Cafe Business

Overview

The Cafe is one of the business types available in inZOI, introduced in the v0.5.0 update (December 2025). Cafes are built around the Coffee Craft skill and serve coffee drinks, teas, and light snacks to customers. The relaxed atmosphere of a cafe makes it a popular community gathering spot, and a well-run cafe can generate steady Meow income.

Among the available business presets, the cafe stands out for its relatively low startup cost and straightforward operation. Unlike a full restaurant, a cafe does not require advanced cooking infrastructure or a large kitchen. The primary investment goes toward coffee equipment and comfortable seating. However, cafes do require consistent skill development in Coffee Craft to unlock the higher-value beverages that drive profitability. Players who enjoy a slower, more atmospheric style of management will find the cafe to be a rewarding choice, though those looking for the highest raw income may want to compare earnings with other business types before committing.

Setting up a Cafe

Opening a cafe requires purchasing a business property and registering through the Smartphone Business App. Press P to open the phone, then select the Business App icon to begin registration. The full setup process is as follows:

1. Purchase an available business lot. In the Edit City window, look for properties labeled "Business Property" in their description.

2. Open the Business App on the Smartphone and select Register Business. Name your cafe in the Business Settings window.

3. Choose the Cafe preset from the Business Type tab. This preset automatically configures customer actions appropriate for a cafe, including ordering beverages and sitting at tables.

4. Configure the Recipe tab to select which coffee drinks and food items you want to sell. Only recipes your Zoi has unlocked through skill progression will appear here.

5. In the Player Settings tab, make sure "Order" is enabled as a customer activity. This is what allows visiting Zois to purchase your products.

6. Enter Build Mode to furnish the property. Place a kiosk (search for "kiosk" in Build Mode) so customers can place orders, and add a market stand from the Social Event > Business category to display finished products for purchase.

7. Install coffee equipment: an espresso machine and a coffee grinder at minimum. Both are found under Kitchen Appliances in Build Mode.

8. Create a comfortable seating area with tables, chairs, sofas, or outdoor seating. The layout and furniture quality directly affect customer satisfaction.

9. Set your business hours. You can operate solo at first without hiring anyone, handling all orders yourself while building your reputation.

The cafe's atmosphere plays a major role in attracting customers. Cozy decor, warm lighting, and comfortable furniture encourage Zois to stay longer and order more. Keep an emergency fund of at least 5,000 Meow after opening, because early days tend to have low foot traffic while you build a customer base.

Equipment

Every cafe needs the right equipment to function. The two essential pieces are the coffee grinder and the espresso machine. Without both installed, your Zoi cannot prepare most coffee recipes, and the business will not generate beverage sales. These appliances are purchased through Build Mode under the Kitchen Appliances section.

The coffee pod machine is a budget alternative that offers regular coffee for 4 Meow and decaf for 5 Meow, but it will not level up your Coffee Craft skill. For a serious cafe operation, skip the pod machine entirely and invest in the grinder and espresso machine from the start. Higher-quality equipment tends to produce better results even at lower skill levels, so consider upgrading as your profits allow.

Coffee Craft Skill

The Coffee Craft skill is a unique skill separate from the Cooking skill. It governs which beverages your Zoi can prepare and the quality of the results. Coffee Craft is available to Teenagers, Young Adults, Adults, Middle-Aged, and Elder Zois. The only way to level it up is by brewing coffee repeatedly using the grinder and espresso machine. Each successful brew adds experience toward the next level, though the quality of individual cups varies as your Zoi practices.

At lower levels, your Zoi produces basic drinks like espresso and americano. As the skill increases, complex specialty drinks unlock, each commanding a higher sale price. The table below lists every recipe in the game, organized by the Coffee Craft level required to unlock it.

There are 35 coffee recipes in total. All recipes require a coffee grinder and espresso machine, except Cold Brew which only needs the espresso machine. No additional ingredients beyond the equipment are needed. Coffee expires like food, so prepare drinks shortly before selling rather than stockpiling large batches that might spoil.

Menu Options

Cafes primarily serve beverages, but you can expand the menu significantly by cross-training your Zoi in complementary skills. A cafe that also offers baked goods and light meals will generate more revenue per customer visit than one selling coffee alone.

• Coffee drinks: The core of any cafe menu. Drip coffee, espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and specialty blends are all available as your Coffee Craft skill increases.

• Teas: Hot and iced tea varieties, including Green Tea Latte at Coffee Craft level 6.

• Baked goods: Pastries, cookies, cakes, and other desserts can be offered if the owner has the Baking skill. Use "Stock Market Items" from the fridge to place baked goods on the market stand for sale.

• Cooked food: Sandwiches, small plates, and other light meals require the Cooking skill. Adding savory options alongside sweet pastries and beverages creates a full-service cafe experience.

A Zoi who develops both Cooking and Baking alongside Coffee Craft can operate a versatile cafe that rivals a full restaurant in menu depth. This combination provides one of the most flexible business setups available in the game, with savory main courses, baked desserts, and specialty beverages all under one roof. The trade-off is the time investment needed to level three separate skills.

Customer Satisfaction and Business Value

Customer satisfaction is the central metric that determines how quickly your cafe grows. Satisfied customers return more often, leave better reviews, and help raise your business value. As your business value increases, you attract even more customers, creating a positive feedback loop that steadily grows revenue.

Customer satisfaction is measured based on several factors:

• Furniture quality: Higher-quality tables, chairs, and decor contribute to a more pleasant atmosphere. Cafes benefit from this more than most business types because customers spend time sitting and relaxing.

• Suitable prices: Setting drink and food prices too high discourages repeat visits. Finding the right balance between profit margin and customer willingness to pay is key.

• Service frequency: How often customers successfully place orders and receive their drinks. Long wait times or unavailable menu items frustrate visitors.

• Employee responsiveness: If you have employees, their efficiency in taking orders, cleaning tables, and running the register affects the overall experience.

• Overall service quality: Drink quality, food freshness, cleanliness of the space, and the general condition of the cafe all factor in.

• Relationship with owner: Zois who have a positive relationship with the cafe owner tend to rate their experience more favorably.

Customer satisfaction is displayed in real time through thought bubbles that appear above visiting Zois. At the end of each business day, you receive customer reviews that provide more detailed feedback on what went well and what needs improvement. Pay close attention to these reviews, because they highlight specific issues you can address to boost ratings.

Employees

NPC employees can assist with taking orders, cleaning tables, handling the register, and preparing simple drinks. You can hire acquaintances or household members through the Business App. As your business level increases, the maximum number of employees you can hire also grows, allowing you to scale the operation over time.

When managing employees, keep the following in mind:

• Skill matching: Each employee has their own skills. Assign Zois with strong Coffee Craft or Cooking skills to kitchen and preparation duties. Zois with high Rhetoric skills are better suited for customer-facing service roles at the register.

• Salary: Employee salaries are calculated based on your business level, the employee's salary rank, and their working hours. Salaries are paid out after each business day. Employees can negotiate for higher pay through conversation, so be prepared for occasional salary discussions.

• Work hours: Long shifts affect your relationship with employees. Overworking staff may strain friendships and reduce morale. Balance operating hours with reasonable schedules.

• Owner's role: The owner typically handles specialty drink preparation, especially complex orders that require high Coffee Craft skill levels. As the business grows and you hire capable staff, you can delegate more tasks and focus on management.

In the early stages of running a cafe, it is perfectly fine to operate alone. You save on salary costs and keep all the revenue. Once foot traffic picks up and you find yourself unable to serve customers quickly enough, hiring your first employee for register and cleaning duties is a smart investment.

Revenue and Profitability

Cafe revenue comes from individual beverage and food sales. Each drink has a base production cost tied to its recipe level, and the selling price is determined by the recipe's tier. Higher-level drinks produce better profit margins; a level 10 recipe selling at 15 Meow is far more profitable than a level 0 espresso at 5 Meow.

Key revenue factors include:

• Drink quality: Higher Coffee Craft skill means better drinks and higher prices. Maxing out Coffee Craft unlocks premium beverages that command top prices and generate excellent reviews.

• Active management: Attending your cafe in person generates significantly more income than leaving it to run unattended. Players report earning around 18,000 to 20,000 Meow on days they are present, compared to roughly 6,000 Meow when absent.

• Star rating: As customer satisfaction rises, your cafe earns star ratings. Higher stars attract more customers and allow you to charge premium prices.

• Seating capacity: More seating means more customers can visit simultaneously. Expanding the dining area directly translates to higher potential revenue.

• Pre-stocking inventory: Preparing drinks and baked goods before business hours begin ensures customers are served quickly when they arrive, minimizing wait times and maximizing sales during peak traffic.

Players running well-optimized cafes with high-level recipes and good star ratings have reported daily earnings around 13,000 Meow. Profitability depends heavily on controlling costs; employee salaries and daily operating fees increase as the business grows. Keep track of your expenses and make sure revenue outpaces the rising overhead. Cafes can struggle in the early days when skill levels are low and customer traffic has not yet built up, so patience during the first few in-game weeks is important.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Because the business system was introduced relatively recently in v0.5.0, some players have encountered issues when running their cafes. Below are the most commonly reported problems and their solutions.

• Customers cooking in the kitchen: Some players report that customer Zois enter the kitchen and start cooking on their own, which blocks the owner from using the equipment. Check your Business Settings under the Player Settings tab and make sure "Cooking" is not enabled as a customer activity. Only "Order" should be enabled for a standard cafe.

• Products not selling: If customers visit but do not buy anything, verify that you have placed both a kiosk and a market stand. Customers need the kiosk to place orders and the market stand to pick up products. Also confirm that "Order" is set as a customer action in your business settings.

• Running at a loss: Daily operating fees increase as your business level grows. If expenses exceed revenue, consider reducing employee hours, lowering prices slightly to attract more customers, or focusing on leveling Coffee Craft to unlock higher-value drinks. Keeping at least 5,000 Meow in reserve prevents going into debt during slow periods.

• Low customer traffic: Foot traffic builds over time as your business value rises. Improve furniture quality, keep the space clean, and make sure the seating area is inviting. Good ambiance matters more for cafes than most other business types.

Comparison with Other Business Types

The cafe is one of several business presets available in inZOI. Each type has different strengths:

Cafes have the advantage of low startup requirements and a gentle learning curve. They are an excellent first business for players who want to learn the management system without heavy upfront investment. However, gyms currently generate the highest consistent income because they have zero crafting costs and can charge entrance fees plus lecture fees simultaneously. If maximizing income is the primary goal, a gym is the safer bet. Cafes reward players who enjoy the hands-on crafting loop and who are willing to invest time into leveling Coffee Craft for the premium drink tiers.

Tips

• Invest in a coffee grinder and espresso machine from the start. Skip the pod machine entirely; it does not build your Coffee Craft skill and only produces low-value drinks.

• Create an inviting atmosphere with comfortable seating and warm lighting. Ambiance matters more for cafes than most other business types, because customers sit and linger rather than making a quick purchase and leaving.

• Offer both hot and cold beverage options to appeal to customers regardless of season. Many recipes have iced variants that share the same skill level requirement.

• Consider cross-training in Baking to add pastries and cookies to your menu. Food sales supplement beverage revenue and give customers more reasons to visit.

• Keep the cafe clean and well-maintained. Messy tables and dirty floors drive customers away and tank your satisfaction ratings.

• Be present during business hours whenever possible. Active management roughly triples daily income compared to running the cafe passively.

• Pre-stock your market stand before opening each day. Having products ready when the first customers arrive prevents lost sales during the morning rush.

• Watch the customer review summaries at the end of each day. They highlight exactly which areas need improvement, whether that is food quality, wait times, or ambiance.

• Keep a financial cushion of at least 5,000 Meow. Early-stage cafes often operate at a loss for the first few days while building a customer base.

• As your business grows, hire employees for register and cleaning duties first. Reserve drink preparation for yourself until you train staff who can handle it competently.

See Also

• Business

• Coffee Craft

• Baking

• Cooking

• Bakery Business

• Restaurant Business

• Bar Business

• Meow and Economy

• Build Mode

• Smartphone