Coffee and Beverages

Overview

Coffee culture is a surprisingly deep system in inZOI. The Coffee Craft skill lets Zois progress from pulling basic espresso shots to creating elaborate latte art worthy of a professional barista. There are 36 distinct coffee recipes spanning skill levels 0 through 10, each with a different Meow cost. Coffee Craft is described in-game as unlocking "more sophisticated coffee recipes with each level." The skill is available to Teenagers, Young Adults, Adults, Middle-Aged, and Elder Zois.

Beyond personal enjoyment, coffee ties into the business ownership system introduced in update v0.5.0 (December 23, 2025). Zois can open and manage their own cafes, serving the drinks they have learned to make to paying customers. Coffee also functions as a Zoi preference and connects to multiple Desired Life paths.

Required Equipment

To develop the Coffee Craft skill, you need two specific appliances purchased from the Kitchen Appliances section in Build Mode:

• Coffee Grinder grinds whole beans before brewing. Required for most recipes. When your Zoi brews, they will start by grinding the beans.

• Espresso Machine the primary brewing device. Interact with it and select "Make Coffee" to open the recipe menu. Select the recipe you wish to brew and spend the required Meow.

Both machines must be placed in your home. Once installed, you can interact with either one to begin the coffee-making process. Results vary in quality as you develop the skill, and brewed coffee expires like food, do not leave it sitting out too long.

There is also a Coffee Pod Machine available, which allows Zois to make instant coffee without any skill requirements. The pod machine offers two options: Drink Coffee (4 Meow) and Drink Decaf Coffee (5 Meow). However, using a pod machine does not raise the Coffee Craft skill, it simply produces a quick drink. For skill progression, you must use the espresso machine and grinder combination.

Coffee Recipes by Skill Level

All recipes below require a coffee grinder and espresso machine. The Meow cost listed is per cup. Locked recipes appear grayed out in the menu until the required skill level is reached.

Level 0. Basics (5 Meow each)

• Espresso a concentrated shot, the foundation for all other drinks

• Americano classic hot black coffee diluted with water

• Iced Americano the cold version, popular in warmer weather

• Decaf Americano caffeine-free hot option

• Decaf Iced Americano caffeine-free cold option

Level 1. Introductions (6 Meow each)

• Cold Brew slow-steeped cold extraction with a smooth, less acidic flavor

• Latte espresso with steamed milk, the gateway to latte art

• Iced Latte espresso over ice with cold milk

Level 2. Flavored Drinks (7 Meow each)

• Caramel Macchiato layered espresso with vanilla-flavored steamed milk and caramel drizzle

• Iced Caramel Macchiato the cold version of the layered classic

Level 3. Cappuccinos (8 Meow each)

• Cappuccino equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam

• Iced Cappuccino a cold take on the traditional cappuccino

Level 4. Mochas and Vanilla (9 Meow each)

• Caffe Mocha espresso blended with chocolate and steamed milk

• Iced Caffe Mocha the iced chocolate-coffee combination

• Vanilla Latte espresso with vanilla syrup and steamed milk

• Iced Vanilla Latte cold vanilla espresso drink

Level 5. European Specialties (10 Meow each)

• Einspanner a Viennese-style espresso topped with a thick layer of whipped cream

• Franziskaner an Austrian cappuccino variant with whipped cream instead of milk foam

• Wiener Melange Viennese coffee similar to a cappuccino but with a lighter, silkier foam

Level 6. Green Tea (11 Meow each)

• Green Tea Latte matcha powder blended with steamed milk and a shot of espresso

• Iced Green Tea Latte the cold matcha version, vibrant green in color

Level 7. Chocolate Blends (12 Meow each)

• Chocolate Cream Chip a rich chocolate drink blended with cream and chocolate chips

• Iced Chocolate Cream Chip the frozen blended version

Level 8. Latte Art (13 Meow each)

Level 8 is where coffee becomes art. Four drinks feature visible latte art patterns poured into the foam:

• Heart Latte a classic heart shape poured into milk foam, the simplest latte art pattern

• Rosetta Latte a fern-like leaf pattern requiring precise wrist control during the pour

• Cat Latte a playful cat face design in the foam, fitting inZOI's cat-loving aesthetic

• Swan Latte an elegant swan shape, considered the most difficult of the four standard patterns

Also unlocked at level 8: Double Chocolate Chip Crunch Shake a premium blended drink (13 Meow).

Level 9. Specialty Creations (14 Meow each)

• Whisker Cream Brew a whimsical cream-topped coffee with a cat-whisker design

• Blue Cat Tree an artistic blue-tinted coffee creation with a distinctive tree-and-cat motif

Level 10. Master Barista (15 Meow each)

The three pinnacle drinks available only at maximum Coffee Craft:

• Non-Alcoholic Cafe Royal a sophisticated coffee inspired by the classic Cafe Royale but without the brandy, featuring complex layered flavors

• Tropical Ember a warm, tropical-flavored espresso creation with exotic notes

• Feline Grace the ultimate coffee masterpiece, a premium beverage with intricate presentation

Leveling Strategy

Coffee Craft levels up by making coffee consistently. There is no shortcut, each brew provides skill experience, and you can only brew one cup at a time. The skill takes time to master. Some tips for efficient leveling:

• Start with Americanos and Espressos at level 0, they cost only 5 Meow each and provide skill experience at the same rate as more expensive drinks.

• Keep your Zoi's energy and comfort needs satisfied. A happy Zoi in a positive emotional state gains skill experience more efficiently.

• As you unlock new recipes, brew them at least once. Trying a recipe for the first time may provide a small bonus to skill gain.

• The Coffee Craft skill becomes significantly more valuable when combined with the cafe business system. Every new recipe you unlock is another item you can sell to customers.

Coffee as a Preference

Coffee is classified as a Food Preference in inZOI's personality system. A Zoi with the Coffee preference will naturally enjoy any activity involving coffee. Making it, drinking it, or visiting cafes. Preferences can be set during character creation or may change over time based on events and external actions. Each Zoi can have a maximum of 10 preferences at any time, and preferences can be adjusted through the Manage Zois menu.

Coffee aligns with multiple Desired Life paths:

• Life of Abundance pursuing economic stability and enjoying experiences from financial security

• Life of Advancement focusing on personal development and continuous self-improvement

• Life of Harmony coexisting with nature in balance while maintaining sustainability

• Life of Respectability upholding self-determined principles and achieving merit-based recognition

• Life of Stability following social conventions with emphasis on predictability and consistency

Additionally, Coffee Craft (referred to as "coffee art" in some Desired Life descriptions) appears as a skill component in the Life of Simplicity, Life of Excitement, and Life of Respectability paths. If your Zoi's Desired Life includes coffee art, leveling Coffee Craft will directly contribute to their life fulfillment.

The Cafe Business

Update v0.5.0 (December 23, 2025) introduced business ownership, and cafes are one of the primary business types. Running a cafe combines Coffee Craft skill with business management:

Opening a Cafe

To start a cafe:

1. Purchase a business property view available properties in the Edit City window, marked as "Business Property" in their description.

2. Fill out the business registration from the Business App on your Zoi's smartphone.

3. Set business hours under Business Settings (you can start as a sole operator without hiring anyone).

4. Select the recipes you want to offer under Business Settings > Recipe.

5. Apply the Cafe preset from the Business Type tab, this automatically configures customer activities ("Drink Coffee," "Eat," "Read a Book") and sets up a management environment suited to a cafe. You can also configure manually.

6. Ensure "Order" is set under Customer Activity in Player Settings. This is what makes Zois buy your products.

7. In Build Mode, search for and place a kiosk this is the object customers interact with to place orders.

Managing Operations

Multiple Businesses

A single household can own multiple businesses through the multi-store management system, allowing an entrepreneurial Zoi to run a chain of cafes or diversify into other business types like bakeries, restaurants, florist shops, and bars. Each business is managed independently with its own staff, hours, and finances.

Notable Cafe Locations

Several pre-built cafes exist across inZOI's cities, each serving as both a social hub and a reference for players looking to open their own cafe:

Future Development

The Coffee Craft skill is expected to gain more gameplay relevance as inZOI continues through Early Access. The v0.5.0 business update already elevated its importance by connecting brewing skill to cafe profitability. The 2026 Roadmap includes expanded career systems, freelance work, and new reward tiers that may further integrate coffee-related content. The community has also expressed interest in barista competitions and coffee-themed events, though these have not been officially confirmed.