A Brief History of Vending Machines

Ever wonder how vending machines were created? Think back to the last time you walked past one of those underrated but amazing feats of invention. Did humans just randomly come up with the concept of a machine dispensary that gives out snacks and beverages? Or was there more to it? Was there more of a history to our beloved vending machines?

When was the first vending machine created? How did they evolve? Would it be surprising if the first known reference to a vending machine was almost 2,000 years ago, stretching back to the height of Ancient Rome? Believe it or not, the concept of automated dispensers dates back nearly two millennia. Our journey begins in Ancient Rome, where the first known vending machine wasn’t handing out snacks—but something far more sacred.

Ancient Rome: The First Vending Machine

The earliest known reference to a vending machine dates all the way back to the first-century. No, this wouldn’t be your typical vending machine that you’d plug into the wall and receive snacks. But would it be surprising that this “machine” did accept coins? And did dispense liquids?

That’s right, in the first-century Roman Egypt, Hero of Alexandria — a Greek mathematician and engineer who was active in Alexandria in Egypt during the Roman Empire — wrote about many of his inventions in his book Mechanics; one of those inventions he described being this vending machine (although, not called “vending machine” at the time). But what exactly did this vending machine do?

Hero’s invention dispensed a measured amount of holy water or wine when a coin was inserted. The mechanism was simple yet effective: when a coin dropped into the machine, it landed on a pan attached to a lever. The weight of the coin tilted the pan, opening a valve that allowed liquid to flow out. Once the coin slid off, the pan returned to its original position, shutting the valve and stopping the flow.

This device, in essence, created one of the earliest examples of automated payment and limited service transactions—a concept that would evolve dramatically over the centuries.

Sacrificial Vessel which flows only when Money is introduced (Source www.smrt1.ca)

This photo is for educational/historical context

Coin-Operated Machines in 17th Century England

Fast forward about 1,500 years, and we find ourselves in the bustling, smoke-filled taverns of England in 1615. And what do we find here? The next vending machine evolution! These taverns housed coin-operated machines that dispensed tobacco—portable, crafted from brass, and considered one of the most attractive luxuries of the time.

The antique brass cigarette box before restoration (Source www.newmansltd.com)

This photo is for educational/historical context

Vending Literature: Richard Carlile’s Machine

A couple of centuries later, we find ourselves in the pocket of Richard Carlile, an English publisher and writer, credited with the first book-dispensing vending machine in 1822. Carlile sought to sell rebellious works like Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason and The Rights of Man without risking arrest. His solution? A self-service machine that allowed customers to purchase these controversial books without ever interacting with him.

How did it work? Customers would turn a dial to select their book, deposit their money, and—just like that—the book would drop right in front of them. Blasphemous? Perhaps. But it was nothing short of genius. And it marked the next step in the evolution of vending machines.

The first demand of books outside of bookshops (Source www.penguin.co.uk)

This photo is for educational/historical context

The Rise of Automats in Germany

There seems to be a gap between the vending machines of old to today’s machines. Where in this history of vending machines do we start actually selling food? The machines we know mostly sell snacks and drinks, so when did they pop into the picture?

In 1895 in Berlin, Germany, the first documented automat was opened. What is an automat, you may ask? This new invention is a type of fast-food restaurant where food and drink are served through a vending machine. This allowed owners to serve food without the need of staff. This concept was later adopted by the United States, who opened their first automat in June of 1902. From there, the influence of these fast-food vending machines spread, and gradually became a part of many industrial cities.

Berenice Abbott - Automat Restaurant New York 1936 (Source www.metmuseum.org)

This photo is for educational/historical context

Perhaps this was an indirect influence on the direction of vending machines. At the time, many vending machines sold other commodities: postcards, envelopes, stamps. But later down the line, we started to see chewing gum, chocolate, and slowly but surely, came to the well known snack and drink vending machines we know today.

Vending Machines of the Modern Day

Today, modern vending machines are everywhere. While most still serve snacks and drinks, we also see modern takes on the classics—like book-dispensing machines or collectible card kiosks. But vending machines have also broken new ground. Perhaps you've come across one that serves ice cream, cake, hot pizza, or even ramen!

Technology has come a long way. We’ve moved from simple coin-operated levers to machines that accept bills, credit cards, and even Bluetooth payments. Some vending machines can now scan QR codes, use facial recognition, or take cryptocurrency.

What’s Next for Vending Machines?

But what’s next? In some places, vending machines already prepare fresh meals, brew coffee on demand, or even 3D-print food. With advancements in AI and automation, the future could bring AI vending machines that personalize orders based on past purchases, restock themselves using drones, or even serve as fully automated micro-restaurants.

The vending machine has always adapted to meet human needs—from dispensing water in Ancient Rome to selling books in 19th-century England, and now serving gourmet meals with a tap of a card. As technology evolves, who knows? The next time you use a vending machine, it might remember your favorite snack—or cook you dinner.

As history has shown, vending machines will continue adapting to meet our ever-changing needs. So, the next time you grab a snack from one, take a moment to appreciate just how far they’ve come—and how much further they might go.