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Game Info
Year
2020
Collection
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Description
During the reign of King John V, Portugal was a major European power. From Brazil, the king ordered Sergeant Melo Palheta to travel to French Guiana to formally establish the Utrecht Treaty of 1713 and to secretly bring coffee seeds to Brazil. The Sergeant was successful and by 1800 Brazil was one of the largest coffee producers in the world.
In the early 20th century, coffee from Brazil, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola and Timor is largely appreciated in Portugal and inspires the appearance of prestige coffee shops in emblematic locations that attract the elite. Through dedication, hard work and skill, the Portuguese 20th century witnesses the birth of one of the biggest coffee industries in the world.
In Café, 1 to 4 players represent coffee companies that from plantation, drying, roasting and distribution try to create and control the best supply chain of coffee.
—description from the publisher
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Café Review
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 12
This page: 12
Sentiment:
pos 11 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–12 of 12
Video I4a8bZBkAs0
Meeple University Top List at 10:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64799 · mention_pk 158297
Click to watch at 10:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Clever game design
- Nice to play as a solo game
- Scoring focuses on the two fewest resources, encouraging generalization and balance
Cons
- Can be difficult to diversify and shift the game over time.
- The player giving leftovers to the next player can be used to deny cards.
Thematic elements
- Creating a coffee supply chain
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Players choose one of three cards each turn.
- set collection — Creating orthogonally adjacent sets of coffee beans, drying spaces, and roasting spaces.
- tile laying — Cards are laid on top of previous cards, covering at least two squares.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- 2024 is the season to eat too much food and play a lot of games
- happy New Year Happ New Year oh by the time you watch this it's probably too late I mean it's still the new year so still like you happy New Year thank you Taran
- we are going to split those into two so 11 to 20 and then 1 to 10 so that is coming
- however everyone does it we are going to do it maybe sometime mid January potentially
- these are games from various sources they're new to us games so not all of them are going to be new in December 2024 some of them have come to us as review copies games we've purchased games we've done content on but all of this video is our opinion
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MjUwjGgpi3g
Hungry Gamer Top List at 5:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 62413 · mention_pk 154940
Click to watch at 5:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Simple to learn, yet cleverly designed tile placement
- Travel-friendly and portable
- Solid engine for economic actions
Cons
- Not a flashy or thrilling experience
- Publisher/designer details are uncertain in transcript
Thematic elements
- Array
- Global coffee trade
- Tile-based, methodical engine-building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action economy — Actions are spent to perform each stage of the coffee production process; actions can be chained when tiles are adjacent.
- tile laying — Players place tiles to grow, dry, roast, and send coffee while unlocking actions.
- tile placement — Players place tiles to grow, dry, roast, and send coffee while unlocking actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's one of the few of this style games that are this heavy that I'm willing to play the art cute helps and the very unique characters obviously helps as well
- we did a co-op game and I got to play my favorite lizards
- it's very simple to play but it's really clever
- travels easily
- not the type of game I like to play with anybody because people get pretty aggressive
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video sMvXdbje4Is
Jamie, Tabletoptiktok Review at 0:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61514 · mention_pk 154164
Click to watch at 0:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fast and thinky, 15–20 minutes per play
- Compact footprint suitable for quick sessions
- Sharp puzzle that rewards careful tableau optimization
- Suitable for solo play with a personal high-score challenge
- Expansion options to alter balance and replayability
Cons
- Can be challenging for newcomers due to placement optimization
- Requires attention to the exact coverage rules which can slow first plays
- Some players may prefer deeper thematic integration over the puzzle mechanics
Thematic elements
- coffee production, resource management, optimization, and service throughput
- A competitive cafe management environment where players run a cafe and fulfill coffee orders across eight rounds.
- abstract puzzle with light thematic dressing; procedural flavor conveyed through coffee terms and cafe imagery
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection from a three-card display — Each turn starts with three new cards; players choose one to add to their tableau, shaping their available actions for the round.
- end-game scoring tied to deliveries and warehouse — Score is earned for fulfilled cafe orders and for the two lowest bean types you have in your warehouse.
- placement optimization and coverage rules — When adding a card, players must cover certain slots on their board; over-coverage or under-coverage can break action flow and affect scoring opportunities.
- set collection — Beans of four types are managed, stored in a warehouse, with scoring tied to the two most scarce bean types and deliveries to cafes.
- set collection / resource management — Beans of four types are managed, stored in a warehouse, with scoring tied to the two most scarce bean types and deliveries to cafes.
- Simultaneous Actions — The game emphasizes concurrent decision-making and returns to a common round tracker; play is succinct, with eight rounds allowing quick plays.
- simultaneous/parallel play with fixed rounds — The game emphasizes concurrent decision-making and returns to a common round tracker; play is succinct, with eight rounds allowing quick plays.
- tableau building — Players select and place cards to build their personal action tableau, choosing where to place cards to maximize simultaneous actions and to connect related bean types.
- worker-like actions with production chain — Actions include gather beans, dry, roast, and deliver, forming a small engine for producing and delivering goods.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's thinky it's quick it's one you can pull out while you're having a cup of coffee
- I definitely recommend the game Cafe
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Uq-KhCfnQxw
Crimsonboardgames Top List at 9:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61653 · mention_pk 154293
Click to watch at 9:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- beautiful production theme
- fast, thinky puzzle with satisfying overlaps
Cons
- publisher/designer details not specified in the transcript
Thematic elements
- production optimization and chain management
- coffee production and distribution
- puzzle-like with overlaps and combos
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card overlap / tile-building — arrange overlapping cards to build and optimize production areas
- production chaining — set up sequences to maximize output and scoring
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Calico I love Calico it's the game I've played the most ever in my life
- this top 10 focuses mainly on games that are either solo only or games that I've played that I think are better solo than they are multiplayer
- I could talk on and on about board games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TE0xKYB6luQ
The Board Gaming Doctor Review at 8:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 43012 · mention_pk 130843
Click to watch at 8:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- easy to teach with abstract, puzzle-like depth
- compact playtime (20–45 minutes) with quick rounds
- solid digital implementation via Board Game Arena; Yukata availability noted
Cons
- lacks deep strategic depth for some players
- two-deck requirement for multiplayer in a live setting
Thematic elements
- coffee/beans drafting and processing
- abstracted coffee production and trade
- card-lane puzzle with iconographic cues
Comparison games
- Trailblazers
- Pipelines
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action-icon visibility and timing — Selected icons (coffee cups, beans) grant turns or scoring opportunities.
- card drafting — Players draft a row of cards to influence available actions and scoring opportunities.
- card drafting in a solo/2-4 player format — Players draft a row of cards to influence available actions and scoring opportunities.
- Compound Scoring — Roasting/processing beans and shipping to warehouses or cafes yields points.
- constrained asset flow and scoring — Roasting/processing beans and shipping to warehouses or cafes yields points.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the biggest downside for me for Finsspan was the ratio between the complexity of this game versus the time length
- I would rather play Wingspan in a relatively quickly pace with gamers who knew Wingspan as well rather than play this game for 45 to 60 minutes
- This game is somewhat simple to teach but it does offer a little bit of complexity
- Visually, I think this game plays a lot like Bonsai
- Hey, that's My Fish—catchy title for my daughter as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ThuP806oL3A
The Board Game Garden Discussion at 11:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37399 · mention_pk 112364
Click to watch at 11:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- coffee theming
- expansion included
Cons
- may be light for some players
Thematic elements
- coffee economics
- coffee shop management and cafe culture
- light strategy with tableau-like mechanics
Comparison games
- Latte Throwdown
- Veggies
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card tableau — cards laid out to form a tableau of actions
- expresso expansion included — base game plus expansion content
- tableau building — cards laid out to form a tableau of actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- you cannot experience everything in one day
- I'm a lot more introverted than I thought I was
- I wanted to stick to having like a hundred dollar budget
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video o29W9Uci3C0
Board Game Garden Discussion at 11:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 34980 · mention_pk 104272
Click to watch at 11:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fun and flavorful theme
- interesting card interactions and production chain
Cons
- described as somewhat complex to explain
Thematic elements
- coffee production from beans to shop
- coffee-centric cafe and production flow
- complex but explained with examples
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — select and place cards to enable actions and production
- tableau action sequencing — card positioning reveals different production steps
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game is so much fun solo
- I immensely enjoyed myself
- I really really enjoy this because there's two different phases
- I absolutely love the theme I love the art and just the vibe of this game
- Welcome To Your Perfect Home was so much fun to play on a live stream
- Dungeons Dice and Danger is a fantastic roll and write
- I think I enjoy Tiny Towns solo more than I enjoy it multiplayer
- Coffee Roaster is the only solo game that I have so it is very special to me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xrFFy3uoBPM
Getting Games Discussion at 16:26 sentiment: negative
video_pk 10330 · mention_pk 30484
Click to watch at 16:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- pleasant coffee theme and components
Cons
- not something they'd revisit regularly
Thematic elements
- coffee trading and shops
- coffee harvesting and commerce
- tableau/collection-driven
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- tile tableau stacking / resource management — A light, thematic tableau-driven game about producing and selling coffee.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a full-time successful job for me
- the newest macbook pro line is significantly faster
- i'm in a much better headspace about the numbers
- i'm not sitting there thinking that a three video per week plan is sustainable
- there's a lot of evidence to show that putting out more videos is not necessarily better for me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video i5uCwSmMWwA
The Dice Tower Discussion at 6:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5647 · mention_pk 16788
Click to watch at 6:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong thematic flavor
- Strong line in this publisher's coffee-themed games
Cons
- Box size / production quality could vary
Thematic elements
- Economic/engine-building
- Cafe/coffee shop theme
- Thematic, cozy
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource management — Players manage coffee/roast resources to earn points.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Shark Park, a memory kind of game.
- they're essentially just more complex versions of the last.
- it feels like it's a bigger game that was streamlined and streamline is often very good, but this one I felt almost a little streamlined too much.
- This one's almost there. And I know a lot of people love the Talisera.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video CxO32ud4mVg
The Dice Tower Discussion at 26:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4378 · mention_pk 12778
Click to watch at 26:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- thematic flavor with coffee culture
- tight, thinky decisions
Cons
- less accessible without explicit component quality or art in some versions
Thematic elements
- beans, roasting, and service
- Cafe and coffee shop culture
- mechanics-driven, flavorful theme
Comparison games
- Sees the Bean
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Layering cards — stacking cards to trigger actions and maximize efficiency
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Switches get stitches.
- Pumpkin spice latte time.
- Century Pumpkin Spice Road was the obvious choice.
- This is the worst cash grab I've ever seen.
- Shoots and Ladders mixed with Candyland.
- What about a Muppets version of Robo Rally?
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video U18g_vBTXNs
The Dice Tower Top List at 3:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3634 · mention_pk 10762
Click to watch at 3:43 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rock-solid, thematic integration
- Good weight balance with engaging tension in decisions
Cons
- Might be a touch heavier for true light-game fans
Thematic elements
- coffee supply chain
- A coffee production and distribution cycle (grow, roast, dry, ship to cafes)
- thematic and industry-tinged
Comparison games
- Sushi Roll
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine-building / card drafting — build an action engine around coffee production steps by selecting cards
- grouping actions by coffee cups — the number of actions you can take scales with the number of coffee cups you have
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Two very rare crossovers.
- This is the only one I thought we would cross over on.
- We'll see you guys and gals on the flip side.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SO2D8I0y2Wc
Before You Play Top List at 9:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 92 · mention_pk 224
Click to watch at 9:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful box art and graphic design
- Strong presentation noted in the transcript
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Economic strategy in a roasting business
- Coffee roasting industry
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card overlap / action typing — Overlapping cards with six action types; on your turn you draw a card and transpose to reveal actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "it's kind of a weird year for board game releases"
- "this is top five most anticipated essens digital releases"
- "we are going to discuss our top five"
- "there's 500 coming out this year"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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