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Cafe Business
March 31, 2026 at 02:20 PM
Initial version
The cafe is one of nine business types available in inZOI. It is a food-service establishment where your Zoi sells coffee beverages, baked goods, and cooked meals to visiting customers. Cafes are widely recommended as a first business because they have low setup requirements and offer a straightforward introduction to the business management system. A well-run cafe can generate between 4,500 and 13,000 Meow in daily profit depending on your star rating, menu selection, and how actively you manage operations.
When you select the Cafe preset during business registration, the game automatically configures customer activities to include "Drink Coffee," "Eat," and "Read a Book." This means customers who visit your cafe will order beverages and food, sit down at tables to consume them, and sometimes browse reading material. The atmosphere is relaxed compared to a restaurant or bar, and the preset handles much of the initial configuration for you.
Setting up a cafe follows the same general process as any business in inZOI. You need to acquire a business property, register it through the Business App, equip the space with the right furniture and appliances, and then open your doors to customers.
Open the Edit City window and look for lots marked as "Business Property" in their description. Purchase one of these lots to serve as your cafe location. The property cost varies depending on the city and lot size. Both Dowon and Bliss Bay have business properties available for purchase.
After purchasing the property, click on it in the Edit City window and select the "Register Business" button. This opens the Business Settings window where you configure the following:
Business Name: Choose a name for your cafe.
Business Type: Select the "Cafe" preset from the Business Type tab. This automatically sets up appropriate customer activities.
Recipes: In the Recipe tab, choose which food and drink items your cafe will sell. You can select from cooking recipes, baking recipes, and coffee craft beverages.
Business Hours: Set your operating days and hours in the Business Hours tab. Community cafes in the game world typically run from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, but you can customize this to fit your schedule.
Player Settings: Configure customer targeting such as age groups and preferred activities in the Player Settings tab.
Enter Edit Property mode (Build Mode) and furnish your cafe with the essential equipment listed in the section below. Use the search bar to find specific items like "kiosk" or "espresso machine" quickly. The layout of your space directly affects customer satisfaction and employee efficiency, so plan the floor carefully. Customers should be able to enter, order at the kiosk, find a seat, and leave without getting stuck on obstacles.
Once everything is in place, open the Business App and start your first business day. You do not need to hire employees immediately. Your Zoi can run the cafe solo at first, handling coffee preparation and customer service personally. As your business grows and earns more revenue, you can hire staff to help.
A functioning cafe needs specific furniture and appliances. Without these core items, your business will not operate properly. The following table lists the essential equipment every cafe should have.
Equipment | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Kiosk | Point-of-sale terminal where customers pay for orders | Place at least one near the entrance or counter area. Every business needs a kiosk to process transactions. |
Espresso Machine | Produces coffee beverages from the Coffee Craft recipe list | Core piece of equipment for any cafe. Employees use it to fill customer orders. |
Coffee Grinder | Required alongside the espresso machine for most coffee recipes | Without a grinder, only basic drinks from a Coffee Pod Machine are available. |
Market Stand | Displays prepared food and drinks for sale to customers | Stock items on the stand before business hours begin to reduce wait times during peak hours. |
Seating (Tables and Chairs) | Provides places for customers to sit while eating or drinking | Essential for cafes, restaurants, and bars. Without seating, customers cannot consume their orders on-site. |
Cooking Station | Allows preparation of cooked meals if your cafe serves food | Optional if you only sell beverages, but food items significantly boost revenue. |
Oven | Enables baked goods production for the menu | Pairs with the Baking skill to offer pastries, cakes, and desserts alongside coffee. |
You can find all of these items in the Build Mode appliances and furniture sections. Type the item name in the search bar to locate it quickly. A Coffee Pod Machine is also available as a simpler alternative to the espresso machine and grinder combo, but it does not contribute to Coffee Craft skill progression and only produces basic instant coffee.
Your cafe menu is configured through the Recipe tab in the Business App. You can sell items from three skill categories: Coffee Craft (beverages), Cooking (savory meals), and Baking (pastries and desserts). A Zoi who develops all three skills can operate the most versatile cafe possible, offering a full range of food and drink. The coffee recipes available depend on your Zoi's Coffee Craft skill level.
There are 47 distinct coffee beverages in inZOI, unlocked in batches as your Coffee Craft skill increases from level 0 to level 10. Each recipe costs a set amount of Meow to prepare. The following table shows the key recipes at each tier.
Skill Level | Recipes | Cost per Cup |
|---|---|---|
0 | Espresso, Americano, Iced Americano, Decaf Americano, Decaf Iced Americano | 5 Meow |
1 | Cold Brew, Latte, Iced Latte | 6 Meow |
2 | Caramel Macchiato, Iced Caramel Macchiato | 7 Meow |
3 | Cappuccino, Iced Cappuccino | 8 Meow |
4 | Caffe Mocha, Iced Caffe Mocha, Vanilla Latte, Iced Vanilla Latte | 9 Meow |
5 | Einspanner, Franziskaner, Wiener Melange | 10 Meow |
6 | Green Tea Latte, Iced Green Tea Latte | 11 Meow |
7 | Chocolate Cream Chip variants | 12 Meow |
8 | Heart Latte, Rosetta Latte (latte art) | 13 Meow |
9 | Cat Latte, Swan Latte (latte art) | 14 Meow |
10 | Whisker Cream Brew, Blue Cat Tree, Tropical Ember, Feline Grace, Non-Alcoholic Cafe Royal | 15 Meow |
Higher-level recipes cost more Meow to produce but sell for proportionally higher prices, especially once you factor in quality bonuses. Brew quality varies randomly with each preparation, and higher quality drinks fetch better prices from customers. Coffee that is brewed but not consumed will eventually spoil, similar to cooked food.
Beyond coffee, cafes can sell cooked meals and baked goods. Group-sized meal batches are particularly profitable because they sell for roughly 10 times their production cost. Preparing expensive recipes unlocked at higher Cooking and Baking skill levels yields the best margins. Stock food items on market stands before business hours begin so employees spend less time cooking during peak customer periods.
You can start your cafe as a solo operation, but hiring employees allows the business to serve more customers, produce more products, and continue operating even when your Zoi is not physically present. Employees are hired through the Business App.
When hiring, you negotiate a daily salary with each candidate. Salaries are calculated based on your business level, the employee's salary rank, and their working hours. Offering a higher salary increases the likelihood that the candidate accepts the position, while lowball offers may be rejected outright. The effectiveness of each employee depends on their individual skills. A single skilled cook or a charismatic server makes a bigger difference than multiple unskilled workers.
For a cafe, the most important employee skills are Coffee Craft (for preparing beverages), Cooking (for food preparation), and Baking (for pastries). When possible, build relationships with skilled Zois before opening your business so you have a pool of qualified candidates ready to hire on day one.
Consideration | Details |
|---|---|
Starting Solo | You can run the cafe yourself initially, handling all coffee preparation and customer service. |
When to Hire | Hire once revenue consistently covers daily costs plus employee salaries. Starting too early can cause losses. |
Salary Negotiation | Offer competitive pay based on skill level. Higher-skilled workers expect more but generate better output. |
Skill Matching | Assign employees to tasks that match their strongest skills (Coffee Craft for beverages, Cooking for meals). |
Autonomous Operation | With employees, the cafe can serve customers even when your Zoi is away, though revenue drops without your presence. |
Customer satisfaction is the most important factor driving your cafe's growth. It determines your star rating, which in turn affects how many customers visit, how much they are willing to pay, and whether your business value increases over time. Businesses with higher values attract more customers and allow you to hire additional employees.
Several factors influence customer satisfaction at your cafe:
Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
Furniture Quality | Higher-quality furniture and decorations improve your cafe's atmosphere and boost customer ratings. |
Layout and Flow | Customers should be able to enter, order, find a seat, and leave without obstruction. Poor layout frustrates visitors. |
Pricing | Setting prices too high drives customers away. Prices that are too low cut into profit margins. Start with defaults and adjust based on daily reviews. |
Employee Responsiveness | Skilled, well-assigned employees serve customers faster and produce higher-quality items. |
Service Frequency | How often customers can use business activity services (ordering, seating) without long waits. |
Relationship with Owner | Your Zoi's personal relationships with regular customers contribute positively to their satisfaction. |
Customer satisfaction is displayed in real time through thought bubbles that appear over visitors' heads. At the end of each business day, customer reviews provide detailed feedback about what went well and what needs improvement. You can also ask customers directly for feedback through conversation, or have your Zoi search for tips to improve customer satisfaction on a computer.
Cafe profitability depends heavily on your star rating, menu selection, and management style. Here is a general breakdown of what to expect at different stages.
Metric | Range |
|---|---|
Daily Revenue (2-star cafe) | Around 4,500 Meow |
Daily Revenue (high-star cafe) | Up to 13,000 Meow with skilled preparation and group meals |
Daily Operating Fee | Increases progressively as your business level rises |
Employee Salaries | Negotiated per employee; varies by skill level and hours worked |
Startup Reserve | Keep at least 5,000 Meow as an emergency fund after opening |
New cafes typically operate at a loss during the first few business days while you build customer traffic and work toward a higher star rating. Revenue increases significantly once your cafe reaches 2 stars, and continues scaling upward with further improvements. Your Zoi's physical presence at the business also matters: revenue drops noticeably when you are not in the area, even if employees are working.
Prepare group-sized meal batches instead of single servings. Group meals sell for roughly 10 times their production cost.
Stock market stands with pre-made items before business hours so employees can focus on live orders.
Focus on higher-tier recipes that become available as your Cooking, Baking, and Coffee Craft skills increase.
Adjust individual item prices gradually based on daily review feedback. Do not raise prices too sharply all at once.
Keep your Zoi physically present at the cafe during operating hours to maximize customer traffic and revenue.
inZOI offers nine business types, each with different strengths and challenges. The following table compares the cafe to the other major options to help you decide which business type fits your playstyle.
Business Type | Daily Profit Potential | Key Advantage | Key Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
Cafe | 4,500 - 13,000 Meow | Low setup cost, versatile menu (coffee + food + baked goods) | Requires active restocking and skill investment across multiple crafts |
Gym | 18,000 - 23,000 Meow | Highest consistent income, zero crafting costs | Revenue comes from entrance fees and paid lectures, less creative gameplay |
Bakery | 4,500 - 12,000 Meow | Simpler recipe pipeline focused on Baking skill | Narrower menu variety limits upselling opportunities |
Restaurant | 5,000 - 16,000 Meow | High-value individual items like oyster platters | Heavy reliance on Cooking skill and complex recipe management |
Bar | 5,000 - 14,000 Meow | Beverage-focused with cocktail recipes | Cocktail profitability has been affected by balance patches |
Florist Shop | Moderate | Low ongoing material costs | Limited customer base compared to food businesses |
The cafe stands out for its flexibility. Because it draws from Coffee Craft, Cooking, and Baking, a cafe owner with high levels in all three skills has access to the widest product range of any food business. However, this versatility comes at the cost of needing to invest in three separate skill trees rather than specializing in one. If you prefer a simpler, more hands-off operation, a gym generates higher income with less micromanagement. If you enjoy the crafting and recipe side of the game, a cafe gives you the most room to experiment.
Start your cafe as a solo operation to learn the mechanics before spending Meow on employee salaries that might exceed your early revenue.
Level your Coffee Craft skill at home before opening the business. Higher-tier drinks sell for more and improve customer satisfaction.
Invest in quality furniture and keep the layout open and intuitive. Customers who cannot find a seat or get stuck on obstacles leave unhappy reviews.
Check the daily customer reviews at the end of each business day. They provide specific, actionable feedback about pricing, service speed, and atmosphere.
Combine Cooking and Baking with Coffee Craft to offer the widest menu possible. Versatility lets you serve breakfast items, pastries, and specialty drinks all from one location.
If your employees are not filling coffee orders correctly, make sure the espresso machine and coffee grinder are both placed and accessible. Missing either appliance prevents most recipes from being prepared.
Group meals are the single biggest revenue booster. Always prepare group-sized batches of your most expensive recipes when possible.
Keep at least 5,000 Meow in reserve after opening. The first few days of operation may run at a loss until your customer base grows.
