Tails by the Foxfire

Coffee Talk Review

Coffee Talk is a story-rich talking simulator by Toge Productions where you run a late-night café in an alternate universe version of Seattle. The year is 2020, and orcs, elves, werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural entities have carved out lives for themselves as entrepreneurs, idols, and 9-5ers, and it’s your job as a barista to make sure they’ve got somewhere to unwind after a long, hard day at work. Though you never set foot outside of the café during the gameplay loop, the world beyond your door evolves daily, which you’ll see reflected in the headlines of the daily newspaper and in your customers’ conversations. You’ll listen to their worries and requests, and use your vast knowledge of comforting beverages (and your trusty Brewpad app) to craft the perfect drinks for their situation. Unlike Kemono Teatime, there are no tragic story beats to blindside you; the conflict in Coffee Talk feels relatable to most without bordering on inevitable hopelessness, which creates a sense of camaraderie between the player and the visitors to the café. Keep reading to learn more about Coffee Talk by Toge Productions, or play it today on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, XBox, or PC via Steam and Humble.

Coffee Talk Foxfire Review Scores

Price Point: 5/5
Fun Factor: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Story, Characters & Worldbuilding: 4/5
Maps & Environment: 5/5
Music: 5/5
Time to 100%: 15.5 Hours
Recommended: Yes!

What is Gameplay Like in Coffee Talk?

Coffee Talk takes place over 14 calendar days. Every day, certain customers come in and talk in a visual novel style format, and will periodically place drink orders that you need to fulfil using the ingredients on your shelves. While you don’t get dialogue options as you do in other cafe & talking simulators like Kemono Teatime, you do have a wider range of drink options like tea, green tea, hot chocolate, coffee, and milk to choose from, so there’s very much something for everyone. No need to memorize everyone’s order, either (except for one instance); Coffee Talk gives you access to the barista’s smartphone, which includes a Brewpad app that stores all your recipes and can be consulted at (almost) any time.

How Coffee Talk Captures the Authentic Cafe Atmosphere

Coffee Talk works very hard to capture an authentic café atmosphere with its bare-brick walls and décor, pattering rain and drink-mixing ASMR, and easy listening lo-fi tracks that you can change at will from the barista’s smartphone Shuffld app. Also on your phone are The Evening Whisperss app where you can read short stories written by Freya (your 90% live-in author fighting off deadlines and fueling her dreams with a steady stream of your espresso), and check Tomodachill, which is the in-universe social media app where you can check the profiles, current trivia, and current friendship levels with each of your regulars. All of these aspects combine to create a layered world with a really easy and relaxing vibe.

Coffee Talk’s Patrons are The Heart of the Café 

Though your regular patrons are grappling with some pretty heavy stuff, and the daily newspaper delivers the latest political headlines impacting their lives, Coffee Talk masterfully creates a feeling of catching up with your friends over drinks while also holding a mirror up to our own world. It’s a delicate balance that could tip over into tragedy and become a completely different type of game without a careful hand. However, Toge Productions excels at injecting enough depth for their supernatural version of Seattle to feel real while maintaining levity, hope, and a reassuring sense of togetherness in the midst of a chaotic and frightening world. The individuality of each of the characters, their daily frustrations and struggles, and their interwoven connections won me over from Day 1, and I loved spending my time after work winding down while getting to know them. I wanted the best for every one of them, and was mostly satisfied with the game’s conclusion. Needless to say, Coffee Talk has earned a very special place in my heart, and I’m excited to see who I’ll meet next when Coffee Talk Tokyo drops this year.

A Story That Respects Your Time

Each of Coffee Talk’s days takes under an hour, so it was really easy to slip in a quick session after work and dinner. Playing it this way, finishing the main campaign and dabbling with Challenge Mode took about a week (around 15 hours total), which included finding all the recipes, seeing the end of each character’s arc, reaching the True ending, serving a certain amount of drinks in the timed challenge mode, and more. This last one was probably the trickiest part of getting 100%, but I eventually locked it down by watching TV while I got into a rhythm of serving. In short, Coffee Talk doesn’t waste your time with a bunch of unnecessary padding or rehashing old ground; its story is streamlined and to the point, with the ability to replay whichever days you’d like to without needing a save state at the start of it. My only criticism is that I wish there were more of it, and that the True ending had been more robust to make it really worth the extra work. However, if I had to pick between the two, I always prefer a story that leaves me wanting more to one that overstays its welcome.

Besides, it makes an amount of sense that Coffee Talk didn’t end on some big moving note; just because I’m not visiting the café anymore, it doesn’t mean the doors are closed. There was no huge shift in the status quo, as such. Its ‘soft’ ending style just feels natural, just as when we leave anywhere to pursue other things. It’ll still be there if I choose to visit again, and life will go on while I’m not looking. Meanwhile, I’ll look back fondly on my time with the game and look forward to stopping by the café again soon.

Verdict: Is Coffee Talk a Good Game?

Coffee Talk is a great choice for cozy game fans, gamers who crave character-driven stories, and anyone like me who loves to cook and mix drinks. Readers who enjoyed Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree will feel right at home with Coffee Talk, as it shares the same low-stakes high-fantasy feel, but stylized in a modern urban setting. It also shares similarities with the Hungry Hearts series and Oden Cart: A Heartwarming Tale smartphone game where you build personal relationships with your regulars and ease their burdens by making their favourite foods, drinks, and lending them an ear. Pick up Coffee Talk today on Steam, Humble, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, or try the demo for free!

Lifechanging Stories & Video Game Reviews at Tails by the Foxfire

Thank you so much for joining me again this week! Coffee Talk became a Day 1 favourite of mine, and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Already a fan? Comment below to let me know what you liked best, and make sure you subscribe so you’ll get alerted anytime I post new content. Until then, take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you next time for more Tails by the Foxfire!

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