If you’re a coffee enthusiast and video game lover, ‘Good Coffee, Great Coffee’ by TapBlaze is the mobile game for you. 

This coffee shop simulator will have you feeling like a real-life barista, without all the stress, responsibilities, and rude customers that come with the actual job. The best part: it’s free to download on both the App Store and Google Play. 

I initially downloaded the game on my laptop, but then I discovered that it was made for tablets. So, I got it on my iPad, running the risk of looking like an iPad kid. It’s playable on a computer, but way more enjoyable on iPads. It’s so fun, I stopped caring about what I looked like when playing.

Not only is the gameplay relaxing, but the visuals and sounds are cozy, as well. The art style reminds me of Studio Ghibli, but with softer lines and more toned-down colors. Jazzy music sets the mood, and the sounds of a regular coffee shop fill the background. And, of course, if you prefer to turn off the sounds and music, you can do that, too. 

If you played ‘Papa’s Freezeria’ as a kid, ‘Good Coffee, Great Coffee’ is sure to bring back some happy memories. The game starts in story mode, where you can learn the lore behind your avatar and name your shop. When customers start coming in, each new order will prompt a tutorial on how to make the recipe. 

You start with pretty basic ingredients at level one. As you earn experience and cash, you can unlock and buy new ingredients and recipes. At level two, you unlock ice for iced drinks and milk for lattes. At level four, you unlock whipped cream, and at level six, you unlock flavor syrups! Special toppings and shop decorations can be unlocked during events, such as gingerbread syrup during the Winter Holiday Event. 

You can decorate your shop however you like to create that perfect cozy atmosphere. Things like flower garlands, potted plants, and comfy seating are available in the store. Upgrades to the espresso machine and coffee grinder will make them faster, improve drink taste, or give you more room to work. 

And the funnest part is the latte art! You can trace designs onto lattes or make up your own. Plus, customers will tip more if their latte comes with a cute design on top than if it doesn’t.

Now, onto some of the downsides of the game you should be aware of before you start playing. 

Like any mobile game you download these days, ‘Good Coffee, Great Coffee’ comes with annoying ads. They play between each day in the shop and are skippable after fifteen or so seconds.

Additionally, the ingredient selection is somewhat limited, and there aren’t any new ingredients to unlock after level ten. I want to keep playing the game, but it’s not as fun when there aren’t any fun new items or drink recipes. They’re only available to unlock during special events.

There’s only one type of milk available—whole milk—but with ample room for others in the milk fridge. I would like to see other kinds of milk, like soy or almond, available in the future.

There could be plenty more flavor syrup options, and there are still empty topping containers even though I’ve made it to level ten and unlocked all the options.

The game attempts to mitigate the lack of ingredients, however, by having customers ask for variations of existing recipes. I still don’t think it’s enough, though. I hope that there are new ingredients and recipes in future updates or editions. 

I would also like the freedom to make my own recipes. For example, the ingredients for hot chocolate or strawberry milk are there, but customers never order them, so I don’t get to make them. 

And be careful! Customers will get mad at you and ask for a refund or withhold tips if you make their drink wrong. This usually happens to me if I’m working too fast on a drink or trying to multitask. But the customer dialogue can be funny at times, so make sure to pay attention to what they’re saying.

Overall, the game is pretty awesome. ‘Good Coffee, Great Coffee’ offers a relaxing, cozy experience for those looking to slow down, especially during these recent overcast and cold days.

A solid 8/10.