Coffee Talk: The Cozy Barista Video Game and the Drinks You Can Make at Home

Coffee Talk is a cozy visual novel by the Indonesian studio Toge Productions in which you play a night-shift barista, mixing drinks for customers while you listen to their problems. Released on January 29, 2020, the Coffee Talk game asks you to build each drink from three ingredients, and many of its recipes are real coffees and teas you can brew in your own kitchen tonight.

Below you will find what the game is, how its drink-mixing system works, and home versions of five drinks from the menu, from a plain espresso to an Indonesian ginger coffee.

What Is the Coffee Talk Game?

Coffee Talk is set in an alternate version of Seattle in 2020, a rainy city where elves, orcs, werewolves, mermaids and other fantasy folk live alongside humans. Your café only opens at night. Regulars drift in, order something warm and talk about relationships, work, family and prejudice while you quietly make their cups.

The game was conceived at a game jam in 2017 under the working title Project Green Tea Latte. Its lead writer and designer, Mohammad Fahmi, passed away in March 2022, and the game is widely remembered as a gentle, heartfelt piece of work.

Here are the essentials:

• Developer: Toge Productions (Indonesia)
• Original release: January 29, 2020 on Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
• Later ports: PlayStation 5 in 2023, then iOS and Android in 2026
• Sequel: Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, released in April 2023
• Spin-off: Coffee Talk Tokyo, published by Chorus Worldwide and released in May 2026

There is no combat and no timer racing you to the end. The pleasure comes from lo-fi music, rain against the windows and getting an order exactly right.

How Drink Mixing Works in Coffee Talk

Every drink in Coffee Talk is made from exactly three ingredients, picked in order: a base, a primary layer and a secondary layer. Bases include coffee, tea, green tea, chocolate and milk. Additions include milk, ginger, cinnamon, honey, lemon and mint, and new ingredients unlock as the story moves on.

Order matters. Coffee, coffee, milk gives you a cappuccino, while coffee, milk, milk gives you a caffè latte. Customers do not always ask by name, so part of the fun is decoding a vague request such as something warm, sweet and spicy. Some drinks also let you draw simple latte art, and you can throw away a failed drink and start over.

A small sample of in-game recipes, as listed in fan guides to the first game:

The ratios on screen are a game abstraction: two coffees and one milk does not literally mean two parts espresso to one part milk. The real recipes below are tuned for flavor.

Coffee Talk Drinks You Can Make at Home

These five home versions stay true to the spirit of the game. Each makes one cup.

1. Espresso (Coffee, Coffee, Coffee)

The purest drink on the menu. Use about 18 g (roughly 2.5 tablespoons) of finely ground coffee for a double shot of about 36 g (1.3 fl oz) in 25 to 30 seconds. A dark, chocolatey blend such as our 6 Bean Blend gives the thick, syrupy shot a night-shift barista would serve. New to the machine? Our guide on how to make espresso at home covers grind and tamping.

2. Cappuccino vs Caffè Latte

The game separates these by one ingredient, and real life does too: milk volume and foam.

1. Pull a double espresso (36 g / 1.3 fl oz).
2. For a cappuccino, steam about 120 ml (4 fl oz) of milk with a thick layer of foam.
3. For a latte, steam about 200 ml (7 fl oz) of milk with only a thin, silky layer of microfoam.
4. Pour, finishing with a simple heart if you want to imitate the in-game latte art.

For the full breakdown, see latte vs cappuccino vs flat white.

3. Jahe Tubruk (Ginger Coffee)

Kopi tubruk is a rustic Indonesian method where ground coffee is simply stirred into hot water and left to settle, and jahe means ginger. It is a lovely nod to the studio's home country.

1. Thinly slice 10 g (about a 1-inch piece) of fresh ginger and simmer it in 240 ml (8 fl oz) of water for 5 minutes.
2. Take the pan off the heat, wait 30 seconds, then stir in 15 g (about 2 tablespoons) of medium-fine ground coffee.
3. Let it rest 4 minutes so the grounds sink, then pour slowly into a cup, leaving the sludge behind.
4. Sweeten with palm sugar or brown sugar to taste.

An earthy Indonesian coffee like Bali Blue fits perfectly here.

4. Masala Chai (Tea, Ginger, Cinnamon)

Simmer 2 teaspoons (about 5 g) of Masala Chai loose leaf tea in 120 ml (4 fl oz) of water with a slice of fresh ginger for 3 minutes. Add 120 ml (4 fl oz) of milk and a pinch of cinnamon, bring just to a simmer, strain and sweeten. Add a shot of espresso and you have a dirty chai; our dirty chai latte recipe goes deeper.

5. Marrakech (Green Tea, Mint, Mint)

Steep 1 teaspoon (about 3 g) of green tea with a handful of fresh mint leaves in 240 ml (8 fl oz) of water at about 80°C (175°F) for 2 to 3 minutes. Our Moroccan Mint green tea already blends the two, so you only need hot water and a little sugar if you like it the traditional sweet way.

Tips for a Cozy Coffee Talk Night

• Prep your bar like the game: set out ginger, cinnamon, honey, lemon, mint and milk before you start so you can improvise.
• Mind the late hour: the café only opens at night, but your sleep matters. For evening sessions, switch to herbal tea or decaf. Our article on caffeine and sleep explains why timing matters.
• Experiment: the game rewards curiosity, so try your own three-ingredient combinations and name them.

Coffee Talk Game FAQ

Who made the Coffee Talk game?

Coffee Talk was developed by Toge Productions, an independent studio from Indonesia. Mohammad Fahmi was its main writer and designer. Chorus Worldwide published the console versions on PlayStation and Xbox.

How many ingredients are in a Coffee Talk drink?

Each drink uses exactly three ingredients chosen in order: a base, a primary and a secondary. Changing the order often changes the drink, which is why a cappuccino and a latte use the same items in a different sequence.

Is there a sequel to Coffee Talk?

Yes. Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly came out in April 2023, and the spin-off Coffee Talk Tokyo followed in May 2026. Both keep the night café and drink-mixing formula.

Can you really make Coffee Talk drinks at home?

Most of them, yes. Many in-game recipes are named after real drinks such as teh tarik, masala chai and cappuccino, and they translate well to a home kitchen with a few pantry spices.

Bring the Night Café Home

Coffee Talk proves that a good cup and a good conversation are a perfect pairing. To recreate its menu, start with a bold espresso blend like the 6 Bean Blend, add an Indonesian single origin such as Bali Blue for your ginger coffee, and keep a tin of Masala Chai ready for the tea drinkers. Every Feel Espresso coffee is roasted 1 to 5 days before it ships, so your home café smells as good as the one on screen.