The first vending machine dates back to ancient Greece, where Hero of Alexandria invented a coin-operated device that dispensed holy water.

In the 1880s, vending machines reappeared in England, selling postcards and books. Soon, Americans were buying chewing gum from machines, and the trend took off.

Japan embraced vending culture after WWII—and took it to the next level. Today, with over 4 million machines, you can buy everything from bananas to umbrellas, and even get product suggestions from AI-equipped screens.

Now, vending machines serve fresh pizza, 3D-printed items, and more—proof that convenience just keeps evolving.