How To Play: Coffee

Ever wondered how to go from bean spill disaster to coffee tycoon? Well, you’re in luck. This guide does two things: it gives you a quick outline of the game rules (so you don’t mess up your first turn like I did), and spills the beans on the best strategies for winning. Get comfy, grab your mug, and let’s get better at How To Play coffee together!

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 120 Coffee bean cards
• 40 Order cards
• 4 Player boards
• 80 Wooden coffee cup tokens
• 30 Coin tokens
• 8 Reference cards
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Coffee: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the game board in the center of your table. Try not to knock over your actual cup of coffee during this step.
2. Give each player their own player mat, matching colored tokens, and a set of action cards. If anyone instantly claims the blue tokens, prepare for suspicious behavior.
3. Put all the coffee bean tiles in a big bag or bowl. Then, draw the starting beans to fill the market and roaster spaces, following the Coffee rulebook setup diagram. We once filled it in reverse and had espresso-level chaos.
4. Shuffle the order cards and deal two to each player. Hope nobody gets the triple-mocha-vanilla-truffle order right off the bat.
5. Make a supply for coins, sugar cubes, and milk tokens within reach of all players. If you snack on the milk tokens, you’ll regret it.
6. Pick a starting player, usually the one who most recently spilled coffee. Give them the first player marker.

Gameplay

1. Players take turns in clockwise order. On your turn, choose one action: harvest beans, trade at the market, roast beans, fulfill an order, or perform a special action from your action cards.
2. When you harvest, draw beans from the bag and place them on your mat. Try not to get decaf.
3. To trade, swap beans in the market for what you need. Begging your friends is optional, but not recommended.
4. Roasting means upgrading your raw beans to roasted ones. Place roasted beans into your supply when done.
5. To fulfill an order, pay the right mix of beans and extras, then score the points shown on the card.
6. After everyone has taken a turn, pass the first player marker left and start a new round. Repeat these steps until the game ends (see below).

Winning

1. The game ends when all order cards run out or when the bean supply is empty. Someone always yells “last call!” when this happens.
2. Each player counts up points from their fulfilled orders and unused bonuses. If you need a calculator, you might have gone overboard on the special orders.
3. Whoever has the most points wins and gets to brag about their barista skills until next game night.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If you can’t fulfill an order during your turn, you may skip or swap one order card for a new one—once per game. Don’t abuse this or suffer the coffee gods’ wrath!
2. Wild beans can replace any single bean type but can’t be used to roast espresso (house rules from my own group; your mileage may vary).
3. If two players tie for points, the one with the most leftover beans wins. If still tied, share the victory or settle things with a coffee chug-off (optional).

Now you know the basics of How To Play coffee! Just remember: don’t drink the actual components, and keep your game pieces dry. It’s more fun than it sounds—and that’s coming from someone who once tried to trade five sugar cubes for one milk token. Long story.

Best Coffee Strategies

Ultimate Bean Boss: Dominate Coffee with Smart Beans and Trades

Pick The Right Beans Early

Always watch the bean market! Start by grabbing beans in high demand. Next, consider beans that match your favorite recipes. This avoids panic swaps later on.

1. Check other players’ beans.
2. Grab beans that fulfill recipes.
3. Pick beans nobody else wants for future trades.

Trade Like a Pro

Trading makes or breaks you in Coffee. First, offer beans another player needs. Second, swap only if you get something better. If someone overpays, act fast and thank them later.

1. Offer beans for what you need.
2. Be cheeky—try to get two beans for one.
3. Don’t trade away your secret weapon beans.

Know When To Hold ‘Em

If you sense a trade trap, don’t fall for it. Hold onto rare beans until the price peaks. Sometimes, patience is the best How To Play coffee tip!

1. Hold rare beans for late-game.
2. Watch price changes closely.
3. Sell when everyone wants your bean.

Mastering Action Efficiency and Timing in Coffee

If you want to win Coffee, it pays to act at just the right time. I learned this after losing several rounds to my friend Karen, who is ruthlessly patient. Here’s how to sharpen up!

Use Your Turns Wisely

1. Always have a plan before your turn. Don’t just stare at the beans like I did my first game.
2. Group similar actions together to save moves.
3. React to opponents, but don’t let them dictate your pace.

Seize Opportunities

1. Jump on high value orders when the chance pops up.
2. Don’t panic if you miss one—another is coming!

Plan for Future Rounds

1. Set up your actions so you have more choices later.
2. Use your resources just before others want them.

Getting action timing and efficiency right is key. It kept me awake for hours after our last game, plotting for next time. Want to know more about How To Play coffee? Stay tuned!

The Secret Sauce: Roasting and Order Fulfillment in Coffee

Mastering Roasting Timing

1. Roast beans just before orders land to keep them fresh.
2. Balance small, quick roasts with bigger batches for efficiency.
3. Watch your competitors—don’t let them snag the orders you need!

Order Fulfillment Like a Pro

1. Always prepare beans for the most valuable orders first.
2. Double-check requirements before you fulfill. No one likes a wasted bean!
3. Use extra actions only if it means grabbing a high-scoring order.

Once, I roasted too much at once and my beans went stale faster than my last relationship. Always keep your roasting in sync with orders! This trick is also a secret for anyone hunting for How To Play coffee tips online.

Stir Up Your Victory!

And there you have it, my fellow caffeine addicts! If you remember to balance beans, time your actions like a true espresso shot, and always keep an eye on your rivals, you’ll be brewing up those points in no time. I still remember my friend Jenny pulling off a surprise win because I forgot to roast that last bean—never again. So grab your mug, keep your wits sharp, and use these tips to become the barista boss. Oh, and if you forget anything, just look up “How To Play coffee”—that’s what I do when things get a bit too steamy. Good luck out there, and may your beans never burn!

Want to know what we think of Coffee? Read our detailed review of Coffee here