Coffee Roaster is a solitaire pool-building game. You choose a variety of coffee beans you want to roast, and put a number of tokens specific to that variety into a bag. Each turn, you draw a number of bean tokens randomly from the bag to advance their roast level. When you are finished, you make a cup-testing to check the taste of your coffee and score points accordingly. Each variety has its own target roast level, but approaching the target is not enough for perfect roasting; you also have to even out the roast level of each bean, while not spoiling the flavor of that variety.
You also have to screen out smoke tokens and burnt bean tokens that hinder your roasting, and reject bean tokens that spoil the taste. It is important to control the contents of your bag utilizing flavor effects and unique effects caused by placing tokens on the roast board.
There are 22 varieties of beans in the game. In one game, you try to roast three of them, and your roaster title is awarded based on the total score. Enjoy the world of coffee-roasting, and aim for the ultimate title "Meister".
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「COFFEE ROASTER」は1人用ゲームです。ターンごとに袋の中に入れた規定数の豆トークンの焙煎度を上昇させていき、最後のカップテストで味を確かめ得点を計算します。おいしい焙煎コーヒーにするためには、狙った焙煎度に近づけるだけでなく、豆の煎り具合を揃えたり、特徴を醸し出すフレーバーを残したりする必要があります。
妨げとなる煙チップや焦げ豆チップ、また味を損なう欠点豆チップの排除にも気をつけましょう。フレーバー効果や焙煎ボードへチップを配置することで得る特殊効果を駆使して、袋の中の状態をうまくコントロールすることが重要です。
登場する豆は22種類。そのうち3つの豆の焙煎に挑戦した合計値が焙煎職人としてのあなたのランクです。最高位マイスターの称号を勝ち取るべく、焙煎の世界を存分に楽しんでください。
- highly unique two-stage flow
- quirky theme may not appeal to all
- weight consistent with a lighter euro
- quirky, bag-building with tuning to reach exact sums
- An artisanal coffee shop where you roast beans to perfection
- lighthearted, humorous, and flavorful theme
- Warp's Edge
- Galaxy Trucker
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag building — Add tokens to a bag and draw to perform actions; tokens have special abilities.
- bag-building — Add tokens to a bag and draw to perform actions; tokens have special abilities.
- deck-like re-use mechanics — Tokens cycle back into play with special actions to refine the brew outcome.
- two-stage optimization — First build the bag, then test and tune to pull exact sums for a final score.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- AP doesn't exist in a Solo game; only a analysis paralysis isn't a problem when no one's waiting for you to finish your turn
- it's all very simple but the puzzle itself is crunchy and interesting
- the puzzle itself is brilliantly constructed but solving it leaves me a little bit cold
- No better solo only game than Final Girl; it's my number one
References (from this video)
- quirky theme and art
- relaxing and meditative play experience
- theme-heavy for some; not for those who want high tension
- quirky coffee culture with a meditative calm
- coffee roasting and brewing
- playful, snack-sized zen
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag building — Draw tokens from a bag and manipulate them with special abilities; roast tokens through levels to upgrade your coffee bag and ultimately brew the perfect cup.
- bag-builder/roasting cycle — Draw tokens from a bag and manipulate them with special abilities; roast tokens through levels to upgrade your coffee bag and ultimately brew the perfect cup.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- these games tend to fly off the shelf because they just work so well they have few components so setup is super easy
- I love the coziness of this design and how quickly it can spiral completely out of control
- The Twist here is that police meeples are being randomly placed in locations as well and at the end of the round your workers need to be able to trace a clear path back to your hideout
- Cascadia feels super casual and when you're feeling bad a nature theme is exactly what the doctor ordered
- it's my ultimate comfort food game for so many reasons
- everything about this game is quirky from its theme to its artwork to the gameplay which is really unlike anything I've played before
References (from this video)
- quirky, quick-playing
- solo-focused bag-building feel
- thematic and satisfying chip optimization
- solo-only design may limit group play
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag building — draw chips from a bag, roast them to improve values, then draw more and repeat to brew the cup; aim for desired chip values
- bag-building — draw chips from a bag, roast them to improve values, then draw more and repeat to brew the cup; aim for desired chip values
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- these games still represent like the top five percent of all games I've ever played
- the theme really comes alive
- it's incredibly dynamic and fun highs and lows and a ton of agonizing decisions
- it's a very unique abstract game where the theme actually comes through
- it's cutthroat brutal game actually
References (from this video)
- easy-to-pick-up and approachable
- fits well with light table presence
- not deeply explored in this video; only mentioned as one of the options
- coffee industry simulation with puzzle elements
- coffee-roasting theme with a cozy-crafty vibe
- casual, relaxing table presence
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative-like resource management — simultaneous actions and optimization of coffee-roasting workflows; solo play supported
- Resource management — simultaneous actions and optimization of coffee-roasting workflows; solo play supported
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I really really enjoyed it
- I absolutely love this one I love the art of this one too and this one will definitely be one that I choose to bring traveling and stuff in the future. I really really like it
- I freaking loved it. I am so, so happy that I have it in the collection
- I absolutely love it and I'm excited to hop into those
- I love engine-building games
- I absolutely love the solo I've heard a ton of good things about the solo from a few of the people in the board game Garden solo community
- I think it's very cool that you can name the baby too; it just makes me very happy
References (from this video)
- Strong solo gameplay that is approachable yet strategically rich
- Clever and cohesive integration of a coffee theme with mechanics
- Relaxing, cozy experience suitable for casual play
- Clear progression and sense of mastery as you refine the roast
- Crafting the perfect cup of coffee through roasting, token management, and timing
- A coffee roastery/coffee shop environment with an artisanal vibe
- Cozy, instructional, and lightly whimsical with a focus on process
- Animal Crossing (video game)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag building — Players assemble and manage a bag of tokens that influence roasting outcomes.
- bag_building — Players assemble and manage a bag of tokens that influence roasting outcomes.
- roast_progression — Progress through roast levels to improve cup quality and refine technique.
- solo_gameplay — Designed as a satisfying solitaire experience with escalating difficulty.
- timed_decisions — Strategic timing of decisions to optimize cup quality and roast results.
- token_management — Careful selection, placement, and cycling of tokens to balance risk and reward.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Coffee Roaster is a spectacular solo game from the designer Sashi and originally published by Sashi and Sashi.
- the point of coffee roaster is to make the perfect cup of coffee by building out your bag of tokens
- a splendid little game to sit back and relax with alongside a cup of joe
- there's no shortage of excellent solo games out there in recent years
References (from this video)
- Engaging solo playthrough that teaches as it goes
- Interesting bag-building and token-drafting mechanics
- Flavor-based scoring with clear cup-test phase
- Steep initial learning curve for new players
- High variability can produce very poor cups on beginner runs
- Some rule interactions can feel opaque without guidance
- Roasting experimentation, flavor balance, and cup-driven scoring
- A solitaire coffee roasting setup where the player roasts beans and tests a cup for target roast level
- Procedural simulation with token-based actions and a cup-test phase
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag building — Draw tokens from a bag and place them on actions to drive roasting, flavoring, and bag management
- bag-building and token drafting — Draw tokens from a bag and place them on actions to drive roasting, flavoring, and bag management
- burn risk and card interactions — Burnt, hard, or rejected beans impose negative points and may limit scoring options
- Compound Scoring — After roasting, draw ten tokens for the cup and score roast value, flavor points, and penalties
- cup test scoring — After roasting, draw ten tokens for the cup and score roast value, flavor points, and penalties
- flavor tokens and special abilities — Use Aroma, Acidity, and Body tokens to modify the bag and gain abilities that affect later draws
- roasting phase with round effects — Rounds modify roasting values (e.g., red rounds doubling increments) and add tokens to the bag
- token-based special abilities — Some tokens grant ongoing effects or draw/selection advantages during phases
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the worst most disgusting cup of coffee ever made
- we could stop now but that doesn't seem like enough roast value
- oh no the reject being got in the cup
- we ended up with a roast value of seven
References (from this video)
- Coffee shop management
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Thunderbolt Apache Leader has sadly dropped to 199 on this list.
- John Company solo is great.
- Mr President is the biggest table hog—it's like one of the most ridiculous but like in an awesome way games I have ever seen.
- Paperback Adventures jumped up 560 spots this year.
- Pavlov's House changed the course of my videos and my gaming habits.
- Earth is going to rise up next year.
References (from this video)
- Elegant puzzle with satisfying tension
- Accessible solo play with strong bite for a solo fan
- Tightly integrated bag-building and scoring decisions
- Solo play emphasis may overshadow group dynamics for some players
- Theme can feel niche to non-coffee players
- Coffee quality optimization and bag-based resource management.
- A coffee roasting house where the goal is to brew the perfect cup.
- Puzzle-esque bag-building with a cup-test final assessment.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag-building — Tokens representing beans, moisture, and flavors are drawn and managed from a bag.
- Cup test and tray placement — After roasting, you test tokens to determine cup vs. tray placement and scoring.
- Roast progression — Tokens can be roasted and gain value, impacting scoring opportunities.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- My number 70 game is a two-player game only about two villages competing over beer and bread.
- This is the only solo game I have on my list.
References (from this video)
- Interesting bag building mechanism
- Nuanced coffee brewing gameplay
- Strong memory aspect
- Has a digital app alternative
- Coffee production
- Coffee brewing
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag building — Building a bag of components to brew perfect coffee
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I want to make sure the games I own actually get played more often
- In each episode of the series, I'll show you four games for my to sell pile
References (from this video)
- slick, well-done streamlined design
- variety between games is not huge
- Bag-building with variable blends
- Coffee roasting and blending
- streamlined, fast
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag-building — Drafting with coffee blends and adjustable difficulty.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is just my opinion my list if your favorite game isn't on here it's more likely that I haven't played it
- it's a solid tense game
References (from this video)
- flavorful theme
- accessible to families
- some players may prefer heavier optimization
- operational optimization and production planning
- coffee shop/cafe business
- light, thematic
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- set-collection/worker placement — build a coffee shop menu with ingredients and actions to optimize roasting.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I am known for my channel Minimum Player Count mainly on YouTube but I first started on Instagram
- Welcome to the show
- we are not going to take it easy on you so maybe you should be a little bit nervous
- stop watching and go play a game
- you can also see some of my videos on board game spotlight
References (from this video)
- Charming, approachable theme
- Deep bag-building puzzle
- Tin storage can be fiddly
- Sleeving recommended
- Bag-building with flavor profiles
- Coffee roasting and brewing
- Charming and lighthearted
- Brew Cest?
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag-building — Draw tokens from a bag to create blends and roasts
- token management — Blend, burn, or separate beans to influence scoring
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I like co-ops sometimes it's nice to not have bad blood between players and work together
- everything just rewards you gently little rewards that remind you you're doing well
- Underwater Cities really sings with the card system
References (from this video)
- Encourages community engagement and participation
- Low barrier to entry for new viewers
- Consistent weekly content and interaction
- Limited information about the solution without video context
- Relies on audience guess accuracy for appeal
- Coffee production, solo puzzle solving
- Cafe/roastery ambience; solo puzzle framing around bean tokens
- Abstract, puzzle-driven
- Coffee Roaster
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- audience participation — Solving relies on comments and social engagement to reveal the correct game.
- Deduction based guessing — Viewers infer which title a component belongs to based on context clues provided in the host's description.
- Recurring weekly cadence — A new component and puzzle each week keeps audience coming back.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- cool Bean token that is from the good solo game coffee roaster
- this is week 16
- I'll resolve this mystery next Monday
- there actually is a video on my Channel about a show of this game a bit