Why Early Access?

“CoffeeShop Simulator is made by one developer. The core of the game is in place and playable from start to finish: the barista gestures, the daily service loop, the shop management and the free layout of your café. Early Access lets players get their hands on it now and lets me shape the next steps around real feedback: the balance of the rush, the drinks and food players want, and the furniture and decoration they ask for.

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Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I'm planning on roughly six months, with the full release targeted for spring 2027. This is an estimate, not a commitment: the game leaves Early Access once the planned content is in and saves are stable, and in any case within a year.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version is the full gameplay loop, not a demo. The full version should build on it, in this order of priority:
- More to serve and buy: new drinks and pastries, including seasonal cards (the game already crosses seasons), new equipment and improvements.
- More ways to make the café your own: additional furniture, decorations and finishes, more options for rebuilding the space.
- A longer life after the last level: new objectives, regulars and events, so that a well-run café keeps things to aim for.
- Comfort and platforms: full controller support, Steam achievements and cloud saving, languages ​​other than English and French.
- Balancing and finishing guided by your feedback: rhythm of the gunshot, price and reputation, animations and sounds.
- These are intentions, not promises: the order and detail will follow what Early Access players actually ask for.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The game is complete and playable as a solo, first-person barista simulation, in English and French, keyboard and mouse, Windows only.
- Every drink is made by hand: grinding, tamping, extraction, steaming milk, cold drinks, smoothies and teas; each cup gets a score and advice.
- A full day loop: preparation, a service of about 12 minutes with queues and customer patience, last orders, closing and a detailed nightly report.
- Shop management: prices and menu, suppliers and deliveries, storeroom and fridge, running costs, maintenance.
- Progression through five tiers unlocked by your mastery, with upgrades and recipe kits.
- Free café building: buy and place furniture and appliances, move your stations, knock down and add walls and partitions, use the right-hand room and the terrace, paint the walls, choose among three addresses in the city.
- A photo mode, a guided first day (the tutorial can be skipped), remappable keys, AZERTY/QWERTY, interface scale, milk-pouring assist.
Known limits today: no controller support, Windows only, English and French only, single-player only. Save files are meant to carry over between updates; if an update ever requires a fresh start, it will be announced in the patch notes.
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Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes. The Early Access price is lower than the planned full price: the game will cost more when it leaves Early Access, to reflect the content added in the meantime. Buying during Early Access means keeping the game, with every update, at the price you paid.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“As a solo developer, the Steam Community Hub is where development happens in the open:
- I read every review and discussion thread, and I answer.
- A pinned "Known issues & what's next" thread is kept up to date, so you always know what has been reported, what is being worked on and what comes after.
- Every update ships with patch notes explaining what changed and why.
- When choices are open (which drinks, which furniture, what to balance first), I ask the community directly in the Hub and follow the answers.
- Short progress clips are posted on Instagram between updates.
Bug reports are most useful with your save file and the game log (Steam > Manage > Browse local files > Saved/Logs): a pinned thread explains how to attach them.”