Springwood Cafe documentation
Forest Park: Springwood Cafe - Player Guide
Welcome to the player guide for Forest Park: Springwood Cafe. This keeps to the parts a player actually needs at the table: controls, layout, orders, upgrades, and the audio cues that make the cafe readable.
Table of Contents
- Game Overview
- Getting Started
- Controls
- Keyboard Controls
- Mouse Controls
- Game Controller Controls
- The Cafe Layout
- Making Coffee
- Step-by-Step Coffee Guide
- The Flavor Station
- Cooking Food Recipes
- Unlocking Recipes
- Preparing Ingredients
- Using the Oven
- Player-Managed Cafe Menu
- Serving Customers
- Customer Orders
- Customer Preferences
- Complimentary Servings
- Patience Timer
- Customers Away from the Table
- Scoring System
- Progress and Leveling
- What Affects Your Payout
- Service Streaks
- Reputation
- The Local Store
- Service Counter and Cafe Assistant
- Table Management
- Using the Vending Machine
- Using the Jukebox
- Newspapers
- Free WiFi
- Audio Cues Reference
- The Pause Menu
- Tutorial System
- Tips and Strategies
Game Overview
Springwood Cafe is an audio-based cafe management simulation where you run your own coffee shop. Your goal is to serve customers efficiently and accurately within a chosen time limit. Customers order from the cafe menu you manage: coffee, fridge beverages, and unlocked food recipes. Coffee orders include specific taste preferences. You must prepare orders correctly, serve them before customers lose patience, and maintain your cafe's reputation to stay in business.
Objective
- Serve customers efficiently to earn score points
- Match coffee taste preferences for bonus points
- Level up by earning progress
- Unlock new recipes by leveling up
- Manage the cafe menu so future customers can order the items you want to offer
- Purchase cafe upgrades through the local store
- Maintain your reputation above zero to continue playing
- Achieve the highest score possible before time runs out
Time Limits
When starting a game, you choose from several time limits: - 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, or 120 minutes
If leaderboard submission is available, your score is submitted when time expires.
Getting Started
When you start a new game:
- Select a time limit from the menu
- You spawn in the kitchen area of your cafe, facing north
- Customers will begin arriving after a short setup window and taking seats at tables
- Listen for audio cues indicating waiting customers (beeping sounds from tables)
- Prepare and serve orders before customers lose patience
Your first task will typically be preparing coffee, as customers initially only order coffee. Food recipes unlock later through level progression.
Customer Pace
The first customer arrives after about 25 seconds, giving you a calm moment to orient yourself. After that, customers arrive on a gentle repeating schedule: the base interval is 180 seconds, and each level reduces it by 0.5 seconds, down to a minimum of 120 seconds.
The number of active customers also grows gradually: - Levels 0-3: up to 2 active customers - Levels 4-7: up to 3 active customers - Levels 8-11: up to 4 active customers - Levels 12-15: up to 5 active customers - Level 16 and above: up to 6 active customers
Controls
Keyboard Controls
Movement: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | W | Walk forward | | A | Walk left (strafe) | | S | Walk backward | | D | Walk right (strafe) | | Shift (hold) | Run while moving |
Camera/Turning: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | Q | Snap turn 45 degrees left | | E | Snap turn 45 degrees right | | Left Arrow (hold) | Turn continuously left | | Right Arrow (hold) | Turn continuously right | | F | Announce current facing direction in degrees |
Interaction: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | Enter or X | Interact with object in front of you | | P | Hear the name and description of the object you're looking at, or held-item descriptions if nothing is targeted | | 1 | Process left hand (put down item or check info if holding Ctrl) | | 2 | Process right hand (put down item or check info if holding Ctrl) | | Ctrl + 1/2 | Hear information about item in that hand (instead of putting it down) |
Information: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | G | Open the game digest | | H | Announce what you are currently holding in both hands | | L | Announce your current level, XP, and next bonus milestone | | M | Open the cafe menu | | T | Announce elapsed time and total time limit | | R | Announce your reputation | | Y | Open cafe assistant settings after the assistant is hired |
System: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | Escape | Toggle pause menu |
Mouse Controls
| Action | Function |
|---|---|
| Move mouse left/right | Turn camera (faster movement = faster turning) |
| Left click | Interact with object in front of you |
| Other mouse buttons | Used only in menus |
Game Controller Controls
Movement: | Control | Action | |---------|--------| | Left Stick (up/down) | Walk forward or backward | | D-Pad | Walk in cardinal directions | | Right Stick (left/right) | Turn camera | | Right Trigger | Run (analog - further push = faster running) |
Interaction: | Control | Action | |---------|--------| | A button | Interact with object | | Left Stick Press | Hear targeted object or held-item descriptions | | Y button | Announce what you're holding | | Left Stick (left) | Process left hand | | Left Stick (right) | Process right hand | | Right Stick (hold) | Hold for item info instead of putting down |
Camera: | Control | Action | |---------|--------| | Left Bumper | Snap turn 45 degrees left | | Right Bumper | Snap turn 45 degrees right |
Information: | Control | Action | |---------|--------| | B button | Announce level and progress | | X button | Announce reputation | | Start button | Announce time | | Right Stick Press | Announce which way you're facing |
System: | Control | Action | |---------|--------| | Back button | Toggle pause menu |
The Cafe Layout
Your cafe is divided into two main areas:
Kitchen Area (Back of the Cafe)
Most of the kitchen equipment runs along the wall ahead of you when you spawn. From the right end to the left end, you will find:
- Fridge - Rightmost end of the kitchen row (locked until level 5)
- Oven - Locked until level 5
- Shelf - Starts stocked with renewable empty cups and cleaning cloths, plus the beans jar and coffee jar
- Coffee Grinder
- Coffee Maker
- Flavor Station
- Sink - Can be turned on or off for water audio, but is not needed for orders or cleaning
- Disposal - Used to destroy dirty tableware and used cleaning cloths
- Service Counter - Near the left side of the kitchen, used for assistant deliveries after you hire the assistant
To navigate the kitchen: - Start at the shelf and move right for the fridge and oven - Move left from the shelf for the grinder, coffee maker, flavor station, sink, disposal, and service counter - The service counter becomes useful after you hire the assistant
Main Dining Area (Front of the Cafe)
The main area contains 8 customer tables arranged as a two-column grid running from the kitchen side toward the front entrance:
Left Column: - Four tables arranged from back to front
Right Column: - Four tables arranged from back to front
Vending Machine: - Located on the left side of the dining area, closer to the front - Only active after purchase from the local store
Jukebox: - Located on the right side of the dining area, closer to the front - Only active after purchase from the local store
Navigation Tips: - Tables emit beeping sounds when customers are waiting - The pitch and pattern of beeps indicate table status - Dirty tables have a distinctly randomized lower-pitched beacon - Walk toward the beeping to find waiting customers - Glass windows are on the left and right sides - The front entrance is at the far north (you cannot leave)
Making Coffee
Coffee is the core product you'll serve. Here's everything you need to know:
Items Needed
All available from the Shelf: - Empty Cup - Holds the finished coffee - Beans jar - Contains coffee beans to grind - Coffee jar - Holds ground coffee powder
Equipment Locations
Arranged along the back wall of the kitchen from right to left: 1. Shelf (contains empty cups, the beans jar, the coffee jar, and cleaning cloths) 2. Coffee Grinder (grinds beans into powder) 3. Coffee Maker (brews the coffee) 4. Flavor Station (customizes taste)
Step-by-Step Coffee Guide
Step 1: Get a Cup 1. Face the Shelf and interact 2. In the "Select an item" menu, choose "Empty Cup" 3. The cup will be in one of your hands
Step 2: Grind Coffee Beans 1. Interact with the Shelf again 2. In the "Select an item" menu, choose "Beans jar" 3. Walk to the Coffee Grinder (left of shelf) 4. Interact with the grinder while holding the beans jar 5. Wait for the grinding sound to finish completely 6. Put down the beans jar (press 1 or 2 for the hand holding it)
Step 3: Collect Ground Coffee 1. Interact with the Shelf and choose "Coffee jar" 2. Return to the Coffee Grinder 3. Interact to collect the ground coffee into your jar 4. The jar now contains coffee powder (up to 10 batches)
Step 4: Load the Coffee Maker 1. Walk to the Coffee Maker (left of grinder) 2. Interact while holding the Coffee jar to pour ground coffee in 3. One pour adds up to 2 batches to the coffee maker, which can hold up to 4 batches 4. Put down the coffee jar
Step 5: Brew the Coffee 1. Interact with the Shelf and choose "Empty Cup" 2. Interact with the Coffee Maker while holding the empty cup 3. The cup will be inserted and brewing begins 4. Wait for the brewing sound to complete 5. Interact again with an empty hand to retrieve the full cup
Dirty cups cannot be used in the coffee maker. Dispose of a dirty cup and take a clean empty cup from the shelf.
Step 6: Customize 1. Walk to the Flavor Station (left of coffee maker) 2. Interact while holding your full cup 3. A menu opens showing available additions 4. Add flavors to match coffee customer preferences
Step 7: Serve the Customer 1. Find the beeping table (customer waiting) 2. Walk to the table and interact 3. The coffee will be served!
Temperature System
Coffee and food plates cool by 1 degree every 3 seconds while they are left out, unless they are marked not to lose temperature. - 100 degrees - Just brewed (very hot) - 75 degrees and above - Very hot (best score multiplier: 1.15x) - 55-74 degrees - Still hot (normal score: 1.0x) - 35-54 degrees - Room temperature (reduced score: 0.75x) - 1-34 degrees - Cold (reduced score: 0.45x) - 0 degrees - The item is removed on the next temperature tick, even if you are holding it.
Important: Hot service still helps your score, but you have more breathing room to navigate, listen, and match flavors.
The Flavor Station
Coffee customers have specific taste preferences. The Flavor Station lets you customize coffee to match:
Available Additions: | Ingredient | Flavor Effect | |------------|---------------| | Sugar | +1 Sweet | | Milk | +1 Milky | | Lemon | +1 Sour | | Bitters | +1 Bitter | | Espresso Shot | +1 Strong |
Flavor Levels (0-5): - 0: Not [flavor] (none added) - 1: Slightly [flavor] - 2: Somewhat [flavor] - 3: [Flavor] - 4: Very [flavor] - 5: Extremely [flavor] (maximum)
How to Use: 1. Hold a full cup of coffee 2. Have one empty hand free 3. Interact with the Flavor Station 4. Select additions from the menu 5. The current taste profile is shown at the top 6. Press 1 in the flavor station menu to hear the current taste 7. Press 2 to hear the marked coffee order, if you marked one from the game digest 8. Select "Close" when finished
Matching Preferences: - Coffee preferences are announced when customers order coffee - Perfect matches give +150 bonus points - Close matches give reduced bonuses - Poor matches result in penalties - Listen to customer feedback when they drink!
Cooking Food Recipes
Food recipes unlock as you level up.
Unlocking Recipes
- Reach level 5 to unlock the Fridge and Oven
- Your first recipe unlocks automatically when food recipes become available
- Additional recipes unlock automatically as you keep leveling up
Available Recipes
Recipes range from simple to complex, including: - Margherita Pizza, Rustic Garlic Bread, Triple Cheese Melt - Spiced Chicken Skewers, Honey Glazed Salmon - Creamy Mushroom Pasta, Golden Fried Onion Rings - Sweet Berry Fusion, Caramelized Apple Tartlets - And many more (98 total recipes!)
Each recipe has: - Required ingredients with specific amounts - A cooking time (40-120 seconds) - A difficulty rating (1-10) - A unique description
Preparing Ingredients
Step 1: Get Ingredients from the Fridge 1. Interact with the Fridge (must be unlocked) 2. Browse ingredient categories (Meat, Vegetables, Dairy, etc.) 3. Select ingredients and amounts needed for your recipe 4. Review the total score cost for the ingredients 5. Choose "Withdraw selected items" and confirm 6. Ingredients are placed on a Plate in your hand
If you withdraw only beverage items, the fridge gives you hand-held drink objects instead of a plate. A single drink needs one empty hand; two drinks require both hands empty. These drinks can be used as main customer orders when added to the cafe menu, or as complimentary drinks. Drink-only withdrawals do not need plate preparation.
Fridge withdrawals other than drinks give you a prepared plate that you can put in the oven if the recipe matches an unlocked recipe. The prep tutorial hint is only spoken for these plate withdrawals.
Using the Oven
Step 1: Insert the Prepared Plate 1. Hold your prepared plate 2. Walk to the Oven (to the right of the Shelf, before the Fridge) 3. Interact to insert the plate 4. The oven door opens, rack slides in, door closes
Step 2: Start Cooking 1. Use the oven menu's Time spin control to choose seconds 2. Choose Start to begin cooking 3. Listen to the cooking sounds
Step 3: Monitor Cooking - Interact during cooking to open the running oven menu - The running menu shows remaining time and includes Stop and Cancel - Stop keeps the plate inside so you can add more time or take it out - Cancel closes the menu while cooking continues - Too little time leaves the plate undercooked; its description tells you how many more seconds it needs - Up to 10 extra seconds still counts as cooked - 11 to 30 extra seconds makes the plate overcooked and lowers score - More than 30 extra seconds burns the plate and ruins it
Step 4: Remove and Serve 1. Stop cooking if the oven is still running 2. Choose "Take plate out" with an empty hand 3. Serve cooked or overcooked food to a customer who ordered that recipe
Recipe Viewing
You can view unlocked recipes: - Press Escape to open the Pause Menu - Select "Display unlocked recipes" - Each recipe shows required ingredients and cooking time - You can "Mark" a recipe for easy reference - The fridge also includes a shortcut to display unlocked recipes
Player-Managed Cafe Menu
Customers order from the cafe menu you manage. At the start of a game, the menu contains only coffee.
Opening the Cafe Menu
- Press M during gameplay
- Or open the Pause Menu and choose Cafe menu
The cafe menu has two tabs: - Available - unlocked items that can be added to future customer orders - Currently on the menu - items customers may order next
What Can Be Added
- Coffee - available from the start
- Fridge beverages - available after the fridge unlocks at level 5
- Food recipes - available after each recipe is unlocked
Removing an item only affects future orders. Customers who already ordered that item keep their current order.
If the cafe menu is empty, new customers will not receive an order. A seated customer can wait for the cafe menu instead of raging, and they will try ordering again after you add an item.
Serving Customers
Customer Orders
Customers arrive periodically and seat themselves at empty tables. When seated: 1. They choose one item from the current cafe menu 2. They announce their order 3. If the order is coffee, they state their taste preferences 4. A beacon sound begins playing at their table 5. Their patience timer starts counting
Order Types: - Coffee - Available from the start and on the cafe menu by default - Fridge beverages - Available after the fridge unlocks and you add them to the cafe menu - Food Recipes - Available after each recipe unlocks and you add it to the cafe menu
Customer Preferences
Coffee orders use random preferences for five flavor aspects: - Sweet (0-5) - Milky (0-5) - Sour (0-2) - Bitter (0-5) - Strong (0-5)
Preferences are described when ordering: - "They want it plain" - All preferences are 0 - "slightly sweet" - Sweet level 1 - "very bitter and somewhat milky" - Bitter 4, Milky 2 - "extremely strong" - Strong level 5
Food orders and fridge beverage orders do not have taste preferences and do not require flavor matching. Complimentary drinks use flavor matching only for customers who ordered coffee.
Complimentary Servings
You can optionally offer each customer one complimentary drink. This is not required for completing their order, but it can increase their payout.
How to offer a complimentary drink: 1. Take a drink from the fridge so it is in your hand. 2. Go to the customer's table. 3. Interact while holding that drink. 4. The drink is placed on the table as a complimentary item. 5. The customer will drink it after their main order is served.
Important rules: - Complimentary items are optional; they do not replace the main order. - Each customer currently accepts only one complimentary item. - If the customer ordered coffee, flavor matching affects the complimentary drink bonus. - If the customer ordered food or a fridge beverage, a complimentary drink gives a small general bonus without taste matching.
Patience Timer
Customers won't wait forever: - Base wait time: 180 seconds - Extended by: Additional time for food orders (cooking time + 60 seconds) - Extended by newspapers: +30 seconds if the customer reads a newspaper - Extended by Free WiFi: +20 seconds if the customer uses their phone - Counter starts: When customer sits down - Counter pauses: While the customer is away from the table, or while they are waiting for you to add something to an empty cafe menu
If the timer expires before serving: - Customer leaves angrily - You lose reputation equal to your current level + 1 - You receive a negative stale-order score, made worse by table dirtiness - The "customers raged" counter increases
Customers Away from the Table
After you purchase the vending machine or jukebox, waiting customers may briefly leave their table to use one of them.
- While away, their patience timer does not count
- You can place their main order on the table while they're away
- They'll receive the order automatically when they return
- Device visits make that customer's final payout worth 15% more
- Each customer can use the vending machine once and the jukebox once
- The vending machine and jukebox store inserted score points you can collect later
Newspapers and Free WiFi work differently. Customers stay seated, read or use their phone once, and gain more patience time.
Scoring System
Progress and Leveling
Earning Progress: - Good customer visits add to both your score and your level progress - Bad results lower your score and slow your progress - Local store purchases and fridge ingredient costs spend score only; they do not reduce level progress - When your progress reaches the required amount, you level up
You start at level 0. The game still speaks this progress as "XP" when you press L.
Level Requirements: | Level Reached | Progress Needed from Previous Level | |---------------|-------------------------------------| | 1 | 100 | | 5 | 300 | | 10 | 550 | | 15 | 800 | | 19+ | 1000 (cap) |
The amount needed for the next level rises by 50 each level until it caps at 1000 from level 19 onward.
Leveling Benefits: - Customer spawn rate increases gently - Food recipes unlock at level 5, then new recipes unlock automatically - Bonus items appear at level 3, then every 2 levels after that
Bonus Item: - The current bonus item is an ever-hot full coffee cup that never cools
What Affects Your Payout
Your payout from each customer depends on:
- How fast you served them
- How hot the coffee or food still was
- How well a coffee order matched the customer's taste
- How difficult the food was
- Whether the table was dirty
- Any bonuses from the vending machine, jukebox, or complimentary drinks
Speed Bonus: | Service Time | Time Bonus | |--------------|------------| | Under 45 seconds | 100 (Excellent!) | | 45-90 seconds | 85 (Good) | | 90-135 seconds | 70 (Average) | | 135-180 seconds | 50 (Slow) | | Over 180 seconds | 30 (Very slow) |
Coffee orders use the raw time since the customer sat down. Food orders get a little extra breathing room before the speed bonus is judged.
Temperature Multiplier: | Temperature | Multiplier | |-------------|------------| | 75 degrees and above (Hot) | 1.15x | | 55-74 degrees (Warm) | 1.0x | | 35-54 degrees (Lukewarm) | 0.75x | | 1-34 degrees (Cold) | 0.45x | | 0 degrees or missing order | No temperature bonus and a stale penalty |
Fridge drinks do not use the coffee temperature system.
Coffee Flavor Satisfaction: | Match Quality | Points | |---------------|--------| | Perfect match (diff = 0) | +150 | | Good match (diff 1-5) | +90 to +50 | | Okay match (diff 6-10) | +20 to +0 | | Bad match (diff 11-15) | -44 to -60 | | Terrible match (diff 16+) | -65 or worse |
Dirty tables reduce the payout before bonuses are applied. For coffee, flavor match matters most. For food, the recipe itself and how well you cooked it matter. For fridge drinks, the drink's own value is used. The total bonus from the vending machine, jukebox, and complimentary drinks is capped at 1.75x total.
Complimentary Serving Bonus: - Offering a complimentary drink can increase the customer's payout. - For coffee customers, better flavor matches give a larger boost. - For food and fridge-beverage customers, complimentary drinks give a small general bonus without flavor feedback. - The bonus cap still applies, so vending, jukebox, and complimentary bonuses cannot grow without limit.
Service Streaks
Consecutive successful serves build a streak: - Each good service increases your streak by 1 - Each streak level adds 5% to your cash bonus, up to 25% - Negative scores reset your streak to 0
Example: - Streak 0: No bonus - Streak 3: +15% cash bonus - Streak 5+: +25% cash bonus (maximum)
Reputation
Your reputation starts at 50% (max 100%):
Gaining Reputation: - Successfully serving customers increases reputation - The amount depends on drink temperature and order quality
Losing Reputation: - Customers who leave angry reduce reputation - The penalty scales with your current level - Dirty tables can reduce reputation while the customer is drinking or eating
Game Over: - If reputation drops to 0%, the game ends - "You no longer have any reputation among your customers."
The Local Store
Access the local store from the Pause Menu.
Store items are level-gated. Locked items are visible in the store, but cannot be purchased until you reach their required level.
Available Items
Jukebox (180 score, requires level 2) - Unlocks the jukebox - Customers can visit it and insert coins - Makes each customer who uses it worth 15% more - Stores the coins it earns, which you can collect any time
Free WiFi (140 score, requires level 3) - Adds a free WiFi sign to every table - Waiting customers can use their phones once - Phone use adds 20 seconds to that customer's patience timer - Phone use plays notification, typing, delete, enter, sent, and received-message sounds
Soda Vending Machine (150 score, requires level 4) - Unlocks the vending machine - Customers randomly use it for soda - Makes each customer who uses it worth 15% more - Stores the coins it earns, which you can collect any time - View usage statistics by interacting with it
Newspapers (160 score, requires level 5) - Places newspapers on every table - Customers can read once while waiting - Adds 30 seconds to that customer's patience timer
Tissue box (120 score, requires level 6) - Places a tissue box on every table - Reduces how often customers leave tables dirty - Lets you clean dirty tables by interacting with an empty hand
Cafe assistant (300 score, requires level 7) - Hires a human assistant - Unlocks the service counter so you can set orders aside for them - Starts by collecting table cash and tips for a 20% wage - Learns more abilities as wages are collected
Purchasing
- Score is spent to buy upgrades and does not affect level progress
- Items unlock immediately after purchase
- Limited stock (one of each item)
Service Counter and Cafe Assistant
The service counter is present in the kitchen from the start, but it becomes useful once you hire the Cafe assistant from the local store.
Service Counter
The service counter holds up to 4 ready orders for the assistant.
You can place these ready items on it: - Full coffee cups that are not dirty and still have temperature - Fridge drink objects with a customer order ID - Cooked or overcooked plates that are still warm
If you interact with the service counter while holding a ready order, you set it aside for the assistant. If you interact with an empty hand, you take back the oldest order.
The counter only accepts order types the assistant has learned to carry. For example, food plates cannot be set aside until the assistant has learned food delivery.
Cafe Assistant
After hiring, the assistant works around the cafe and takes a 20% wage from positive table cash they collect. Those wages unlock new jobs.
Open assistant permissions: - Press Y during gameplay after hiring the assistant - Or use Cafe assistant permissions from the Pause Menu
The permissions menu shows the assistant's level, wages collected, unlocked abilities, and locked ability requirements. You can toggle unlocked abilities on or off.
Assistant Ability Ladder
| Assistant Level | Wages Required | Ability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | Collect cash and tips |
| 2 | 40 | Deliver coffee and fridge drink orders |
| 3 | 85 | Deliver food orders (requires food recipes unlocked) |
| 4 | 135 | Clear dirty cups from tables |
| 5 | 190 | Clear dirty plates from tables (requires food recipes unlocked) |
| 6 | 250 | Clean tables with the shelf cleaning cloth |
| 7 | 320 | Prioritize deliveries over lower-priority cleanup work |
| 8 | 400 | Clear dirty cups from the floor |
| 9 | 490 | Dispose used cleaning cloths left on the floor |
| 10 | 590 | Clean tables with tissues (requires tissue boxes purchased) |
| 11 | 750 | Make coffee orders, match flavors, and set finished cups aside |
The assistant focuses on deliveries first, then cleanup, then coffee prep as they unlock more abilities.
Table Management
Table States
Tables can be in several states:
Empty: - No beacon sound - Ready for a new customer
Occupied (Customer Waiting): - Regular-pitched beacon sound - Customer seated and waiting for their order - Table name shows the current order, plus the customer's flavor preference for coffee orders
Occupied (Customer Served): - No beacon - Customer consuming their order - Table name shows "Table with a customer"
Dirty: - Low-pitched, randomized beacon sound - May contain dirty cups or dirty plates from previous customers - Should be cleaned before reuse when possible - If a customer uses a dirty table, your score and reputation can suffer - Table name shows "Dirty Table"
Payout Waiting: - Coin loop sound playing - A positive payout is waiting to be collected
Marked Order Waiting: - Waiting tables with a marked coffee order or marked recipe play an extra indicator beep - Mark coffee orders or recipes from the game digest
Cleaning Tables
When a table is dirty: 1. Get the Cleaning cloth from the Shelf 2. Walk to the dirty table 3. Interact while holding the cloth 4. Scrubbing sounds play as you clean 5. The table becomes clean and ready
Cleaning cloths become used after cleaning. Put used cleaning cloths in the garbage disposal; the shelf restocks clean cloths.
After purchasing the Tissue box upgrade: 1. Walk to the dirty table 2. Interact with at least one empty hand 3. A tissue is pulled from the table's box 4. Cleaning continues automatically until the table is clean
Tissue boxes also reduce the chance that customers leave tables dirty.
Collecting Dirty Tableware
After customers leave: 1. Approach the table 2. Interact with an empty hand 3. Pick up dirty cups or dirty plates 4. Dispose of them in the garbage disposal
Collecting Payouts
When a customer leaves with a positive payout: 1. A coin loop sound plays at their table 2. Approach and interact with an empty hand 3. First action: collect the payout 4. The coin take sound plays and the score is added 5. Subsequent actions pick up dirty tableware
Negative or zero-score results are announced and applied immediately instead of leaving a coin loop to collect.
Using the Vending Machine
Unlocking
Purchase "Soda vending machine" from the local store for 150 score after reaching level 4.
How It Works
Once unlocked: 1. The vending machine turns on (humming sound) 2. Customers have a chance to visit it while waiting 3. When they do: - They get up from their table - Walk to the vending machine - Get soda (dispense sound) - Return to their seat 4. Their visit is worth 15% more 5. Each customer can use the vending machine once
Player Interaction
When you interact with the vending machine: - See how many customers have used it - Hear an estimated bonus value from customer use - Collect the inserted score points it has stored - Statistics help you judge its value
Strategic Value
- More customers using it = more bonus points
- Consider purchasing it once it is level-unlocked and affordable
- Helps offset the cost over a long game session
Using the Jukebox
Unlocking
Purchase "Jukebox" from the local store for 180 score after reaching level 2.
How It Works
Once unlocked: 1. The jukebox starts playing music. 2. Customers may decide to visit it while waiting. 3. When they do: - They get up from their table - Walk to the jukebox - Insert a coin - Return to their seat 4. Their visit is worth 15% more. 5. The jukebox stores the coins they insert for you to collect. 6. Each customer can use the jukebox once.
Player Interaction
When you interact with the jukebox: - Hear the name of the currently playing song - Collect the coins it has stored - If it's still locked, you are told to unlock it from the local store first
Strategic Value
- Gives two benefits at once: direct score from withdrawn coins, plus higher customer payouts
- Buying it earlier gives it more time to pay off
- Check it regularly and withdraw points so you don't forget free score
Newspapers
Purchase Newspapers from the local store for 160 score after reaching level 5.
Once unlocked: - Every table has a newspaper - Waiting customers may read once - Reading plays newspaper take, page flip, and put-down sounds - Reading takes about 10 to 18 seconds - The customer's patience timer receives a 30-second bonus
Newspapers do not directly increase score. Their value is time: they give you more room to finish orders before a customer rages.
Free WiFi
Purchase Free WiFi from the local store for 140 score after reaching level 3.
Once unlocked: - Every table has a free WiFi sign - Waiting customers may use their phone once - Phone use plays notification, typing, delete, enter, sent-message, and received-message sounds - Phone use takes about 18 to 26 seconds - The customer's patience timer receives a 20-second bonus
Free WiFi does not directly increase score. Its value is time: customers stay occupied longer while you finish orders.
Audio Cues Reference
Understanding audio cues is essential for success:
Customer and Table Sounds
| Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Regular-pitched beacon beep | Customer waiting at table |
| Extra marked-order beep | A waiting table matches a marked coffee order or recipe |
| Low/randomized-pitch beacon | Table is dirty |
| Coin loop sound | Payout waiting at the table |
| Chair sliding/sitting sounds | Customer taking a seat |
| Drinking sounds | Customer consuming coffee |
| Eating sounds | Customer consuming food |
| Chair getting up sound | Customer leaving |
| Tissue pull | Tissue pulled from a table tissue box before cleaning |
| Newspaper take/flip/put | Customer reading a table newspaper |
| Phone notification/typing/message sounds | Customer using Free WiFi at a table |
Equipment Sounds
| Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shelf take/put | Taking items from or storing items on the shelf |
| Grinder operating | Coffee beans being ground |
| Grinder empty | Collecting ground coffee |
| Coffee maker brewing | Coffee being made |
| Garbage disposal cycle | Garbage disposal destroying a held item or dirty tableware |
| Cafe-device bounce | Colliding with the jukebox, oven, sink, flavor station, or vending machine |
| Oven door open/close | Inserting/removing plate |
| Oven cooking loop | Food currently cooking |
| Oven finish chime | Food ready to remove |
| Oven burn sound | Food ruined (left too long) |
| Fridge hum | Fridge running (when unlocked) |
| Sink water | Sink is turned on |
| Vending machine hum | Machine active |
| Vending insert coin | Customer using the vending machine |
| Vending dispense | Customer getting soda |
| Jukebox music | Jukebox is unlocked and playing |
| Jukebox insert coin | Customer using the jukebox |
| Service counter setdown | Ready order placed on the service counter |
Item Identification Loops
| Sound | Item |
|---|---|
| Cup loop (high pitch) | Clean cup placed |
| Cup loop (low pitch) | Dirty cup |
| Coffee jar loop | Coffee jar placed |
| Beans jar loop | Beans jar placed |
| Cleaning cloth loop | Cleaning cloth placed |
Feedback Sounds
| Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Positive bell | Task completed successfully |
| Level up chime | You gained a level |
| Interactable alert | Object can be interacted with |
| Interactable lost | Moved away from interactable |
| Coin take sound | Payout collected |
| Negative score beep | Penalty applied |
The Pause Menu
Press Escape (keyboard) or Back (controller) to pause.
Menu Options
- Resume - Return to gameplay
- Tutorial - Manage tutorial hints
- Enable/disable hints
- View tutorial history
- Reset tutorial progress
- Display unlocked recipes - View all recipes you've unlocked
- Game digest - See who's in the cafe and what they want
- Customers and orders tab
- World items tab (objects in the cafe)
- Cafe menu - Manage what future customers can order
- Cafe assistant permissions - Appears after hiring the assistant
- Check out the local store - Purchase upgrades
- Learn game sounds - Practice identifying non-obvious audio cues
- Read the game's documentation - View this guide
- Settings - Adjust game settings
- Exit to main menu - End your current game
Game Digest Details
Customers and Orders Tab: - Lists all current customers - Shows what each customer ordered - Shows their coffee taste preferences and where they are - Lets you mark recipes and coffee orders
World Items Tab: - Lists all objects in the cafe - Shows what each object is - Shows where each object is
Tutorial System
The game includes a helpful tutorial system for new players.
Managing Tutorials
From the Pause Menu > Tutorial: - Enable/Disable hints - Toggle tutorial messages - Show tutorial history - Review all hints received - Reset tutorial progress - Start tutorials fresh
Tips and Strategies
General Efficiency
- Learn the layout - Memorize equipment positions for faster navigation
- Pre-grind coffee - Keep the coffee jar full between customers
- Multiple cups - Have cups ready for quick brewing
- Listen carefully - Audio cues tell you everything you need to know
Maximizing Score
- Serve efficiently - Under 45 seconds gives the best time bonus
- Keep it hot - 75 degrees and above gives a 1.15x multiplier
- Match flavors - Perfect match gives +150 points
- Build streaks - Consecutive good serves increase your cash bonus up to 25%
Customer Management
- Prioritize urgent customers - Longer waits mean worse scores
- Use the cafe menu - Keep only the order types you are ready to serve
- Offer one complimentary drink - Good flavor matches can noticeably boost payout
- Use the vending machine and jukebox - Customers who use them give you more score and leave coins behind
- Use Free WiFi and newspapers - They buy you extra time with waiting customers
- Use tissue boxes - They reduce dirty-table buildup and clean dirty tables without carrying the cloth
- Don't let them rage - Rage quits cost reputation and leave a score penalty
Coffee Workflow Optimization
- Beans jar stays on the shelf - Only take it to refill grinder
- Coffee jar can stay out - Place it near the grinder
- Cups rotate constantly - Always have clean ones ready
- Mark coffee orders - Use the digest, then press 2 in the flavor station menu to hear the remaining target
- Work in parallel - Flavor one finished cup while another cup is brewing
Food Recipe Tips
- Know your recipes - Mark frequently ordered ones
- Prepare in batches - Multiple plates if customers order the same thing
- Set oven time carefully - Undercooking needs more time, overcooking lowers score, and too much time burns the food
- Temperature matters - Food also loses heat over time
- Add recipes to the cafe menu - Unlocking a recipe does not force customers to order it
Economy Management
- Reach level 5 for food - Food recipes unlock through progression, not local store purchase
- Store items are level-gated - Jukebox at level 2, Free WiFi at level 3, vending at level 4, newspapers at level 5, tissue boxes at level 6, and assistant at level 7
- Vending and jukebox are valuable - 15% payout boosts and withdrawable coins add up
- Free WiFi, tissue boxes, and newspapers save time - WiFi and newspapers extend patience; tissues reduce cleaning trouble
- Assistant wages unlock abilities - Letting the assistant collect cash costs 20%, but helps them learn new jobs
- Score wisely - Local store purchases and fridge withdrawals spend current score, but do not reduce level progress
Staying Alive
- Monitor reputation - Check with R key
- Never let customers rage - Each rage quit costs reputation
- Quality over speed if desperate - A served customer saves reputation
- Know when to reset - If reputation is critically low, focus on safe serves
Thank you for playing Forest Park: Springwood Cafe! Good luck running your cafe!