How it plays
It is rush hour at the café. Orders lie face up on the table: burgers, salads, cakes and drinks, always with the bill. Everyone holds café cards, and there are also four ingredient dice. Taking turns, each person has exactly one action: place a card or a die on a matching symbol, draw a card or reroll the free dice. An order only counts as served when it is complete and includes at least one die. Three rounds of three minutes each are played; anything left unfinished carries over into round three. After that, nothing may be left open.
What it can help develop
Under time pressure, the brain is constantly comparing: what is missing where, does one of my cards fit, does a die show the right symbol? This calls for processing speed and visual search. At the same time, players have to keep an eye on the clock, their hand and what the others call out: divided attention. Because play strictly follows the turn order, impulse control is needed: the perfect card has to wait until it is the player’s turn. And because everyone wins or loses together, children practise saying briefly what is still missing.
Especially suitable for
- School-age children from age 7 who enjoy speed and commotion
- Families who would rather play together than against each other
- Trips and short breaks, thanks to the compact magnetic box
Less suitable for
- Children who are quickly overwhelmed by time pressure
- Anyone looking for a calm strategy game
Our verdict
The game 3 Minute Crazy Cafe is a worthwhile choice for families with school-age children from age 7 who play together against the clock and find the hectic pace fun. The rules are quick to explain, the difficulty can be adjusted and the magnetic box is compact. Its limitations are that the time pressure is too much for some children, players who prefer calm strategy games will not be satisfied and no timer is included.
Getting started
- Show right at the start when an order counts as served: the food, drinks and bill must all be covered, including at least one die.
- Stick strictly to the turn order: each turn allows exactly one action, and even a perfectly fitting card waits until it is your turn.
- Be more generous with the time for younger children; this is one way to adjust the difficulty.
In detail
Variants and player count
According to the publisher, the Kosmos edition is intended for 2 to 6 people from age 7 and contains 140 cards and 4 dice in a magnetic box. It was published in August 2023. According to Kosmos, a game consists of 3 rounds of 3 minutes each, and anything left unfinished carries over into round 3; there are 12 special menus. According to brettspielblog.ch, each player holds 3 cards and, taking turns, carries out one of 4 actions; the hand limit is 6. The backs of the cards serve as the next level, and one special menu requires, for example, a round without talking. According to brettspielabend.net, an order is complete when the food, drinks and bill are covered, with at least one die among them. According to brettspielblog.ch, the group wins if nothing is left open after round 3. According to IELLO, the publisher of the French edition, every order card has a bill, and the faces of the dice show burgers, salad, drinks and the bill.
What reviewers say
Reich der Spiele praises the simple rules, the adjustable difficulty (younger players get more time) and the small box with its magnetic catch, but misses an egg timer in the box. brettspielblog.ch finds the game very good with two players and notes that players need to like speed games. brettspielabend.net is critical of the dice stickers, which players have to apply themselves and which do not stick well. meepleqc.ca notes that no timer is included and mentions the dice stickers; according to meepleqc.ca, the game is not for people who dislike pressure. According to meepleqc.ca, the light side of the cards is easier and the dark side harder.
How it compares
Jungle Speed (from age 7, 2 to 10 people, about 15 minutes) has the same minimum age as 3 Minute Crazy Cafe and also covers perception and speed, plus impulse control. Grabolo (from age 4, 2 to 4 people, about 10 to 15 minutes) shares the skill area of perception and speed, but has memory instead of fine motor skills. Of the three games, only 3 Minute Crazy Cafe (from age 7, 2 to 6 people, about 10 minutes) covers fine motor skills.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What age is 3 Minute Crazy Cafe suitable for?
The game 3 Minute Crazy Cafe is recommended from age 7. A child is ready when they find the time pressure more fun than discouraging and can quickly match cards and dice to the right symbol.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 10 minutes, divided into three rounds of three minutes each. The game is for 2 to 6 people, who play together against the orders; according to reviews, it also works well with two.
What skills can 3 Minute Crazy Cafe help develop?
The skills profile lists perception and speed as well as fine motor skills. Under time pressure, players have to take in what is missing where and whether their own card or a die fits, without losing sight of the clock.
What should you bear in mind before the first game?
The stickers for the four dice have to be applied by the players themselves and, according to one review, do not stick well. No timer is included either, so you need a clock of your own.
