in the middle of our rushed lives.
They remind us that innovation doesn’t have to be serious — it can be delightful.
Mini portals to quantum joy, I’d say.

And maybe, just maybe…
Sometimes the future shows up in the form of a vending machine.
And sometimes, that vending machine sells salad and lip gloss.
But one day?
Maybe it leads to something even bigger — more expansive.
Perhaps…replicators?

And maybe, just maybe… what started as a vending machine becomes a gateway to a world where anything is possible.